Teaching through toys

Cats, especially when they are still kittens, are naturally playful and energetic. Being a new cat owner, you will want to make sure you have plenty of toys for them to play with. Toys are a great thing to have for your kitten for a multitude of reasons. Not only do toys help your cat get physical exercise, but they also provide them with enough mental stimulation for training good habits. But best of all, toys can be an outlet for you and your fur baby to develop closer bonds with one another.

From cat trees to chasable toys, there is a wide range of toys to choose from that are all over the market. It’s best to experiment with these different toys to see which ones your kitten clicks with the most. Once you have a greater understanding of your kitten’s personality and preferences, then you’ll know which toys are perfect for them.

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Kitten dental health

It’s a good idea to start caring for your kitten’s teeth from a young age. Proper dental care can help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay in later years.

And don’t be alarmed when your kitten starts losing their baby teeth – this is a normal process as their adult teeth start to push through. You’ll most likely see wonky teeth that are about to fall out or bleeding gums from teeth that have just fallen out.

As they’re teething, they’ll most likely look for anything to chew on. Offer them a kitten-friendly chew toy that they can sink their teeth into and be prepared to water down their food if they’re finding it hard to crunch.

If you have any concerns regarding your kitten’s dental health, book an appointment with us today.

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Kitten nutrition

Proper nutrition is another part of helping your kitten get the best start in life. Kittens need a balanced diet that includes all the essential nutrients for growth and development. Proper nutrition is vital for kittens because it helps them to grow strong bones and muscles and provides the energy necessary for play and learning.

There are many premium-grade commercial foods that meet the exact nutritional requirements of growing kittens. Although brands vary in quality, premium brands generally provide higher-quality ingredients. Therefore, we recommend you feed your kitten premium-grade kitten food.

Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight for your kitten is extremely important for their overall health and well-being. Keeping your kitten at their ideal weight helps to keep their bones, joints, and muscles strong and healthy. In addition, keeping your pet at their ideal weight can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as urinary problems, diabetes, heart disease, and types of cancer.

Monitor your kitten’s weight regularly and work with your veterinary healthcare team to make adjustments to ensure they stay at their ideal weight. By doing so, you can help your pet stay healthy and happy.

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Protecting kittens from parasites

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks. Whilst some treatments cover all of these parasites, it’s best to talk to your vet about the treatment that’s right for your cat and location.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including intestinal worms and fleas.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products, it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

Fleas and ticks

Fleas

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most problematic parasites for pets, with the ability to cause skin disease and allergic reactions. In addition, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That is why flea treatments should be used every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively. Please consult our veterinary team for the best advice on flea prevention for your kitten.

Fleas commonly cause itching, skin disease and allergic reactions in kittens. What’s more, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That’s why flea treatments should be given every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively.

Ticks

There are several types of ticks in Australia, some of which are a nuisance, such as the bush tick, right through to the deadly paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks are a common parasite for those living near the eastern seaboard of Australia. They can result in symptoms such as breathing difficulty, weakness or paralysis of the legs and vomiting.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. The most common intestinal worms in Australia are roundworm, tapeworm and hookworm. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources. To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided.

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources.

Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided. Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

• every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age
• then once a month until 6 months of age,
• And every 3−6 months for life.

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Desexing your kitten

Desexing is generally recommended at around 6 months of age. Not only does it prevent unwanted litters, but it reduces the risk of certain diseases and cancers, such as prostate and mammary gland tumours and pyometra (an infection of the uterus).

Desexing your kitten before he or she reaches sexual maturity (from 4 to 6 months of age) will prevent unwanted pregnancies as well as reduce roaming behaviour and territorial marking. Not only that, but female cats who are desexed before their second heat have a significantly reduced risk of mammary cancer and uterine infection.

It’s important to talk to your vet when considering the time of desexing to weigh up the various pros and cons.

Some breeders even require you to desex your kitten as a condition of sale, or insist you let them know if you plan to breed your cat. If you do plan to breed your cat, there is a lot to consider and we recommend booking an appointment with one of our expert vets to discuss the steps.

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Microchipping and name tags

Microchipping

It is a legal requirement in most states and territories in Australia to have your kitten microchipped. This tiny chip is placed under the skin of the neck, between your kitten’s shoulder blades. If your kitten is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, staff will use a special scanner to retrieve the unique identifying code on your pet’s microchip, which is stored in nationwide registry databases. Therefore, it’s imperative that you keep these details up to date. If you’re unsure of your kitten’s microchip status, we can use our clinic scanner to check this. It only takes a few minutes and does not require an appointment.

Microchipping your kitten helps ensure they are easily identified and is a requirement in certain regions across New Zealand. A microchip is a tiny chip placed under the skin of the neck, between your kitten’s shoulder blades. If your kitten is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, staff will use a scanner to retrieve the unique identifying code on your kitten’s microchip, which is stored in a nationwide registry database. Therefore, it’s important to keep these details up to date. If you’re unsure of your kitten’s microchip status, we can use our clinic scanner to check this. It only takes a few minutes.

Name tags

We recommend getting your kitten’s name engraved on one side, and one or more phone numbers engraved on the other. This gives you peace of mind knowing that if your kitty runs off, most likely someone will find them and give you a call.

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