A new family member is a big responsibility. Even before worries regarding maintenance and care, the future owner will have to make a difficult choice in favor of the place of purchase, the gender and age of the animal. To make a decision, you will have to analyze your requirements and capabilities and then decide how to choose the right kitten and how to care for it.
How to choose the right kitten?
Felines are more adapted to life in a city apartment than other animals. They don't need too much space and don't require much care. In addition, the graceful purr is so independent, self-sufficient and self-sufficient that it will not suffer from loneliness and lack of attention if you are at work all day and lead an active social life.
They have a great time on their own, needing only a small amount of food and minimal care. The very first thing you need to decide is which kitten to choose: a purebred aristocrat with a pedigree or a baby from
shelter.
Abyss of goodness: change your unfortunate fate - adopt an animal from a shelter
The world will not be happy as long as there are homeless animals in it. By chance or by evil people, there are many helpless kittens on the street. And all would be fine, as a rule, they are fed and often given affection by friendly passers-by - the world is not without kind people.
But there are also plenty of moral defects in it. There are many dangers for a homeless child on the street: knackers, cars, merciless cold. Why would a healthy lout kick a cute kitten, breaking its jaw?
Why would a lonely old woman, instead of bringing warm milk to a harmless fluffy, raise her hand to him and kick him out of the entrance into the cold?
In a word, by adopting a kitten from a shelter or just from the street, you will do the greatest thing. In addition to saving at least one soul from misfortune, you will also get happiness back a hundredfold. After all, furry foundlings are much more affectionate and loyal than purebred cats.
Due to circumstances, they have a very flexible and responsive character. They can take phenomenal care of you, saving you from depression with their energy, curing you from illnesses and giving you true strong love. If you know the power of unconditional magical love, then you understand what we are talking about...
In order not to buy a pig in a poke...
Age is important! It is not recommended to adopt a newborn kitten. Some believe that even at 3 months he is not yet ready for independent life. In any case, the kitten must be 2 months old at the time of purchase. You can’t suddenly change your diet in a new place. You need to listen to the advice of breeders regarding food, find out which products are suitable as complementary foods. If it is not possible to purchase what the animal is accustomed to, there is always an alternative.
Find out if the kitten has been trained to use a tray and scratching post. Often, unscrupulous sellers claim that the kitten will not be able to live without a tray, but in reality, unpleasant surprises await you. You will have to teach the kitten.
The organs of vision, hearing and touch must be clean, without pathologies or secretions. A healthy cat has a clean mouth with pink gums and straight teeth, and the fur is shiny and glossy.
You need to make sure whether the animal has been treated for fleas and worms, and whether the kitten has been vaccinated. The first vaccination is given at 8–12 weeks of age. Information about the date and name of the drug is included in the registered veterinary passport. In addition, you will find out the address of the veterinarian.
It's good if the kitten responds to its name. If not, pick up derivative and easy-to-pronounce pet names and begin to develop a conditioned reflex. An affectionate and fluffy pet will bring a good mood and positivity into your home.
How to choose a kitten: for the purity of the breed
Of course, you have the right to choose a purebred naughty dog with a special coat, texture and disposition. Then you can proudly show him to your friends, praising his aristocratic features and the complexity of his nature.
Do you have a lot of free time? With the help of such a fluffy baby, you can meaningfully fill this time. Cat shows, battles in competitions for medals and a breeding mission. This is a great fun hobby.
In this case, it is best to buy a kitten from a special nursery. This is a guarantee of the purity of the pedigree and the health of the baby, which is confirmed by documents. Here they will give qualified advice on the care and maintenance of a kitten of the exact breed you purchased.
Each of them has its own feeding habits, character, etc. And in the future, you will be provided with support for participation in competitions and breeding. It should be noted that buying purebred kittens at exhibitions or from friends is a certain risk. It's better to contact real professionals.
Where to get
Exhibition and sale of cats There are a number of options for places where you can find a cat baby: in a special institution (kennel), at an exhibition and sale, at a shelter for homeless animals, with friends, colleagues or acquaintances.
Of course, to select a purebred baby, you should only contact a nursery or a sales exhibition. If thoroughbred does not matter, then you can find a baby in good health in an organization for homeless animals or with friends. Interesting:
Why do you need to go to bed on time?
A nursery is preferable to all other listed options, since a professional there will find the necessary breed and advise on how to properly care for your pet. Among other things, this institution will issue all the necessary documents for the baby, and its employees are responsible for the state of health of the adopted kitten.
You can find a purebred baby at a sales exhibition, since at such events it is strictly necessary to examine the animals by a doctor and control them. Accordingly, only healthy pets will be kept here.
There is an alternative opportunity to find a purebred baby from friends or acquaintances, but only when there is confidence that they will not deceive. Otherwise, there is a possibility of getting a pet with some kind of disease, or a completely outbred one.
It is strictly forbidden to purchase purebred animals at the market, through an advertisement or from someone else. In these situations, there is a huge risk of becoming a victim of attackers. In practice, cases arose when scammers found unhealthy and mongrel children, repainted them and passed them off as purebreds without documents.
You can adopt an ordinary pet from friends if these people are well known and can promise that both the babies themselves and their mother do not have diseases and live in excellent conditions. One way or another, after taking the baby, you need to have him examined at the hospital by a veterinarian.
You can find a simple cat in an organization for homeless animals. Shelters keep animals clean and concerned about their well-being. The doctor at this institution will inform the future owner about the well-being of an adult cat or a small kitten. Then he will call for some time to inquire about the living conditions of his former ward.
A kitten with character: choose by breed
Each cat breed has its own personality traits. Therefore, all purebred cats can be divided into three groups.
- Unusually sociable. There are free cats, but there are sociable ones and even, you will be surprised, clingy ones. These include Siamese, Bengal and Oriental cats, the German Rex and the Canadian Sphynx.
- Calm breeds are affectionate, gentle, but without an obsessive need for attention, cats are not aggressive and neutral in their expression of emotions. These include Curl, Siberian, Burmilla, Russian Blue and Norwegian forest breeds.
- Dictator cats. They are particularly proud and commanding felines that have much in common with wild cats, without ever becoming pliable and unconditionally tame. An example is the Persian and British breeds, as well as the Bobtail and Maine Coon.
How to choose a kitten: male or female?
Do not consider it discriminatory, but the gender of the kitten is also an important choice. After all, the behavioral characteristics of cats strongly depend on gender. There are many cat lovers who prefer only one of the sexes.
Kitties are more domestic, sedate and “cozy”. Of course, you may be intimidated by fiddling with her offspring. But your favorite purring dog can be sterilized or its “spring moods” can be treated with tablets. True, this is somewhat harmful to the baby’s health. But approach the issue wisely, and everything will be fine.
As for the cat: if you don’t want to deal with breeding, castrate him. Then you will be protected from “seasonal serenades” and marked corners. By nature, cats are more freedom-loving and lax.
Appearance
An integrated approach will help you make your choice. Sounds like a medical examination. In reality, everything is much simpler. It will take a keen eye and just a couple of minutes to determine the kitten's health status. At least superficially. There is no doubt that some congenital diseases appear in cats and kittens at an older age. But that’s where fate takes a turn.
Therefore we consider:
- Wool (if any). Smooth, clean, with a healthy shine. No tangles or bald spots.
- Leather. Pink or gray depending on the color. Smooth, velvety, soft. No wounds, scratches or rashes. Small scratches are allowed on the neck, just below the back of the head - this is the mother cat still dragging the kitten by the scruff of the neck in her teeth.
- Ears. Clean, without sebaceous accumulations, dirt and black (sometimes brown) spots. Shouldn't smell bad.
- Nose. Damp and cold, but not very wet (as if there were snot).
- Eyes. Shiny, transparent, without cloudy haze. Absence of suppuration and tear streaks. In breeds with a deep bridge of the nose, drips are allowed; this is their feature.
- Place under the tail. Clean and dry, without stains or pellets on the coat.
- Skeleton. Strong, dense. Paws and tail without curvature. No lameness.
- Teeth and gums. Pink color, without spots or wounds. If there are no teeth yet, then the baby cannot be taken away. He's too small.
These are the main external signs by which you can easily determine whether the kitten is healthy or already sick.
By the way, some sources strongly recommend examining your baby for fleas. This is not the worst disadvantage to give up a kitten. Insects can be dealt with quickly and easily. Fortunately, the veterinary industry now offers a great variety of care products.
Advice. Be sure to touch the tummy of the chosen kitten. It shouldn't be swollen like a ball. Or vice versa, sunken. These are not direct signs of the disease, but they are already a reason to think about it.
what to feed a kitten
How to choose a kitten: love at first sight
Finding your exact kitten is like finding love. There are many wonderful kittens, but only one will truly appeal to you and be spiritually close to you. Therefore, before purchasing, first communicate with the animal in its usual conditions of detention.
Be sure to observe his behavior in the company of his brothers. This way you can understand the individual character of kittens and figure out whose habits are closer to you.
A leader kitten or a hermit kitten, an easygoing baby or a bully? Choose with your heart! In addition, some of the kittens may take a special liking to you and immediately go into your arms to cuddle, while others will shy away and run away. You shouldn’t choose only based on beauty – be sure to pay attention to such important points...
Useful tips
After the new owner of the kitten has decided on his choice, discussed all the issues of interest to him with the breeder, showed the animal to the veterinarian and finally brought it home, he will need to arrange a new home for the baby.
- When purchasing a pet, you should think in advance where it will sleep. From the first days in a new home, the baby should feel comfortable;
- It is necessary to take care of toys for the kitten. You can not only buy a toy, but also make it yourself. Perhaps at first the baby will miss his mother. Of course, a mouse or a fishing rod will not be able to replace the loss, but, in any case, the fluffy will be distracted from sad thoughts by a fun game with the owner;
- You can ask the breeder what combs he uses to care for the baby’s mother’s fur and purchase the same one;
- You should not sign your pet up for neutering in the first weeks. Despite the fact that doctors recommend doing this at an early age, you should wait a couple of weeks. The animal is already in a state of stress due to separation from its mother. You need to give him time to get comfortable, to feel that he is loved, and he is in good, kind hands;
- The owner should surround the baby with care and attention. Don't scold him for little pranks or mistakes. This way, the friendship that arose in the first days can develop into true love between the cat and its new owner.
Tags: good to know, advice
