Taking care of your kitten

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Did you know that cats aren’t as inclined to earn human attention? Cats are self-sufficient and independent, sometimes to the point of being aloof, unlike their canine counterparts. You will discover that kittens socialise between two and seven weeks and this training period is the perfect opportunity to bond with your pet.


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Steps for socialising your kitten

Start socialising your kitten as soon as you get them home, exposing them to a variety of different people and pets. Remember be patient, positive, praise and celebrate with treats.

Reward your kitten’s good behaviour with small dices of raw kangaroo, liver or fish. When your kitten does something naughty or destructive, say “no” firmly, redirect its attention with a toy, and reinforce the good behaviour with a raw treat. Never smack your kitten or shout their name.

Scratching is natural cat behaviour but your kitten must learn not to destroy your surroundings. Provide them with toys, dangling twine and take the time to play with them. If you find your kitten using the sofa as a scratching pole, say a firm “no” and redirect them to the scratching post. Over time the post will start to smell like your cat and they will be naturally attracted to it.

Cats are very territorial, so introducing them to their litter and toilet area is easier if you make their area smell familiar. Experiment by putting some shed hair in the tray and observe your kitten when they use the litter tray correctly and reward them. This will start the process of habit of using the tray. Most kittens will do this naturally, but they may have a preference for a certain type of litter material, so experiment a little if needed.

When your kitten is weaned off their mums milk which is usually from four to six weeks onwards, it’s imperative to start them on a fresh meat diet. You will discover they are similar to children and can be very picky if not trained early to accept a healthy diet - but they won’t starve themselves.