How To Raise A Kitten: Features And Nuances Of Upbringing, How To Raise An Animal Correctly And Prevent The Emergence Of Bad Habits

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Raising a kitten at home: rules and recommendations

In many families, kittens appear sooner or later, but this does not always happen consciously and with an understanding of the responsibility that falls on our shoulders. It's good when we purposefully take an animal into our family, but sometimes our loved ones can surprise you. Kittens are very similar to children, therefore they cannot reach everything with their own mind. A new family member needs not only our attention, time, care, but also special knowledge, without which the pet will never understand where to relieve himself, what to play with and what to eat.

Content

• 1 At what age is it better to pick up a kitten from a cat

• 2 The first days of a kitten in a new place

  • 2.1 How to make the adaptation process fast and painless
  • 2.2 Training the kitten to the litter box
  • 2.3 Tying the kitten to the bowl
  • 2.4 Can a kitten be allowed to sleep in the wrong place?

• 3 Claws: problem solving

  • 3.1 Purchased and homemade scratching post

    3.1.1 How to accustom to a scratching post

  • 3.2 Special claw caps
  • 3.3 Operation to remove claws
• 4 Games for kittens: advantages and disadvantages
• 5 Is it possible to punish a kitten and how to do it correctly

• 6 Nuances of education

  6.1 How to correct bad habits and parenting defects

• 7 Reviews

At what age is it better to pick up a kitten from a cat

If you decide to take a kitten from a breeder or friends, then the most suitable age would be 12 weeks. Until this time, kittens need mother's care and training. The cat not only teaches kittens to the litter box, teaches themselves to lick themselves, but also creates conditions for the mental, mental and emotional development of the kitten. Weaning your cat early can lead to health and immune system problems. It is for the period between the eighth and twelfth weeks that the main development of immunity occurs, because the first vaccination does not immediately begin to work. Until the vaccine is effective, mother's milk, which contains a certain amount of immune antibodies, helps a lot. You need to understand that in a new home, a kitten gets a lot of stress and becomes very susceptible to many microorganisms.

We get such benefits when we pick up a kitten not earlier than 12 weeks:

• he is completely weaned from his mother's breast;
• the immune system has developed and the animal has received all the necessary vaccinations;
• the kitten is accustomed to the litter box and has learned the rules of behavior with his fellows;
• the baby is adapted to communicate with people.

If you took a kitten over 12 weeks old, don't be discouraged. Do not believe the myths that he will not be attached to you, there will be problems with adaptation. A large number of stories are known when cats even older than 1 year old perfectly fit into the family.

In raising a kitten, a mother cat plays an important role

The first days of the kitten in a new place

Moving to a new home is always stressful for your pet, so be understanding about his reactions:

• if other pets live in the house, do not rush to introduce them on the very first day: it is not always possible to predict the reaction of animals to a new family member, so do everything gradually, for example, put the carrier to other animals and let them sniff it;
• show the kitten where his litter tray, plates of food and bed are located, in the first days it is better not to change their location so as not to create unnecessary stress;
• do not pass the baby from hand to hand on the very first day, try to control emotions on the first day and give the baby the necessary care at a short distance: be aware of the fact that there are so many new and unfamiliar things around, and the baby feels very defenseless, looking for understanding on your part;
• use a special carrier for transporting the kitten, it is advisable not to go by public transport, because this is additional stress for the baby.

How to make the adaptation process quick and painless

At first, it will be very difficult for a new family member without a mother cat. This is why it is advisable to pick up your toddler on the weekend when you can give him all the attention he needs. It is the first days that are very important for adaptation, getting to know you and your new home. Be sure to feed the kitten with the food that the breeder gave before weaning from the mother. Gradually, the food can be changed if you have a desire, but at first it is better to feed the usual food. The same rule applies to filler. Using familiar things, you can simplify the adaptation process, make it less painful.

It is very important to feed kittens with the usual food at first.

Tray training a kitten

Very often, a kitten immediately starts going to the litter box, if the mother-cat has managed to teach him before weaning. If this did not happen, then be patient and understanding.

If you are just planning to pick up the kitten, then ask the breeder or your friends to pour you some of the used filler. You can add it to the tray and let your baby sniff it.

The second method is suitable for those who have already taken the kitten and will not be able to use the first advice. If he has already managed to go past the tray, then moisten a cotton swab and rub its bottom. After that, do not forget to treat the forbidden place with special means to interrupt the smell and protect yourself from new surprises. Bring the kitten to the tray the first time you try to find a secluded spot, but don't expect him to understand you the first time.

Capping a kitten to a bowl

If your kitten is very small, then you can pour a little sour milk into a saucer and slightly stick it with a nose. But if you took the animal after 12 weeks, then there should be no problems with this. It is advisable not to change the location of the plates and use the already familiar food. You can bring the kitten to food several times, and after a while he will be able to find it on his own. Never feed your baby in the kitchen or from the table, as in the future he will constantly beg. Stick to feeding only in one designated area.

Can a kitten be allowed to sleep in the wrong place?

Each owner must answer this question for himself. It is almost impossible to wean an adult cat from this habit. So that the baby understands where he belongs, immediately after arriving home, put the kitten in a prepared house or basket.

Claws: problem solution

When the kitten is small, the problem of claws is not very acute, but as it grows up, everything changes. Even claws cut off in time will not protect you from damage to furniture. Pets do not understand how valuable it is, how much it cost you, and may use it instead of a scratching post. Therefore, you immediately need to purchase it or do it yourself.

Purchased and homemade scratching post

In any online store, you will find an abundance of houses, scratching posts and sleeping places for your kitten. But your task is to choose exactly the scratching post that your little fidget will like. It is not so difficult to find out that your pet's claws have grown back, if he begins to scratch the carpet, furniture and your clothes, then it is definitely time to take action. Street cats do not have such problems, because they can grind their claws in natural conditions, for example, using a tree or a bench. Pay attention to what kind of furniture your pet is pulling. If he prefers carpet, it is better to choose a floor scratching post, wallpaper - a wall one.

If you prefer to make a scratching post with your own hands - great. You know your pet and his preferences better, so you can find a great compromise between convenience for you and the kitten.

A scratching post is an indispensable accessory when keeping a cat at home

How to accustom to a scratching post

You need to train your kitten even in infancy, because during this period he is interested in absolutely everything that surrounds him. Place the scratching post near your pet's favorite spot so that he can sharpen his claws right after rest or sleep. Don't forget about positive reinforcement - a delicacy. You can place something tasty or catnip next to the scratching board to pique your pet's interest in the scratching post. The fishing rod helps a lot, playing with which the kitten will jump onto the scratching post and cling to it with its claws. Very quickly, he will understand that it is pleasant to launch claws into it, and will begin to do this on an ongoing basis.

Special caps for claws

In the modern world, soft caps are gaining great popularity, which can protect not only your interior, but also the whole family from scratches. It is very easy to use them, because for this it is enough to cut off the nails and attach the caps to special glue. If you are interested in just this way of dealing with scratching, then get ready to choose overlays between a huge abundance of colors and sizes:

• tiny (XS) - for kittens from 4 months;
• small (S) - for cats weighing 2.5–4 kg;
• medium (M) - for animals weighing 4–7 kg;
• large (L) - for large cats weighing 8 kg or more.

The price for such caps ranges between 200-500 rubles.

It is advisable to use such pads no earlier than 6 months of age, since until this time the nails are still too delicate and soft. If your kitten goes out for a walk, then completely refuse to use them, since your pet simply will not be able to defend itself if necessary. If you choose between the operation to remove claws and onlays-caps, then the second is preferable: silicone onlays do not injure the animal so much.

The caps are completely harmless to your pet

Claw removal surgery

This radical method is best chosen if your cat is really dangerous for you or your child. By freeing your pet from its claws, you deprive it of the only protection it has. You cannot do this to those animals that walk along the street or live there. You must understand that in this case, your pet may be in a very dangerous situation and will not be able to defend himself.

If you decide to have an operation, then be prepared for the complications that may arise after it. It is not uncommon for cats to suffer from severe inflammation, blood loss and motor impairment. It is better to weigh everything twice, so that later you do not suffer the consequences.

Games for kittens: advantages and disadvantages

When a kitten appears in the house, it is quite obvious that all family members will strive to play with him and give him as much attention as possible. But not everyone understands that the use of hands and feet in this case can lead to disastrous consequences. While the kitten is small, we do not feel the strength of the teeth and the sharpness of the claws, but as it grows up we realize that we made a huge mistake in upbringing.

It's best not to train your kitten to play with your hands at all. But if you did it by mistake, then there are techniques that will help you fight this habit:

1. Clap loudly or hiss. At the first attempt of your pet to bite your hand, you must immediately splash loudly in your palms or hiss. This method does not always work, but you can try.
2. Distract with other toys. Buy a fishing rod with a mouse on a string and distract your pet with a game. This, of course, will take time, but the method is very effective.
3. Spray bottle. Just spray water on your kitten when he wants to attack or has already attacked. An excellent method of re-education and punishment in any situation. But do not overdo it, because your kitten may lose confidence in you and begin to perceive you as a threat.

In the store you can find a large number of special toys for cats - balls, mice, fish. The pricing policy is completely different, everyone can choose the best option. The main thing is not to miss this moment in education and immediately stop the kitten's attempts to play with your arms or legs.

Playing for a cat is not just pleasant entertainment, but also an opportunity to practice

Is it possible to punish a kitten and how to do it correctly

You can punish a kitten, but not by the methods that grandmothers showed and told us. If a kitten has relieved himself in a forbidden place and you poked his nose into a puddle, and then poked him with the same nose into a cat's tray, then this will not prove anything to your pet. If the kitten is hunting for your legs or arms, then use a spray bottle. This method cannot be called the most loyal and correct, but it is much better than surgery to remove claws, for example.

All problems with upbringing can be solved if you approach the situation with intelligence and patience. Don't forget that your light slaps or kicks won't help, but the kitten may get hurt.

The nuances of education

Incredibly, every cat has its own method of communicating with its owner. Experts studying the behavior of cats have identified three signs that help determine the degree of trust of a four-legged friend:

1. The kitten calmly reacts to your stroking and touching. The animal happily meets you and rubs its head against a part of your body.
2. The little purr falls asleep next to it and turns its back to you.
3. Upon eye contact, the kitten squints, blinks and then falls asleep.

Physical punishment, any violent behavior and even the procedures that are necessary can become the reasons for the loss of confidence in the owner. You can get it back, but it will take some time and patience.

How to fix bad habits and parenting defects

If the kitten does not show any interest in the scratching post, then perhaps you did not fully understand the needs of your four-legged friend and bought the wrong product. If your pet has gone to the litter box before, and after a while began to walk by, then there is a good reason for this. Maybe the tray is too small or too narrow, or maybe your pet is just waiting for clean litter.

Your kitten will not climb on the table if you teach him to eat only from his plate and will not throw tidbits from the table. But if this did not work out, then we offer you some tricky ways to help you:

1. Place a baking sheet of water on the table. A few unexpected baths will quickly wean the kitten from climbing tables.
2. Place empty cans on the edge of the table. Loud sounds will quickly make table jumping less enjoyable.

These methods will not work right away, but after several attempts, your actions will be crowned with success.

Often cats start taking food around the house or playing with it. If this happens, then your pets have not had time to get hungry. Stop giving treats and delicacies for a while, add regular food or feed in portions. For a while, it is better to give less food than in excess: this will help your pet to give up the bad habit.

Domestic predators consider the found food to be their prey, therefore the fact that the cat eats from the table is exclusively the owner's flaw

Reviews

Raising a kitten is a very crucial moment. The main thing is not to miss the time when you can influence the upbringing of your pet and wean you from bad habits. It is almost impossible to retrain adult cats. It remains to hope that the methods for raising your four-legged friend will certainly work and you will succeed.