Looking After A New Kitten - Everything You Need To Know
First of all, congratulations on the new addition to your household. A new pet is a big responsibility but will return twice over the love and companionship you provide for many years to come.
The first six months of owning a new cat can be busy, but it is also one of the most rewarding times.
There are a number of issues, both medically and socially, which occur within this first six-month period.
In the following sections, I'll do my best to give an overview, but if you have any questions, please contact us any time, and we'll be happy to help.
Feeding:
A cat should always be fed a diet suitable for his or her life stage (kitten, adult, or senior). After being weaned from the mother, which will happen sometime between 4 to 8 weeks of age, it is recommended to feed a kitten food.
Diets can either be commercial (available as dry or canned food from vets, pet stores, or supermarkets) or homemade. High-quality commercial diets are generally nutritionally complete and balanced, containing all necessary vitamins and minerals. They are also generally formulated specifically for the life stage of the cat.
Dry food is nutritionally very similar to canned food and is usually more economical, cleaner, and encourages better dental development. However, a lot of cats prefer the taste of wet (canned) food. Many owners feed a combination of the two. The quality of the food is also important, and there are significant differences between the lower-priced budget food and the premium range of cat food. Calcium should never be supplemented to a balanced cat diet.
Vetopia.com.hk stocks an excellent range of kitten food here.
Your new kitten should also be given occasional treats, such as cat chews or raw chicken wings. Cooked bones can splinter and should not be fed. A tasty selection of treats guaranteed to satisfy your cat can be found here.
Homemade diets can also be a great choice, but it can be difficult to formulate a homemade diet that is nutritionally complete and liked by cats. Note that plain meat or meat and rice (even with vitamin supplements) is not a complete or balanced diet. If you decide to feed solely a homemade diet, you should consult a veterinary nutritionist to have a recipe developed. For more information on natural diets and commercial diets, please see here.
Vaccinations for Cats.
Vaccination is a very important step in preventative health. Cats are generally vaccinated with a combination vaccine at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 16 weeks of age. This vaccine covers the most serious preventable diseases affecting cats – Feline Panleukopaenia (Feline Parvovirus), Feline Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus (forms of ‘Cat Flu’). All kittens should be vaccinated as there is a high incidence of the above diseases in unvaccinated cats in Hong Kong. This vaccination is continued annually in adult cats.
Rabies vaccinations are not required for cats in Hong Kong, but are necessary for cats traveling overseas. There is a negligible risk of your cat catching rabies in Hong Kong.
Feline Leukaemia is a chronic and progressively debilitating immunosuppressive disease of cats and is most common in stray cats and multi-cat households. Feline Leukaemia is rare in Hong Kong, and vaccination is rare.
If you'd like more information on vaccination for kittens or general medical care, we would recommend you contact one of the Creature Comforts Group hospitals or East Island Animal Hospital. Contact details are available by clicking here.