New Kitten Care Guide
Love Persians Kitten Care Guide (NOW WITH EXPERT ADVICE AND UPDATES 2017)
What to have before bringing your kitten home:
Tidy Cat clumping scoop litter found in all major retail stores. You can switch to the litter you have at home or prefer using once the kitten has shown proper use of the litter box with the Tidy Cat formula they are used to.
Instructions on making the change:
Fill the litter box with half Tidy Cat and half the brand you like. Once your kitten is comfortable using it, make the full transition to your favorite litter.
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Plastic Litter Tray/Pan and Litter Scooper, make sure litter pan is large enough for kitten to place all four paws in and turn around. IT SHOULD BE A LOW LEVEL LIP FOR KITTENS AND ALL LITTER BOXES SHOULD BE ABOUT 4 times bigger than the cat! Or they will not use it once soiled... small litter boxes can set cats up for failure!!!
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Food and water dish
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Royal Canin Dry food Kitten (Pink Bag) sold at major Pet stores and online.
http://go.magik.ly/ml/7y1y/
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A warm and cozy area for Kitten to sleep starting with a bathroom or laundry room and as Kitten becomes accustomed to your home you may choose another area. Kittens enjoy sleeping on a cozy cat bed, fluffy towel, or soft blanket
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Cat Scratcher or Cat Play Center and Cat Toys are key
*** Kittens love Catnip!!!
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Wide-tooth metal comb for grooming
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Cat nail clippers
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Kitten Shampoos or J&J Baby Shampoo
Tips on how to Kitten-proof your home:
*** First thing to do is look around your entire home for anything the Kitten might get tangled up in, fall from, or ingest.
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Make sure there are no open cabinets Kitten may enter
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Make sure all rooms Kitten has access to have no open wiring or cords
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Make sure there are no high perches for Kitten to fall from
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All vents should have a covering
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Make sure there is no food or beverages left in kitten area
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Make sure the floors do not have anything harmful that may hurt your Kitten’s paws
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If you have plants, keep them AWAY from your Kitten’s reach. Some household plants can be harmful and/or poisonous to cats when ingested
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Fold or tie up your window blinds’ cord to keep it out of Kitten’s reach
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Keep your toilet seat cover down as a precaution
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Make sure all fragile valuables are kept out of Kitten’s reach
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Always keep dryer and washer doors CLOSED. Cats like to crawl into them to take a nap
What to do once Kitten is home:
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Introduce Kitten to his/her designated area with fresh food and water ready
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Make sure to introduce/place Kitten in the litter box
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If Kitten seems scared or cries out for Mommy; bring Kitten close to your chest so he/she can hear your heartbeat. This should help ease the transition and help you bond with your new Kitten better
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Give Kitten a small treat such as a piece of boiled chicken or a cat treat to let Kitten know that you are his/her friend. Let your Kitten smell the treat first and then let him/her eat it.
What to always have available for your Kitten:
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Bowl of fresh, cold water and fresh dry food
*** I recommend having a full bowl of fresh food out all the time. Persian cats are very sensitive to smell and respond to the smell of fresh food. By always refilling the entire bowl with fresh food you are preventing your kitten from overeating and developing obesity. If your Kitten only sees a small amount of food available he/she will think that is all they have and may either overeat or not eat at all to save the food. If you are very busy and cannot always provide fresh food I recommend purchasing a feeder. A feeder allows you to always have food available for your kitten and keeps it fresh. You may also do the same with a water feeder.
*** If there is still food left over in the bowl you can put the left over dry food back into the bag and mix it up with the fresh food. That way the bowl of food will always smell fresh to your Kitten!
*** Another convenient way to keep dry food fresh is by storing it in Tupperware
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Clean litter box
*** I recommend cleaning the litter box daily to avoid any mistakes due to the box being full of waste.
*** Another way you can keep the litter box smelling fresh is by adding a little Baking Soda to the litter box. Or you can purchase Arm & Hammer’s Litter Box Spray. They both work well.
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Cat Scratcher or Cat Tree
Cats have a natural instinct to climb and scratch. They need an outlet to use their nails and mark their scent. By providing them with their ownscratcher/tree you are preventing them from using your furniture instead!
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Plenty of cat toys with catnip. Give access to water, food and litter box close while your Kitten is playing.
Do not keep all toys out at the same time because your Kitten will get bored of them. I keep some toys out at a time and rotate them with the other toys. This will keep your Kitten’s attention and make playtime more fun
How to transition your Persian Kitten to a new dry food formula besides Royal Canin Babycat or Kitten dry food:
*** The brand of dry food for your Persian kitten is eating now: Royal Canin Kitten formula until he/she is 1 year old. After age 1, you may choose from any of the adult varieties of Royal Canin dry food. *** However, if you choose another brand this is how to make the transition:
We recommend at least a 7-day transition before you begin feeding the new food exclusively. Start by mixing 75% of the old diet with 25% of the new diet on Day 1 and Day 2. On Day 3 and Day 4, mix 50% of the old diet with 50% of the new diet. On Day 5 and Day 6, mix 25% of the old diet with 75% of the new diet. On the 7th day, you can feed the new food exclusively. This allows your pet’s digestive system to smoothly adapt to the new food.
We give FANCY FEAST Chicken Classic wet food every other day. 1/2 ca every other day is enough for your Kitten.
How to groom your Persian Kitten:
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Using a wide-toothed metal comb, make short strokes along the length of Kitten’s coat. The best way to undo tangles is by holding the knot from underneath and combing it out. Do not pull or tug on the knot
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As hair gets longer you will need to comb your kitten more often. Persian Kittens have a double coat which requires grooming every other day. Himalayan Kitten’s have a single coat that can be groomed every few days
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During the warmer months you may choose to have your Kittens coat shaved into a “lion’s cut” by a groomer. All of the Kitten’s hair will be shaved off except the head and end of the tail.
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Keep nails trim with a Cat nail clipper. Place Kitten a comfortable position on your lap. Push the soft pad on the bottom of his/her paw until nails retract out. Clip off only the very tip of the nail that is white. Avoid the “quick” which is the reddish/pink area of the nail closer to the paw. If you cut too deep into the quick you may cause bleeding to occur. If Kitten’s nail is bleeding apply pressure until bleeding stops. I recommend trimming every two weeks.
Kittens may sometimes get what I call “poopy butt.” This is when stool gets stuck to their hind areas and back legs after using the litter box. A good way to prevent “poopy butt” is by keeping hair around the anal area, back legs, and under the tail trim using BLUNT END scissors. If your Kitten still gets stool stuck then you may give him/ her a half bath from the waist down. Using warm running water wet the area, apply some shampoo to clean it off, rinse with warm water, and then dry with a towel
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Persians can have a “brachycephalic” head which means their skulls are short and broad giving them their distinguished “smooshed,” “flat,” or “extreme” faces. This causes their eye ducts to be short and have a tendency to become obstructed which leads to discharge or crusting around the eyes. The best way to maintain good eye hygiene is by using q-tips or a warm washcloth. Start by placing the q-tip vertically at the inner corner of the eye. Then slowly and gently turn the q-tip to pick up the debris. Make sure not to touch the eye ball with the q-tip. For stubborn stains or discharge, wet the q-tip first with warm water. To remove tear stains, we recommend using Eye Envy sold at many pet stores and online. http://www.eyeenvy.com/
How to bathe your Persian Kitten:
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Fill up the bathroom or kitchen sink with warm water
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Dip your Kitten into the water and get the entire coat wet. Do not dip Kitten’s head into the water. Also try to avoid getting any water in Kitten’s ears and eyes.
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Take Kitten out of water and apply shampoo to coat and lather up. Again make sure to be very careful around the eyes and ears.
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Dip Kitten back into the water and rinse shampoo off thoroughly.
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Cats need two or three shampoos & rinses! One is not enough!
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Drain the sink. You might need to use running water to rinse off any remaining shampoo.
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Dry your Kitten off with a towel
How to bond with your new Kitten:
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The best way I found to teach your Kitten his/her new name is by singing it
*** Example: “Princess Gizmo! My Princess Gizmo!” or “Prince Baaboo… Fabulous Baaboo!”
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When your Kitten says meow, say meow back. Your kitten is trying to talk to you and engage in conversation.
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Persian Kittens love to have their chin, ears, and bellies rubbed. The more you pet and touch your Kitten the better.
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The secret petting spot that all Persian Kittens love is where their back and top of tail meet. Try it! It’ll make your Kitten purr.
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Give your Kitten treats such as little pieces of boiled chicken or cat treats
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Engage in playtime with plenty of toys
*** A great way to keep toys fresh is by “marinating” them in a zip lock bag of catnip when not in use.
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Kittes love laser pointers. Laser pointers are a great way to play with your Kitten without having to move!
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Remember your Kitten needs his/her own space at times. Cats have what I call “Cattitude.” Sometimes you have to let them play by themselves, sleep uninterrupted, and allow them to come to you when they want to.
If you have any questions or suggestions please email us @ lovepersians@ymail.com
Additional Information
Taken away from its mother, brothers and sisters, your kitten will feel very lonely once you bring it home. In order to try and relieve this complete change of scenery, it is essential that you are perfectly ready to welcome your kitten into its new family.
No excitement.
Remember that your kitten has just been brought into totally unknown surroundings. Curb your enthusiasm – move gently and without shouting. Avoid handling the kitten excessively. An excessively noisy or agitated atmosphere could cause your kitten to be a nervous and fearful adult.
With children.
Children often tend to almost smother the new arrival with attention. They get excited, want to touch it and catch hold of its tail. An adult cat is perfectly capable of avoiding children when it doesn't want to be bothered, but a kitten is not. You need to explain to your children that the kitten is not a toy, that it needs lots of sleep and that it is absolutely forbidden to wake it up just to cuddle it. It is best not to allow young children to play with the cat in your absence. Your supervision will aid in avoiding scratches.
The right moves.
Remember to handle your kitten carefully. Any rough or sudden movement can terrify your kitten. If you want to carry it, the best way to hold it is to slide one hand, open wide, under its stomach with the other under its rearend for bigger breeds. In order to show your authority, take it by the scruff of its neck, just like its mother would do to carry it. This will not cause any harm to the kitten.
The wrong moves.
Pull its tail.
Take it by the head.
Slide both hands under its front feet.
Good habits to adopt.
Don’t leave plastic bags or things made out of foam lying around.
Close the trash can lid and the toilet seat cover (careful with trash-bag ties, which all cats love to swallow).
Cover electric hot plates with proper protection.
Limit access to balconies and decks if possible.
Be careful with irons. They are often responsible for burns.
Your kitten’s eating program.
The kitten's nutritional needs are specific during the first weeks of its life and will change as it grows older.
Kittens less than 4 months old.
From 4 to 5 weeks of age, a kitten can be given solid food. This food can be first offered in the form of gruel prepared with a little warm water. The quantity of liquid will then gradually be reduced until your kitten is only being given the dry food.
Kittens more than 4 months old.
After its second teeth have come through, the proportions of the different nutrients essential to the kitten's growth remain the same until it is one year old. Only the daily quantities of food for growth will vary and be increased until it reaches adulthood. The growth formula also serves as an ideal diet for a pregnant or lactating queen because the nutritional requirements are quite different during this period.
You should avoid any sudden change of food, or otherwise run the risk of provoking digestive problems. Plan to continue with previously given food, at least for a few days. Ask the breeder or the person who gave you the kitten about their feeding methods (number of meals/day, rationed or ad lib) and types of meals.
If you want to change its food, you should make sure there is a gradual transition from the old food to the new over a period of one week. This transition helps to minimize the risks of soft stools or diarrhea, which can be very harmful to the kitten's proper development.
Food transition chart.
1st and 2nd days: 75% of the previous food and 25% of the new
3rd and 4th days: 50% previous and 50% new
5th and 6th days: 25% previous and 75% new
Final day: 100% new
Behavior.
These tests are very simple and quickly help you to become familiar with your kitten’s personality.
Socialization test.
Observe your kitten from a distance:
If it runs to play with your shoe laces or rub up against you, this means that it has been properly socialized.
If it is nervous and tries to run away when you approach it, it has not been properly socialized.
It is essential to start this phase again, provide toys and play with your kitten.
Aluminum foil ball test.
Roll a ball of aluminum foil in front of your kitten. If it is slow to react, it is expressing fear or great indifference to outside movement.
Dominance test.
A kitten that easily allows its tummy to be stroked while lying on its back has perfectly assimilated parental authority – it will be docile and easy-mannered. If, however, the kitten struggles or tries to scratch, its character may cause it to have unexpected reactions, such as biting when stroked.
Noise test.
Clap your hands loudly with the kitten seeing you. If it acts curious while staying calm, your kitten has been brought up in a full and stimulating environment. If it runs away, you must very quickly expose it to the noises and contacts of civilization so that it discovers plenty of new sensations.
http://www.royalcanin.us/cats/kitten_care.aspx
Cat Registries
Cat Fanciers Association - CFA.org
The Cat Fanciers' Association, the world’s largest registry of pedigreed cats, is a non-profit organization founded in 1906. CFA's mission is to preserve and promote the pedigreed breeds of cats and to enhance the well-being of all cats. CFA promotes education, responsible cat ownership and proper care to the owners of millions of cats worldwide. Royal Canin is proud to be a Diamond Level sponsor.
The International Cat Association - TICA.org
The International Cat Association, Inc. is the world's largest genetic registry of pedigreed cats, as well as household pet cats. Founded in 1979, TICA is a progressive and continuously growing registry and show sanctioning body, whose motto is "For Fabulous Felines, Fun And Friendships!" With members and clubs all over the world, wherever you are, you're in TICA's world! Royal Canin is proud to be an exclusive sponsor.
American Cat Fanciers Association - ACFACat.com
Promotes the welfare, education, knowledge and interest in all domesticated, purebred and non-purebred cats, to breeders, owners, exhibitors of cats and the general public.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Cat
THANK YOU DIANE AMBLE OF DEARHEART PERSIANS FOR YOUR GUIDANCE AND CONTINUED SOUND ADVICE.
YOUR LOVE FOR ANIMALS IS EVIDENT WITH THE CARE AND SUPPORT YOU PROVIDE WITH YOUR KITTENS.
Here is an e-mail sent to us from Diane Amble the foremost leading authority in Dearheart kitten care. Not only is she the most important key to "Preserving the Dearhearts", she has a wealth of knowledge with years of experience breeding chinchila silver persians almost exclusively from the bloodlines of Jeanne and Phillip Ramsdale of Dearheart cattery. Since the 1950's Jeanne and Phillip Ramsdale were considered the most reknowned athority on Persian cats in this country. They even wrote the book on it called, "Persian Cats and other Longhairs." It's has many photos shows how much has changed over the years in the cat world. On sale for a few bucks online here on Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Persian-Other-Longhairs-Jeanne-Ramsdale/dp/0876661797
Here are a few things we do to take extra care of our royalty:
We prepare either chopped boiled chicken or sauteed ground turkey with broth poured over and topped with a dollop of goat yogurt twice daily for kittens, once daily for adults. They love roasted chicken or turkey but this is not as easy.
Supplements below are added to this prepared food:
www.belfield.com <<< MegaC (we use Everyday to top dress (just a sprinkle); Vital Liquid also a great product.)
www.celestialpets.com <<< has great supplements
Be sure to always give taurine (essential for eye health) top dressed or mixed into wet food preparation
http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/2371-Fel-O-Taurine.aspx
We also use pink Himalayan salt for family and cats (very delicious!) along with a bit of psyllium (Metamucil Plain) sprinkled on
WET FOOD ONLY.
For an always ready snack (but not as main food source), we use Solid Gold INDIGO MOON or Royal Canin BABY CAT dry kibble<<< this would be their preference.
A noon snack is a portion of Fancy Feast classic style chicken, beef or turkey with chicken soup broth poured over.
Litter: http://www.preciouscat.com/product/senior/
(Yes, it is a Senior variety but we like using it for the cats best, as it is "scoop-able" if you do it very carefully and the odor absorption is phenomenal) It does not stick to the kitties, does not stain their fur and is actually bacteria resistant too!
Cat tree: any type, the bigger the better, place near a window. We always recommend one with sisal rope as part of the cat tree for scratching needs. And you should get a tiny cat nail nipper to keep her nails trimmed. They love the toys (see links below) and catnip of course! We grow our own and let it dry in the oven when turned off (its propane) and then serve freshly dried and they actually EAT it!
Flea control: Program ONLY (non-toxic oral product)
http://www.revivalanimal.com/store/p/2495-Program.aspx?feed=GoogleProductSearch&gdftrk=gdfV2457_a_7c543_a_7c1841_a_7c2499
The only thing we recommend for fleas is Program, it is non-toxic, oral treatment. It can come in chewable (dog version) or liquid top dressing (cat); we only use it in summertime when anyone can pick up a stray flea...
You feed her all she will eat then adjust daily as she is a growing kitten, so daily adjustments are normal.
Remember to warm the food up (not microwave) as cats prefer it warm but will eat room temp. ok as well...
top with goat yogurt (any brand usually available at health food stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joes). By the way, we only use goat milk (human grade) to feed nursing kittens. NEVER KITTEN REPLACER FORMULA EVER!
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3563813
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753802 at night, you may want to flip this one over as cats love to make noise with it especially at night!
Diane & Firenza
www.dearheartpersians.com
PS Remember, the GOOP shampoo is just to take out the greasy areas
like the ears, tail, maybe along the back (spine) but use 2 to 3
other shampoos for shiny clean coat. Remember, always rinse rinse rinse
and when you think all the shampoo is out, rinse some more! Then when you
blow dry her, use two warm towels from the dryer to wick away as much moisture
as possible. Use a medium to low heat only and when you think she is dry---
dry another 5 minutes!