Taking Care of Kittens
Safe at extraordinary situations, as when the mother dies or a kitten is separated from the litter under any circumstance, the normal is to adopt them when they reach the age of ten or twelve weeks. By then, the mother has already taught them how to feed with solids, although the hard moment of being separated from the mother may make them forget some of these behaviors, as where should they do their necessities, and you will have to teach him again.
To adapt to a new home
Anyway, all the aspects that characterize their new lives are amazing and terrifying at the same time.
The cat is not used to the food, sound or odors of the house, and he doesn't understand what has happened with its mother and brothers. All that was secure on his short life has disappeared and has been substituted by a bunch of uncertainties.
The familiar world of the litter has transformed into a strange environment dominated by human beings whom he doesn't understand. All of these factors unchain symptoms that can be preoccupying if not prepared. From the precious active kitten that you acquired you now have a nervous and introverted animal, that runs to hide under the furniture and resists to coming out. If this happens, you can only do one thing: wait.
Keep the children and other animals away and avoid boisterous sounds.
Be sure that he has fresh water and food and procure him a bed to tempt him for coming out. If you observe that the cat stops to give himself a good cleaning, this is a signal that he is getting adapted to its new home, but let him take his time.
If there are other animals at home, the best is to feed them apart from the cat's bed and food. If not, he will be so scared that he won't want to eat or the others might steal their food, and he will be so nervous that he won't sleep.
Later on, when all have gotten used to the new presence, you can reunite all the animals beds and food receptacles, but maintaining a dish, a water receptacle and a bed independently for each one.
Frequently, as he gets used to the new house, cats start to cuddle in search of the warmth of the other animals.
Two kittens from the same litter bought at the same time, for example, will be happy sleeping together since the beginning, due that they have always done the same.
Just as do babies, kittens need to sleep a lot, and sometimes children, that have a hurry to play with them, get disappointed when seen them so still.
On the litter, the mother foments playing sessions with their kittens, but the let them rest if they need to, and this must also be the rule at home. Children must understand that kittens can scratch to defend themselves if something annoys them or wearies them in excess. When growing, the periods of sleep get shorter and its desires for playing are each time bigger; so they have to be more patient.
Can be put in a way in which the kitten may be seated on it. If he tries to get free, let him
Kittens are very fragile and you have to always treat them with care. You can't squeeze them because their bones art yet too soft and break easily. Don't pick them up by holding them by the nape of the neck, although their mothers do when little; the correct method for holding a kitten that is old enough to leave the litter is to put a hand under its body and with the other holding the neck and the shoulders. The hand that is under can be put in a way in which the kitten may sit on it.
If he tries to get free, let him do it and lower your hand to a height in which he can jump with no problem.
