Breeding kittens

 Breeding kittens

How to raise kittens 

Preparing a house for cats 

To raise kittens at home, it is necessary to provide a safe place for them to feel comfortable, and this place should not be separate in the house; it can be an empty closet, a corner of the bedroom, or a rarely used room in the house.

 Cats may choose at the beginning of their upbringing at home to mix with their owner and family members, and in any case, the decision must be left to them at first to mix or to stay alone, and it may take time for them to socialize with humans, but in the end they will be their friend.

Newborn cats

 feed in the first four weeks of their lives on their mother's milk only, and if the young are brought to raise them at home without their mother, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian or a specialized and experienced shelter in cat matters to work on bringing a large cat that can breastfeed and care for the young instead of their mother.

If this is not possible, ask your veterinarian about the correct way to prepare milk for babies and how to breastfeed them, and avoid bringing cow's milk to cats at any age; it is not easy to digest and may cause diarrhea for cats. 

When kittens are 3-4 weeks old, you can start feeding them a milk substitute served in shallow containers, and then move on to provide moist, easy-to-chew foods for cats, such as porridge prepared from warm milk replacer, or high-quality dry or canned foods.

Providing water for cats

 It is necessary to provide clean water to cats at all times, and allow them to drink anytime they want, because dehydration may cause severe diseases for cats, and it is desirable to put water in a small container that is replaced daily, so that it attracts cats to drink from it.

The place of water must also be kept away from cat food and where to relieve themselves, and if it is noticed that cats stay away from water and do not drink, this means that the water is not clean or the container used as well.

Make time to play with cats

 Adoption of cats usually begins at the age of 10-12 weeks, and cats at this young age feel ashamed, and to help them overcome this feeling, you should allocate time to play with them and treat them in a nice way so that they begin to accept their new reality.

 Since the activity of kittens is concentrated in the morning, this period is considered the most appropriate time to share it, and it is preferable to divide the play into several short sessions with the cat, each ranging from 10-15 minutes a day.

 Covering the basics that cats need 

The basic needs are to provide a comfortable bed for the cat to sleep, or a cardboard box lined with a blanket, as well as a scratch pole must be provided to protect the furniture from damage,

A scratching pole is a wooden pole covered with fabric or carpet and used by the cat to scratch it with its claws.

Scratch poles are available in several shapes and sizes, and the cat usually needs them to keep their claws sharp, stretch their muscles and define their area of control.

The litter box should also be provided and trained to use it after eating food and after waking up by stimulating the cat to dig with its claws gently; if the cat succeeds in using the litter box, it should be praised, but if the cat urinates in the wrong place, it should not be punished.

Prevent the cat from feeling lonely

 After adoption, the kitten usually feels lonely because of being away from its mother; it can be helped to overcome this feeling in several ways, including wrapping a watch inside a towel and placing it in his bed, and the constant sound of the clock beats will remind him of the sound of his mother's heartbeat; this will give him a sense of comfort, and he can also be gently carried and talked to calmly to reduce his feeling of stress.

 It should be noted that kittens should stay with their mother until they are 12-14 weeks old, at which point humans can adopt and interact with them as they are able to play on their own.

Keep dangerous objects out of the cat's reach

 The house must be prepared to be suitable for the kitten to live in, as electrical wires must be collected and kept away from it as much as possible, and both insect traps and poisonous plants must be disposed of, and kitchen cabinets, washing machine and clothes dryer must be closed to protect the cat.

Toys designed specifically for cats should also be chosen, as they should not contain any small parts that you may accidentally swallow, and it is usually preferable to choose stuffed toys for them.

Introducing family members slowly 

The cat can be introduced to family members one by one, teaching young children how to treat cats with kindness, and teaching them the importance of washing hands after touching the cat.

The owner of the cat must avoid carrying and handling it from person to person, as this makes it feel anxious and uncomfortable, but you must wait until the cat begins to approach family members (this is a sign that it feels comfortable), and the tone of voice must be kept low and calm so as not to feel panic and fear.

It should be noted that the cat must be introduced to the rooms of the house room by room in several stages, while trying to prevent it from hiding under the furniture, and if it tries to climb the bed, it must be carried and placed on the floor.

Other Pet Processing

 Other pets in the house should be prepared to accept dealing with the new cat, for example, if there is a dog inside the house, the kitten should not be left with him alone unattended, and the kitten should be prevented from running so that the dog does not try to chase it.

 If there are large cats from the house, they must be given attention; then try to introduce the kitten to it and leave it to smell it for a short time, and in the event of any aggressive behavior from the big cat, the cats must be separated from each other and given a short period and then make another attempt within several days.

 It is worth noting the importance of offering a reward to all pets during this period to encourage them to accept the new cat.

Cat insurance while absent 

The cat's basic requirements must be provided in case its owner has to leave the house, so it must be placed in one room and provide the basic requirements mentioned above, which are the bed, a food plate, a water dish, a scratch post, a litter box and some toys. 

The radio or TV can also be turned on to provide sound inside the house, which makes the cat feel human, and a small light should be turned on if its owner will leave it at night.

It should be noted that a kitten under 4 months old can be left for 4 hours, while a 6-month-old cat can be left for up to 8 hours.

Securing the first medical examination of the cat 

The kitten should be shown to the veterinarian as soon as it arrives home or within several days, in order to examine it and make sure that it does not suffer from any health problems, and ask him about anything related to it.

You can also inquire from the doctor about the importance of sterilizing cats and its usefulness in preventing health problems resulting from pregnancy and childbirth, and cats are usually sterilized at the age of 8 weeks.

 If there are other cats in the house, the adopted cat must be taken to the veterinarian before arriving home, as it may be infected with an invisible disease, but if it cannot be presented directly to the doctor, it must be placed in a separate room from other animals, and provide its own basic needs, until it is presented to him.