Kitten Class 2

Thanks for coming back! Now, let's talk about introducing your kitten to your dog. Feed them both their dinner on opposite sides of a closed door. This way they can smell each other during a very important time of the day. Swap scents! Just like you did with your resident cats, swap your dogs bedding with your kittens. During the initial introductions, have your dog on a leash on one end of the room and your kitten being held on the other. Feed them both yummy treats such as chicken, beef hot dogs or tuna. Keep the sessions short and sweet. When it's time, let kitty go first, and ALWAYS supervise their interactions.

Your kitten and your kid: It is very important that your child understands the kitty rules. You must ALWAYS supervise your child when they interact with your kitten. Make sure you show them how to hold the kitten properly.

Early handling of your kitten is super important. The more the better, and always keep sessions positive. This is imperative for having a well socialized adult cat.

Kittens should stay with their mother and siblings until at LEAST 8 weeks of age. (12 is better). A kitten can be spayed or neutered as early as 8 weeks. It is extremely important to spay or neuter your cat. Did you know that for every person born, there are 65 cats!? That means for every cat to have a home each one of us would have to have 65 cats. We all know that is never going to happen, so we must do what we can to stem the feline population growth. SPAY AND NEUTER!

Kitten Developmental Stages:

0-2 weeks, neo-natal

2-7 weeks socialization period

7-14 weeks most active play period

3-6 months Ranking period

6-18 months Adolescence

Many people have 'indoor/outdoor cats', but this is not something I recommend. I believe that cats, like dogs, should be inside only. Out door cats do not live as long as indoor cats, and they face hazards such as Feline aids and leukemia as well as wild animals, cars and more.

If you already have an outdoor cat, make sure they have a break away collar, are microchiped and have a bell attached to them. Out door cats have decimated our nations small bird population. By belling your cat, the bird will have time to escape before it's too late.

Don't forget to vaccinate your cat, and take them to their annual vet appointments!

Also, start your kitten on a flea prevention program and a hair ball remedy. Most cats actually like the taste of the hairball paste, but if yours doesn't, just smear it on their paw, and they will be forced to lick it off!

Don't be alarmed if you kitten's heart is beating super fast, that's normal! Cat's hearts beat around twice as fast as a human heart.

Calculating your cats age is not as simple as calculating your dogs age. For more information go to:

http://http//www.purina.co.nz/Home/All+About+Cats/Living+Together+Cat/Get+More+Out+Of+Life+Cat/Your+Cats+Age+In+Human+Years.htm