Caring for Newborn Kittens

Like a newborn baby, the care of a newborn kitten requires special attention and focus. For most cat owners though, this care is not usually required of them as kittens are typically adopted at approximately eight weeks of age, when they have been weaned from their mothers. However, there are several instances when newborn kittens may require hand-rearing, and in those situations, it is important to have a good understanding of what these neonatal animals need for proper growth and development.

The two most common situations where kittens may need to be hand-reared are either because they have been orphaned, or because their mother is not providing adequate care. This second point can be due to a variety of reasons, but the most likely cause is that the runt of the litter may be being overlooked by the mother in favour of healthier kittens.

Feeding sick anorexic cats

Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, and this finickiness can become even more pronounced when they are sick. For owners trying to feed this type of cat, getting enough food into their pet can be a frustrating battle, as no matter what is offered (wet food, kibble, treats) the cat will often turn its head away. Unfortunately though, a cat that is not eating is not something that can be ignored, or treated as a “wait and see” type of situation.

Top 3 Cat Skin Disorders

There are many different skin disorders that can affect cats and the reasons for them are numerous. This article hopes to briefly outline the top 3 skin disorders that affect cats and these conditions are;

Feline Alopecia: “Alopecia” is simply the technical name for bald spots. A cat suffering form this is itchy, may bite at its hair, and often has behavioural changes too. The cause of alopecia can be anything from a hypersensitivity reaction (such as an ‘allergy’ to fleas, for example), parasites (such as lice or mites), ringworm (which is a fungus) or even psychogenic, where they have a behavioural/psychological disorder and are ripping out their own hair.

Depending on what the cause is, the affected cat will show different symptoms, and thus need different treatments. One great way of finding out what is going on is by doing a skin scraping. To do this, a vet will use a blunt blade that is gently scraped against the skin, while the cat is under sedation.

Where Cats Sleep – Pet tip 250

One of the decisions that you’ll have to make when you get a new cat or kitten is where will it sleep? If you want your new kitten to sleep with you in your own bed then it should be no problem at all. Most kittens love sleeping with their owners and they will often press their bodies into yours for that warm cuddly feeling. If you’ve adopted an adult cat, it may take a little longer before the cat becomes comfortable enough to sleep in your bed. It may choose to sleep in another area of your bedroom, or it may choose to sleep in another room altogether. The trick is simple patience. If you are a kind and loving pet owner and interact and pet your cat, then eventually the cat will come around and likely jump on your bed to sleep when you least expect it.

If you don’t want your cat to sleep in your bed because of shedding, restlessness or other issues, then you have a few choices.

Kitten Development Stages – Pet Tip 249

When we bring a kitten home for the first time to adopt it as a pet, it should be between nine and twelve weeks old. This is so the kitten has a chance to spend time with its mother and so that the kitten becomes socialized with its littermates and learns proper kitten behaviour. But what happens before the kitten comes home? This article will outline some of the important milestones in kittenhood in an effort to familiarize you with some of the stages of kitten development.

Kittens are born blind and deaf and they remain that way for around the first fourteen days of their lives. They use their sense of smell to find their way toward their mothers for nourishment and heat. They really need to stay close to their mothers for these first few weeks as they are unable to regulate their own body temperature. The umbilical cord typically falls off after the first few days of life.

Permethrin Kills Cats – Pet Tip 247

Permethrin is a synthetic insecticide that is used in agriculture, forestry, home pest control, and in the treatment of head lice in humans. Permethrin is a neurotoxin, meaning it attacks the nervous system of insects causing over-excitation and death. It is found in a wide range of topical flea and tick products that can be purchased in the grocery store, pet store, and large retailers. Although these products are safe when used on dogs they are toxic to cats and cause feline permethrin toxicosis.