The Health of the Kitty
Although we have followed the instructions to choose a healthy kitty, we will have to revise him one or two days after taking him home. The veterinarian can detect problems that we have not seen and it is necessary to think also about the vaccines and about worming him.
The newborn kitties have a natural immune system against diseases provided by antibodies that exist in the mother's milk. It is so strong that in the first weeks there is no need for vaccinating them; but this natural protection starts diminishing after 7 weeks. When the kitty is 9 weeks old it is necessary to start vaccinating it, with the second dose 12 weeks. One must vaccinate him against the feline flu, the distemper, the enteritis, the leucopenia, the anger and the infection of virus calici, all of these very infectious diseases. To avoid the contagion with cats not vaccinated, it is necessary to keep the kitty home until completing the whole program of vaccines. Just then one can allow him to contact other vaccinated cats of the family, this is only if analyses of leukemia and feline AIDS has already been completed.
The program against worms and parasites must have begun since four weeks, when the kitty starts taking solid food. It is necessary to continue with him every two or three weeks and, then, once a month until 6 months. Later, it is necessary to do at least two times a year (if the cat goes out of the house) or make the veterinarian do the analysis of dregs if there are parasites. With the cats that do not go out of the house it is only necessary to do it once a year.
How to habituate him to brushing
If you start to polish him soon- which is essential for good health- the kitty gets used to be touched in very sensitive areas, as the hoofs, the low side of the body and the back. This also contributes to confidence and affection.Check their ears and eyes, clean them softly with a moistened cotton. Brush hair at least once a week with a comb of thin prongs. The kitties of long hair need a special attention under the legs, between the ears and in the abdomen, where the hair is in the habit of getting entangled. It is necessary to see if there is dirt or fleas. If you find fleas, it is necessary to use an antifleas product recommended for kitties. It is necessary to treat his bed and other zones as the carpets to destroy the eggs and larvae. And also to treat at the same time other cats of the house.
Thinking about the adult age
Before you knowing it, the kitty will have grown. Females and oriental breeds reach sexual maturity before than males and those of long hair; some breeds come to the fullness even at 5 months of age. If we want a cat to reproduce, it is necessary to prepare for it by searching for good houses for her litter. Let's bear in mind that there are few people who pay for a non-pedigreed kitty and those who do take note that when raising pedigreed animals, the breeding and the mother have to be documented. Until we have the intention of dedicating ourselves to produce and exposing cats, it is necessary to decide to neuter the cat soon.
