One of the most popular pets to give as a gift for young children is often a kitten; their playful temperaments and small size make them not only great companions but also provide a lot of fun for kids. Before purchasing a cat as gift, either for your own children or others, or deciding they would make a great pet for your family there are a few things you need to consider.
First and foremost is what type of cat do you want? Deciding on the breed means weighing up things like whether you have time to care for certain breeds (long coats, medical problems that may be common with certain breeds etc) and how easy or costly it may be to find and buy your chosen breed. Once you’ve researched the pros and cons of a variety of breeds of cat you need to then find a reputable breeder; visit your vet, or local cat association etc and speak to as many sources as you can to discover the best breeder to purchase from.
If you’re not particularly fussy on what breed of cat you want, you may be more inclined to visit a local pet store or animal welfare. Purchasing or adopting a cat or kitten from these locations may still require a little research. Find out as much as you can about the cat before you bring it home: do they know the breed and age of the cat/kitten, has it received its vaccinations or have any known health issues etc.
Once you’ve decided on your breed and where you are going to obtain your new pet from there are still a few requirements you need to fulfil before bringing it home.
Make sure you know which food products are recommended (either from your breeder or what the pet store has previously fed it) you will also want to obtain a few toys, a collar (and possible a lead) and things like kitty litter and trays etc. Decide on where you want your cat to sleep (at least until it has settled in) by sectioning off a room of your house it will give your feline friend the chance to settle in quicker and there is less chance of it getting into trouble if it has free reign of the house. You will also want to talk to your local vet to discuss things like worming, flea control and other health related issues that may arise. Before brining your new pet home you may also want to discuss with your breeder or pet store the best ways to toilet train your kitten and cover any other issues that may arise, particularly if you’ve never been owned by a cat before.
When you first bring your new kitten home it may be a little shy to start so be prepared to give it some space to explore its new surroundings. It won’t take long for it to settle in and start playing.
Remember too, particularly if you’re planning on gifting a kitten to someone else, cats have a long lifespan so the new owners need to not only have lots of love to share with their new pet but also the time, energy and space to care for it.
Cats can be wonderful companions to those that are willing to share their lives with them.
Besides the obvious need to control the number of unwanted stray cats, altering your cat will, in the case of both sexes, make them less territorial and aggressive. Overall, altered cats are better listeners and they also tend to have longer life spans. Some owners think it is best to let a female go into heat, or to even wait until after she has had her first litter of kittens before having her spayed. This is nothing more than an old wives' tale. With millions of unwanted cats destroyed every year and millions more dying from abandonment, there is simply no reason to let your cat bear a litter of kittens.
Some shelters fix kittens as young as two months old but it is best to wait until a kitten is three months or older and weighs at least two pounds. Adult cats should be fixed before the shelter lets you take him home. Keep your cat inside until he is fixed so that he will not contribute to the overpopulation of cats!
Prior to the operation, call around for prices. The quotes for a spaying operation can range from $20 to $175. If your cat eats well, goes to the bathroom normally, and is curious and alert, then he is probably ready to undergo the procedure.
Note your cat's litter box habits. The habits you are observing now should resume within a day after the operation. Do not sign up for declawing due to certain risks that are involved. Some vets recommend declawing the cat "while she is already asleep. Do not get the cat vaccinated at the same time you get the cat spayed or neutered. It is a lot for that little body to take all at once. If your cat is pregnant when it is spayed, the veterinarian will abort the kittens.
After the operation: Unless complications arise, there is no reason to keep the cat at the veterinarian's overnight. Arrange to pick him up late in the afternoon, when he has had time to come out of the anesthesia. When the cat comes home from surgery, put him in a quiet room with a bowl of water, a soft warm bed, a litter box, gentle music and a night light. He will probably just sleep the first night, but he might welcome some chicken broth and a little company.
Keep his activities low-key for two or three days after the surgery. Do not entice him into heavy running, jumping or playing. Keep him indoors for one to two weeks after the surgery so the stitches can heal and to lessen the chance of infection in the surgical area. During this period, closely monitor his appetite, temperature, litter box habits and disposition.
Any abnormality could be a sign of infection. Consult the vet immediately if you notice anything unusual. Kittens are especially susceptible to post-operative complications, so monitor their food and fluid intake closely. Some veterinarians tell owners to discourage their cats from licking their genitals for a few days. Your vet will also give you a list of post-operative care instructions.
Both Vanessa Brown & Tristan Andrews are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Vanessa Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Businesses, Pets and Web Development. Visit Vanessa to learn more about or if you're interested in other pets; from which pet is best suited to your family to the care, feeding a. Vanessa Brown's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Tristan Andrews has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Education and Collection Agencies. Tristan Andrews writes useful articles about and kittens. Discover and explore the feline world. Find out how to better care for, train and live with your. Tristan Andrews's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.