Page 89 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

“Keep a

constant
eye on the
whereabouts

of young
kittens...
They will
wander
everywhere.”

87

◁ Waiting for adoption
It is hard to part with kittens
you have tended since birth, but
these young siblings are already
developing into independent
characters and are ready for
new homes. Early kitten care
head for the pan when she does. on the carpet—you will just pan training, a mother cat
Although older cats prefer privacy frighten him. If there is no time can usually be relied upon to
when they use a litter pan, young to reach the litter pan, lift him demonstrate the skill. The kittens
kittens often all pile into it together. onto a sheet of newspaper. When will imitate the way she feeds from
Provide them with a pan that is he has finished, put the kitten and her bowl and, apart from providing
large enough for sharing, with paper in the tray for a few moments the meals (see also Monitoring
shallow sides that they can climb to reinforce the idea. feeding levels, pp.28–9), you
over easily. Kittens have a built-in should not interfere. Only very
instinct to scratch around in loose, Weaning occasionally—for example, when
soft materials and scattered litter By about 4 weeks of age, kittens a kitten has been orphaned—is
is inevitable, so surround the tray have acquired some of their baby hand-weaning necessary. If you
with newspaper to catch spillages. teeth and are ready for weaning— face this problem, you should ask
There are bound to be a few making the change from mother’s your vet for advice.
accidents, but you can keep these milk to solid food. As with litter- At the start of weaning, young
to a minimum by watching kittens kittens are more inclined to
for warning signs. If you see a paw the food than to eat it, so
kitten going into a squat, scoop place their bowls on newspaper
him up gently and put him in the and be prepared for messy
pan. Never make an abrupt grab, mealtimes. As their intake of
or clap your hands in an attempt solids increases, kittens become
to stop him urinating or defecating less and less dependent on their
mother for nutrition and the
▷ Learning clean habits mother’s milk will gradually dry
Kittens grasp the idea of using a litter pan at
a very early age. They usually just follow the up. Most kittens are fully weaned
mother cat’s example. at 8 weeks old.

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