We go above and beyond to care for thousands of animals, each with their own story, every year thanks to you — and Rufus is no exception. Rufus needs you. Together we can help him heal. Sincerely, Meghan Sharon, Development Associate. It can be hard to read your cat’s emotions sometimes. Some cats are super snugly and come to greet you every time you come home, and some keep their distance and might only show.
A few weeks ago, I adopted a new kitten. Olive was just nine weeks old when I brought her home, and it’s hard to say how old she is now because the weeks since I adopted her have been a blur — I’m so sleep-deprived I can’t really count days anymore.
I’ve had two kittens before, but somehow I forgot how crazy they are. Or maybe it’s just that Olive is the craziest kitten who ever existed. I’m not really sure. The important thing is that so far, I have survived life with a kitten, even though sometimes she spends the whole night trying to pounce on my face like it is one of her catnip mice.
Since I am still alive, and not bleeding too heavily, I think I can consider myself an expert, so I’ve compiled some tips for you if you too are planning on adopting a kitten.
1. Keep your new kitten separated from your other cats for a week or two
I mean, that’s what you’re supposed to do. But did you know that kittens are really small and really fast? Does your house have rooms within rooms within rooms, maybe? That could help. You could also give up after two days and hope for the best.
2. Remove all hazards from the kitten’s environment
Make sure there are no pieces of string or rubber bands around. Check to see if any of your plants are toxic to cats.Does your kitten like to chew on things? Mine loves to chew on things, especially cords. Accept that you cannot have electronics in your home until your kitten grows out of it. Think fondly on the days when you could watch movies or use lamps. Does your kitten like to jump into the trash can and try to eat the trash bag? Okay, no trash cans, either. Does your kitten like to eat the wicker seats on your chairs? I guess you’ll have to sit on the floor for a while. Picnics are fun!
3. Feed your growing kitten plenty of high-quality food
Some people feed their kitten on a schedule. My kitten makes me follow her schedule. I know it’s time to eat when she follows me to the kitchen and then starts screaming and climbing all the way up my leg to get to the counter where the food is. If I don’t feed her then, my pants will be ruined. It is time to eat about 12 times a day.
4. Train your kitten to be gentle
Does your kitten bite you constantly? If she doesn’t, I kind of hate you right now. If you are currently covered in tiny adorable puncture wounds, you probably get me, especially if you have received most of them on your face around 4 a.m.
To discourage your kitten from biting, never use your hands as toys. Fact: Every single person who comes over to see your kitten will use their hands as toys, undoing all your hard work. Apparently you can also push your kitten’s head down and hiss at her when she bites you. I don’t think I’m very good at hissing because this has not worked yet.
5. Play with your kitten every day
Make sure to buy a few interactive toys. If you play with her a lot right before bed, she might nap for a few hours at night and might not wake you up until 2 a.m. Toys for her to play with on her own are also great, though kittens are pretty resourceful and might prefer things like rolls of toilet paper, socks, a piece of carrot that you dropped on the floor, and your other cat’s tail.
6. Be prepared for your kitten to grow faster than you thought possible
My kitten was 2.4 pounds when I brought her home. My best estimate is that, a few weeks later, she weighs about 60. I don’t really know what happened. It might be because she eats 12 times a day.
7. One kitten picture is good, but 300 kitten pictures are better
Why does Facebook exist? Mostly for pictures of kittens. Why does Instagram exist? One hundred percent for pictures of kittens. If your friends don’t want to see several pictures of your kitten every day, they probably don’t have souls and you’re better off without them.
8. Get things done while your kitten is sleeping
These are the things you can do while your kitten is awake: Play with your kitten, feed your kitten, pet your kitten, swear at your kitten for biting you. These are the things you can only do while your kitten is asleep: Get dressed, sleep, tie shoes, write stories for Catster, clean things, cook food, eat food, read books, use a computer.
9. Kittens are really cute
Especially when they’re sleeping and/or not trying to kill you.
The amount and frequency of meals depends on your cat's age, health and preference.
Check the pet food aisle at your local supermarket, and you'll find dozens of varieties of food to entice your cat. Feed your cat too little or the wrong kind of food, and he won't maintain good health. Feed him too much, and he'll get fat. But you can help get your cat off on the right paw by establishing regular feeding routines. Although the food you feed your cat should be complete and balanced, the simple answer to how often you should feed him is that there isn't a simple answer.
Age Makes a Difference
Kittens require more food per pound of body weight to support their growth than do adult cats, and therefore should be fed more often throughout the day. 'Growing kittens up to six months of age may require three meals a day,' says Francis Kallfelz, DVM, Ph.D., board certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition and James Law professor of nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. 'From age six months to maturity, most cats will do well when fed two times a day.'
Once the cat becomes an adult, at about one year, feeding once or twice a day is appropriate in most cases. Senior cats, age seven and above, should maintain the same feeding regimen. 'Once cats reach adulthood, once a day feeding is fine as long as they are healthy and have no disease problems suggesting a reason to feed differently,' says Dr. Kallfelz.
The Health of Your Cat Matters
If your cat suffers from a health problem such as diabetes, you may need to feed him based on whenever he is administered insulin, depending on the type. 'Talk to your veterinarian,' says Dr. Kallfelz.
If your cat has hyperthyroidism, he may want to eat all the time. 'Treat the disease,' says Dr. Kallfelz. 'If it is a treatable problem, treat it and then feed your cat normally.'
When a cat ages, his teeth may go bad, or he may develop gum disease that may make it difficult to chew dry food. 'If they get to that point, then offer them canned food or dry in a finer nugget size,' says Dr. Kallfelz. You can also mash up the dry and mix it with water to make it easier to chew.
A Best Type of Food?
Many cat owners feed only dry food to their felines. 'Dry food is fine as long as it is complete and balanced,' says Dr. Kallfelz. Dry food may be less expensive than canned cat food and may stay fresher longer. Cats that eat only dry food need to be provided with lots of fresh water, especially if they are prone to developing urinary tract blockages. For all cats, constant availability of fresh, clean water is important.
Canned cat food is typically about 70 to 80 percent water, and can be fed in addition to or instead of dry. Some cats may find canned food more palatable. These cats may consume too much if they are allowed free access to food. Of course, this may occur with dry food as well. 'Food with average palatability may be preferable,' says Dr. Kallfelz. If it is extremely palatable, the cat may be more likely to overeat. If it is not quite so palatable, he may be less likely to overeat.
Super-sizing food portions is not just a problem for people. Since the feeding instructions on pet food labels are based on the needs of the average cat, you may be feeding more than necessary if your cat's needs are lower than average. If you feed your cat dry food, you may provide it to him at specific mealtimes in measured quantities. Dry food can also be supplemented with a small amount of canned food to make meals more appealing.
'There's no problem mixing the two types of food,' says Dr. Kallfelz. 'Just make sure the calories are what your cat needs and not more.'
Free feeding dry food is acceptable for the cat who exercises self-control, but some cats like to snack, and for them, free feeding can add up to extra pounds. 'If a cat can maintain his weight, free choice feeding is okay,' says Dr. Kallfelz. Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day. If free feeding doesn't work, you need to control how much they eat. 'Several small meals may make them feel less hungry,' says Dr. Kallfelz. 'But one is okay nutritionally.'
And here's a useful hint: If you have a finicky cat, switching foods occasionally may help keep from him becoming hooked on only one diet.
Consider Your Schedule
How often you feed your cat may depend on your schedule as well. Mornings may be hectic as you get the kids off to school and yourself off to work. Under those circumstances, feeding your cat may be easier in the evening when it's quieter and less busy. If you are running around a lot in the evening, feed your cat in the morning before everyone else is up. Find a schedule that works for you and your cat - and then keep it consistent.
Complimentary Kitten With Every Update
In a multi-cat household, not all cats automatically come when called for dinner, potentially making it difficult for some to get food unless it is left out all the time. And other cats may eat too much when food is always available. 'You just need to come up with a plan,' says Dr. Kallfelz. You can feed them separately or in different parts of the house.