New Kitten Care -Ten Tips For Raising Your Kitten

You've picked your brand new kitten from a litter, and you're now ready to bring him home. You naturally want to give him the best possible start in life. Here are 10 tips to help him develop into a confident, affectionate adult cat who'll give you years of stress-free pleasure.

1. Make sure you're fully prepared for his arrival. Have his toys, food, litter box, scratching post and bed all ready for him. This will help him to settle in more quickly.

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2. Handle him - a lot. If kittens are handled a lot when they're young, they get used to it and learn to enjoy it. As a result, they're much more likely to turn into affectionate adults that love to be cuddled and stroked. Your new kitten should always be handled gently. If you have young kids, you'll need to supervise them with Kitty at first, to make sure they don't accidentally hurt him.

3. Get him used to receiving everyday care from you. This includes grooming him, washing his face, bathing him and cleaning his ears and eyes. If he gets comfortable with all this when he's a kitten, you'll have few problems with it when he's an adult.

4. Safely introduce him to the everyday things that will form part of his world as soon as possible. This may include other people, kids, other pets, travelling in your car, boarding at your sister's house when you go on holiday etc. etc. Doing this will turn him into a confident, happy, adaptable adult.

5. Play with him and talk to him every day. Bored kittens and cats often seek amusement in activities that you won't be too keen on, such as destroying the furniture. Playing with your kitten will build your relationship with him and help to prevent boredom.

6. Feed him a wide selection of foods that are suitable for kittens. This gets him used to a varied diet, and reduces the risk of him becoming a gourmet cuisine snob who'll only eat fresh wild salmon caught in the Scottish Highlands...

7. Gently and calmly set boundaries. Kittens are like kids - they'll push their luck to see how much they can get away with. Common naughty kitten behavior includes scratching, biting, jumping on the kitchen worktops, scratching the furniture and abseiling the curtains. If your kitten is being naughty, stop him, say "no" (don't shout) and move him away from the scene of his crime. It's much easier to train a new kitten to be good than an adult cat, so setting the boundaries whilst he's young can save you years of frustration in the future.

8. Don't give in to vocal blackmail. Some kittens try to get what they want by meowing non-stop. If you keep giving in to this, your kitten will turn into a very vocal adult cat who'll drive you nuts with his constant noisy demands.

9. Keep him safe. Nasty frights - for example falling down the toilet, being tormented by a kid or having a dog bark in his face - will have a negative impact on him. The more unpleasant experiences he has as a kitten, the more likely he is to become a nervous, mistrusting adult.

10. Accept that your new kitten is a baby with loads of energy. Whilst you can discourage him from acts of willful destruction, you'll need to accept that your house is unlikely to survive completely unscathed. But hey, he's worth it!

New Kitten Care -Ten Tips For Raising Your Kitten

Liz Allan is a cat behavior expert with 25 years experience of caring for cats. She lived and worked in a cat rescue centre for 3 years, and has fostered hundreds of cats at home. Click on this link for lots more useful tips on kitten care.

For advice on cat care, breeds, illnesses and behavior problems, visit her website: http://www.cat-behavior-explained.com/index.html

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Teacup Kittens - The World's Smallest Kitten

Not all cats advertised as miniature are teacup kittens. Be aware that the standard size female cat will weight about 11 to 14 pounds. The standard size male cat will weight about 12 to 17 pounds. A teacup size female cat will weight about 3 to 6.5 pounds and the teacup size male will weight about 3 to 7.5 pounds. This is a good rule-of-thumb to keep in mind when shopping for a teacup. Some unscrupulous breeders will try to sell you a cat under ten pounds as a teacup when that weight falls within the normal weight range for a standard cat. When shopping for a teacup do not be fooled by a breeder that will try to sell you a runt or tell you that any cat less than ten pounds is a miniature.

Teacup kittens come in a variety of breeds. These cats are bred to be small by inbreeding. The smallest cat of one breed is mated with the smallest cat of another breed progressively in each generation and with each mating a miniature or teacup cat is born. The result of this type of breeding results in dwarfism. There are two forms of dwarfism where teacups and other miniature animals are concerned and they are achondroplastic where the dominant gene will, through mutation, affect the hormones that control bone growth, and the primordial which occurs naturally. At this point let's cover the most common breeds of miniature (teacup) cats.

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The most popular of the teacup kittens is the combination of Persian and Exotic. The MiniPer, a combination of Persians and Exotics was developed in California by Cher Simmitt. The MiniPers are primordial dwarves and their bodies are proportionate in every way except that they are smaller than the standard Persian and Exotic. The MiniPaws are a hybrid and carry the genes of both the achondroplastic and primordial dwarfism. They are small in proportion and have shortened legs thus, causing the legs to be somewhat deformed. They are a good example of the mutation of the dominant gene and its affect on the hormones that control bone growth. .

The Napoleon was developed intentionally by mating a Munchkin with a Persian. They have long coats and beautiful big eyes much like the Persian. The Napoleon is the newest of the teacup breeds.

The Lambkin was developed by cross breeding a Munchkin with a Selkirk Rex. They are called Lambkin because of their soft curly coats that resemble the coat of a lamb. Most of the miniature or teacup kittens are cross breeds of Persians and Exotics and are the most popular and sought after of all of the miniature breeds.

Many people want the teacups because they're cute and resemble kittens. They are easy to hold and carry and most of them are lap cats. However, be forewarned, they may be kittens when you buy them but like all other cats they grow up and lose their kittenish ways. They are after all, cats and cats do not stay kittens forever.

Teacup Kittens - The World's Smallest Kitten

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about teacup kittens, please visit Best Cat Scratch Posts for current articles and discussions.

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When Can a Kitten Be Spayed?

The number of people getting their feline spayed is increasing everyday. It prevents pet overpopulation and also prevents unwanted animals from getting killed by euthanasia. Every year thousands of animals get killed because of the insufficient amount of homes. Responsible and caring owners of pets must spay their female pets.

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The benefits of getting a kitten spayed are many; the kitten can lead a healthier and longer life, chance of the pet straying on the street to find a mate and getting injured in the process can be avoided. There is improvement in their behavior and they also become more responsive to human family members. Chances of mammary cancer, uterine infections common among unaltered cats also diminish.

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In simple terms, spaying removes the ability of an animal to reproduce. Spaying is considered safe and painless. This surgery is performed under anesthesia. Normally, the animal is home within a couple of days.

A kitten should be spayed when it reaches the age of six months, before its first heat. This surgery involves removing the uterus and ovaries through an incision; the incision is later closed either by sutures or non-absorbable or sub-cuticular stitches. Another procedure performed on kittens is tubal ligation; this surgical procedure makes the kitten sterile and prevents heats and thus coming in contact with males. Tubal ligation is not extremely popular.

Spaying in kittens should be done before it reaches puberty. Six months is ideal for female kittens to get spayed. They recover quickly at this age and very few negative concerns have come to light.

There are some who feel that it is safest to allow the kitten to grow stronger and larger before performing the surgery. This allows the urinary tract to develop. If you have doubts, it is best to consult a veterinarian to determine the correct age for spaying. Unless the cat has some health problems, spaying is considered to be safe for a kitten of any age.

When Can a Kitten Be Spayed?

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about when a kitten can be spayed [http://spayandneutersite.info/when-can-a-kitten-be-spayed], please visit Spay and Neuter Site [http://spayandneutersite.info] for current articles and discussions.

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Tips on How To Pick A Kitten From The Litter

Looking at a pen full of kittens, it is hard to make a choice which one to take home. It is an exciting process to choose the kitten you want, and looking at each and every kitten in the litter is a fun experience. Observe the litter, and watch their reaction as they see you. Take note of their behavior, whether if they're playful, energetic and confident, or slow, unenthusiastic and lazy.

Get to know to the kitten group as a whole after you have observed the entire litter. Then, watch out for the one whose personality matches your needs. This should be considered slowly. Take as much time as you need, have fun playing with the kittens and interact with each of them, while at the same time make note of what you notice.

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While you mingle with them, single out the kittens that appear to be more active than others and pay a lot of attention to you. Choose the kitten that seems to enjoy hanging around you if you want a pet that has energy and is attentive or pick a shy one if you would just prefer some quiet company. Most pet owners love attention from their pets and these furballs will make very good company for cat lovers, even after they have grown up.

If there are no kittens in the litter that caught your attention or strike you as energetic, talk to the breeder about the reason behind the sluggish behavior. Perhaps they have eaten something before you came which would cause drowsiness, or are tired from a previous feeding. It would be better to come back at a time where they would be more active to make a better choice.

If you do not have the opportunity to assess a whole litter in a sitting, it is alright. Some kittens might be the ones that remained after other kittens in the litter were sold, or in another case, kittens in animal shelters are not usually related. But one can still enjoy a kitten's personality by interacting or playing with it and from there, you can still decide if you find the kitten good enough to bring home and join your family. See below for more information on Choosing A Kitten from the Litter.

Tips on How To Pick A Kitten From The Litter

For more information on Siamese Cats or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks

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How To Take Better Kitten Pictures

I compare my kitten with my kids and the love for my kids is equal to the love I have for my kitten, and that is why I make time to take my kitten pictures as my kittens grown into a lovely adult cat.

When anyone visits my home, they notice how well groomed my kitten is, and how well treated, and they also notice the collection of pictures I have of my kitten, I place my kitten pictures all over my home.

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Well, this article isn't about me or my kitten, it's about taking better kitten pictures, and here are 5 tips for doing just that:

1. Always try to avoid sudden movements

If you wish to take better kitten pictures, then you should learn not to make any sudden movements and always use better quality high speed film, and use a digital camera with no shutter sound.

2. Lower your camera angle to the height of your kitten

Any kitten picture you wish to take, should be at an angle that is equal to the height of your kitten. This is for much better pictures and also some very cute facial expression that your kitten shows once they start staring down the lens.

3. Always make sure your kitten is well fed

This tip is the most important of all, it is very difficult to take kitten pictures of a hungry kitten, they won't stand still long enough for you to be able to get one shot. That is why it is so important to make sure that the kitten has just been fed, before you try to take any picture of your kitten. Wait at least 15 minutes after the you just fed your kitten. It is also very wise to study your kitten movements, that way you will be sure when you kitten naps, and what time is best to start taking your kitten picture.

4. Always have a couple of their favorite treats on hand

A tip I leant online, was to always have a couple of your kitten favorite treats with you, that way you will give them a treat anytime they start to get rowdy.

5. Try to keep thing simple

The best kitten pictures I have taken was when they least expected it. I try to keep things simple and never ever try to take too many pictures at a time. The kitten will become frustrated and walks away,and it is very difficult after that to get your kitten to stand still for any more pictures.

Now you that you have discovered a couple of my simple trick for taking better kitten pictures, you can visit my website and post those kitten pictures online, so the world can see the love we have for our cats.

How To Take Better Kitten Pictures

Alexander Marlin, has a web site that host kitten pictures from around the globe. Just drop by and post your kitten pictures or cat pictures, it's all free.

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Finding Out the Sex of Your Kitten

At birth kittens are nothing but cuddly scraps of fur. Regardless if it's a boy or girl, they are so cute. Later on, the gender of the kitten might be important for you to know.

Realize that some kittens are just too young to be sexed. A kitten's genitalia are teeny, tiny at birth. Until a kitten is over two weeks old, the gender will be indeterminable. Sometimes veterinarians and breeders with lots of experience have been known to make mistakes. It is best to hold off a few weeks before trying to find out the gender of a kitten.

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Figure out the sex of your kitten. Once the kitty reaches several weeks of age, it ought to be more possible to determine its gender. Keep punctuation marks in mind when you are figuring out the gender of a kitten (sounds weird huh? - but from experience, I know that it works). If you want a description about the genitals of male kittens, I can say that they look like a colon or dots one above the other. The first one (at the top) is the anus and the one below that is the penis. There is a small space left between those two holes that will later hold the testicles which have yet to form. (On a male kitten you may find two small bumps in the genital area which are his testicles just beginning to grow). If you gently squeeze the urinary opening you can verify that the kitten is a boy.  If a tiny penis comes out, that is an indication that it's a male.

Be aware of the characteristics of female kittens. We need to think about punctuation marks again - but now like an up-turned exclamation mark! The dot would be the anus and the longer mark or slit would be the vagina.  Once you have sexed a few different kittens, you will be able to recognize that the opening on the female is a lot closer to the anus than for the male. It almost looks as though the vaginal opening is attached or just below the anus when the kitten is a female.

It is safe to neuter kittens as young as 6-weeks-old. However, they must remain along with their moms for a minimum of 8 or even 12 weeks. Kittens need time to get used to new locations and people in their lives. If they don't get this it can be detrimental to its overall survival. The kitten should stay with you for at least two months before being adopted out. In addition, having a longer stay gives a couple months to figure out if your kitten is a boy or girl.

Finding Out the Sex of Your Kitten

Tiffany Provost writes about kitten development and other pets and animal tips [http://www.howtodothings.com/pets-and-animals] for HowToDoThings.com.

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Kitten Food - What To Feed Your New Cat

Providing your new kitten with proper cat food is crucial to raising your new pet. In order for a baby kitten to stay happy and healthy, it is vital that all of their nutritional needs be met. It is not just a matter of dropping some cat food into your pet's bowl and then leaving to go on with your day. There is more to feeding your cat then this.

Early Nutritional Needs

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A kitten will receive all of their nutritional needs from their mother for the first few weeks of their life. As the kitten approaches four to six weeks of age, the breeder will most likely start supplementing the mother cat's milk with hard kitten chow that is moistened with water, or with canned kitten food. The kitten will have been weaned off the mother's milk by eight weeks of age, and will be eating a primarily kitten food diet. It is important to make sure that your breeder provides you with some of the kitten food that your new kitten was eating, or at least get the name of the kitten chow.

If you are thinking of changing the kitten chow brand that your kitten started with, then you should still purchase a small bag of the their current brand and mix it with the new brand. This will aid your new kitten's digestive system and allow them to gradually adjust to the new food that they will be eating.

How Much Should They Eat

Young kittens are growing at an incredibly fast rate from the ages of eight weeks to approximately six months. They will require a large amount of food to start, which means that they will need to eat a number of times during the day. Kittens that are under six months of age do not have very large stomachs but require a lot of fuel. For this reason it is best to feed them four small meals per day, and provide them with an unlimited supply of water all day long.

The growth rate of your kitten will dramatically start to slow down at around six months of age. At this time you may find your kitten becoming a bit less active. The amount of feedings necessary can also be cut back to around two to three meals per day. At this stage of their growth it is also important not to change their food from kitten chow to adult cat food. Your cat is still in a growing stage.

Your cat will be able to eat adult cat food when they reach a year old. Feeding adult cats is somewhat easier then feeding a kitten. You can simply fill their dish up with dry cat food. Adult cats will usually eat when they are hungry. At this stage is important to ensure that your cat does not overeat. If you find your cat becoming overweight then you will want to feed them approximately twice a day. Adult cats can be fed canned food, but you will also want to provide them with dry food as well. Canned food should not be left out for your cat to eat all day.

Cat Food Shopping

It is very important to choose food that is both nutritional and well-balanced. When looking at food labels, be sure to select only ingredients that have protein listed within the first few items. You also must be aware of your cat's health condition. If they suffer from any serious health matters, such as urinary tract infection or hairballs, then be sure to select foods that will help manage these medical issues.

You should also feed your cat both dry and soft foods. Although your pet will prefer soft foods, it is best to supply them with dry ones as well. This will help to maintain their dental health. A dentist should perform yearly checkups on your pet, to eliminate any tartar build-up on their teeth.

Kitten Food - What To Feed Your New Cat

Susan Richards is the creator of http://www.onlinecatcare.com. You can find a wealth of information pertaining to a variety of cat related items. Read comprehensive articles on a number of cat care needs from cat food to behavior training, types of cats which one is right and more.

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Should I Adopt An Adult Cat Instead Of A Kitten?

Want a pet cat but do not know whether to get a cat or a kitten? There are advantages to getting a grown cat as a pet, but of course, one of the biggest disadvantages is that you will miss out on all the cuteness and adorable factors of a kitten that a grown cat does not have.

Little kittens are definitely the most fun pets to own, and even more so if you have children around. Kittens are like children, energized and full of curiosity. These balls of fur can run and jump around the house, and skid on floors just like your children can, and attacking things that have movement, even yourself! How adorable is that??

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Of course, there would be a minority of people who would not welcome this behavior at all, and these people might not think that kittens are the least bit adorable. Cats, after a certain stage will slowly become less active; and become more reserved animals, with a sense of calmness about them. They become less playful and mischievous.

The Advantages Of Getting An Adult Cat

Looking at an adult cat before adopting it, you will know what you are getting, as an adult cat is already fully grown. Its body, size and shape, color and behavior will not change, and it is what it is. Whether or not it is active, or loud, shy or quiet, you will know when you meet it. Therefore, you can decide on the spot whether if it is suitable for you, and you are also able to tell if the cat accepts your company and shows interest in you.

Adult cats are generally easier to care for, as opposed to kittens. Not many people looking for pets want to get adult cats, as most would prefer kittens and seeing them grow up. Therefore, you are actually saving its life, as most adult cats that do not get adopted are usually put to sleep.

The Disadvantages Of Getting An Adult Cat

Now that you think an adult cat is well trained and well behaved, you would d be surprised to find out that a common problem cat owners abandon their cats is that the adult cats does not resort to using litter boxes. This problem is not apparent when you pick out your pet. Although not using the litter box may seem like an excuse to put a pet into a shelter, finding out first hand that a cat urinates all over your house can be very maddening. At the end of the day, most people decide that they rather keep the house intact than the cat.

If that little problem has changed your mind about getting a cat, do not let it. These problems are only behavioral, and it can be changed and corrected with some more proper training. Most good breeders and shelters are rather honest, and they will tell you as much as possible about the cat you are interested in, about its behavior, attitude and personality. Therefore, if the cat has a problem they will probably disclose it to you. Hence, chances are you would not be ending up getting a cat with problems, as these are rather noticeable issues that breeders and shelters won't miss.

See below for more information on Siamese Cats.

Should I Adopt An Adult Cat Instead Of A Kitten?

For more information on Adopting An Adult Cat or visit http://www.siamesecatsinfo.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-adopting-an-adult-cat/, a popular website that offers information on Cats, Cats Breeding, and Cats Behavior. Please leave the links intact if you wish to reprint this article. Thanks

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