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A New Kitten
A
couple of statements about cats: Cats outnumber dogs as pets in the US. You
don’t own a cat; a cat just chooses to live with you. Yes, cats are
independent. If you are ready to take on a new “life partner”, her are a few
tips.
How to Find a New Kitten
The two most common types of kittens we see in our practice are the “free
kitten” and the “purebred”. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
The “free kitten” is often a rescue from an animal shelter. These kittens often
have never had a home and need somebody to love them. The rescue shelters
usually try to screen the kittens for behavior problems as well as some common
diseases. The Charlotte Animal Shelter tests all kittens for Feline Leukemia
and FIV, de-worms them, and starts kittens on vaccinations. The other type of
“free kitten” originates as a stray that has found a temporary home with a Good
Samaritan. Both of our cats arrived this way. One was a kitten found by the
dumpster in a Hardee’s parking lot, the other the kitten of a pregnant cat the
showed up at our house long enough to have her kittens, get her vaccines, and
get spayed.
She then moved on…at least in a non-fertile condition. The big
advantage to the free kitten is you are giving a home to someone who had none.
The disadvantage is some unknown background. Just as the animal shelters do,
all kittens should be tested for Leukemia and FIV. All kittens should be
de-wormed and vaccinated according to their anticipated lifestyle. They should
also be examined for “kitten diseases or problems” by a veterinarian.
The other type of kitten we commonly see is the purebred kitten. Purebred cats
are “registered” with a breed organization and are bred to meet certain
standards of a specific breed. Examples include Persian, Siamese, and Maine
Coon Cats. Most owners of purebred cats have chosen their breed based on
appearance or behavior characteristics.
 You can predict size, hair length, and
often behavior with a purebred cat. Most breeders of purebred cats have had
their cats tested for Leukemia and FIV and have them current on all
vaccinations. When contacting a breeder, ask for references and try to see both
the mother and father cat. Look for a clean facility. I also do not want to
see “line breeding”. Line breeding is the practice of breeding relatives to
relatives. You increase the chance of getting a really great kitten when you do
this, but also increase the chance of getting birth defects or genetic problems
as well.
Characteristics of Healthy Kittens
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Bright, clear eyes. |
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No snotty noses or sneezing (signs of viral
infections) |
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Thick, healthy hair….no bald spots or a
scruffy look that could be a sign of ringworm |
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A good appetite |
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A firm bowel movement |
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Very playful and active |
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A strong “Meow” |
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Should weigh about 2 pounds at 2 months old
and be very well muscled…not skinny |
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Should be between 6 and 10 weeks at adoption. |
Health Care Issues
| Kittens should be
vaccinated for several respiratory diseases and blood problems….the vaccine is
commonly called “ Feline Distemper”….at 8 and 12 weeks old and then once a
year after that. |
| Kittens should be
de-wormed and have negative fecal exams |
| Kittens that will be
outdoors or that may come in contact with stray cats should also be vaccinated
against Feline Leukemia. |
| In North Carolina, a
kitten must also be vaccinated against Rabies. Any kitten over 12 weeks old
may have that vaccine. |
| Spay or neuter should be
done around 6 months of age. Neutered cats are much better pets as
un-neutered cats have some bad territorial behaviors and females can have as
many as 3 litters of kittens a year. |
| Discuss your cats
vaccine needs with your veterinarian. Vaccines protect against deadly
disease, but are not without some risks. We suggest vaccine schedules based
on your cats individual needs and risks of exposure. |
Adopting the adult cat
Many owners have found
great pets in the adult cat that needs a home. When considering an adult cat,
try to find out as much as you can about the cat. Does it like the indoors or
outdoors? Does it use a litter box and get along with other cats or children?
Does it like to be held? Does it scratch furniture? When is someone trying to
find it a home? If the answers seem reasonable and you can get a trial period,
then an adult cat can be a great option.
 Declawing
I have no problems
declawing a cat that will be indoors….front claws only. I seem to see cats that
are declawed in all four feet develop some behavior problems. I suggest
declawing at the same time as spaying or neutering. Expect 2 weeks of sore
feet. An alternative is trimming the nails and using a scratching post. Also,
ask about some behavior modification tricks to stop cats from scratching on
furniture.
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