Your Cat — November 2017

YOUR KITTEN

You should be able to tell

when your female kitten

approaches puberty, as she

may call loudly and be more

restless and affectionate.

Siblings will

not mate

Unfortunately, in the

animal world, there

aren’t any social boundaries

to prevent family members

from mating with one another.

If you buy or adopt two

different-sex kittens from the

same litter, they will almost

certainly mate, and the female

will become pregnant at some

point if they are not neutered.

Inbreeding increases the

chances of a kitten being

born with genetic defects

and diseases, so it’s really

important that you’re

a responsible owner and

don’t let this happen.

Kittens are

low maintenance

Although it can be

argued that a kitten

isn’t as demanding as

a puppy, don’t take on

a kitten thinking it will be

a breeze! Bringing your new

pet home will require a lot of

planning and preparation.

You’ll need to kitten-proof

your home; equip him with all

the essentials, including a bed,

bowls, grooming equipment,

toys, litter tray, and food;

keep a constant eye on his

whereabouts; train him to

use the litter tray; possibly

introduce him to other pets;

make sure he has regular

handling; and so much more

to ensure he grows up to be

a happy and sociable kitty.

http://www.yourcat.co.uk 75

MYTH!

MYTH!

MYTH!

MYTH!

MYTH!

FACT!

FACT!

FACT!

FACT!

FACT!

A kitten is not an easy option

— he’ll need lots of mental and

physical stimulation.

After weaning, milk can

cause stomach upsets.

A new kitten will

be great company

for an existing cat

Although sometimes

this can be the case,

introducing a new kitten into

the fold isn’t always of benefit

to an existing cat, especially

if he is elderly and enjoys the

quieter life.

Clinical animal behaviourist

Trudi Atkinson explains:

“Being descended from

a species that lived a primarily

solitary existence, cats do not

need the company of other

cats to be happy.

“However, the domestic cat

does have the capability to

be social with members of its

own species, and close social

bonds between cats who live

together are not uncommon.

“Such relationships are far

more likely to exist between

cats who have grown

up together, and less likely

to develop between cats

introduced as adults,” she

adds. “For anyone who wants

to have more than one cat, it’s

often best to buy two kittens

of the same age, preferably

from the same litter, and allow

them to grow up together.”

An indoor kitten

won’t need to

be microchipped

Kittens are at their

most inquisitive when

they’re young, so are much

more likely to sneak through

gaps and be curious about

gaining access to the outside

world. Even the most vigilant

of owners may be caught

off-guard if they open the

door to a visitor and the kitten

slips between their legs.

Although it’s not a legal

requirement for cats to be

microchipped, having it done

when they’re young will give

you peace of mind that if he

ever goes missing, he’s more

likely to be reunited with you.

You can’t

train kittens

Not only is it possible

to train kittens, it’s

strongly advised! Although

most kittens learn to use the

litter tray by watching their

mothers, some can still soil in

the house when they arrive

home. If you lift him into the

tray early in the morning and

in the evening when you think

he wants to go, and praise

him each time he uses the

tray by giving him a gentle

stroke and a treat, he should

soon associate the tray with

positive rewards.

Similarly, you can train

kittens to come to you

when called, accept

medication, accept a cat

carrier, be more sociable,

and much more! For more

information about how

you can train your

kitten, visit http://www.

yourcat.co.uk/

train-your-

cat-series—

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