By FixNation Medical Director, Dr. Kerri Anderson
As kitten season approaches, many of you will bring the joy and fuzzy goodness of a new kitten into your home. Congratulations! Here are a few tips that can help you keep your kitten happy and healthy for a long 
healthy life.
- Take your new kitten to the veterinarian.
Your kitties Doctor will provide you with important health information such as a thorough physical examination, vaccination schedules, deworming regimens, behavioral advice and nutritional information. - Spay and/or neuter your new kitten.
Spaying your female kitten will prevent uterine infections and cancers, reduce her risk of mammary cancer, and prevent unseemly behaviors from being in heat. Neutering your male cat also reduces his prostate cancer risk and decreases the likelihood he will spray your home to mark his territory. And your kitty will not add to the kitty overpopulation problem. - Play with kitten safe toys.
Make sure that any toys your kitten plays with do not have any small buttons or strings that can be dislodged from the toy and swallowed. Strings can be particularly hazardous to your kitten and require surgery to have them removed. - Confine your kitten to a small area.
As your kitten is familiarizing herself with your home, keep her safe by keeping her in a small designated area, such as a bathroom. Allow supervized exploration of the house until she is familiar. Always check in and around household appliances before you start them. Kittens frequently can climb into dryers or other household appliances and be tragically injured when it is started. - Introduce your kitten to the family slowly.
It can be overwhelming for a kitten to be introduced to a family all at once. Young children should be introduced one by one to your new kitten and supervised while they are playing with him. - Put out a scratching post.
It’s very important to have an appropriate place for your kitten to sharpen her nails. If your kitty starts to scratch in an inappropriate place, cover the area she is scratching with a thick plastic mat and move the scratching post in front of the area. - Provide a litter box for your new kitten.
Many kittens naturally use a litter box, but some need encouragement. During the introductory phase it may be necessary for you to litter train your kitten. If your kitten does not know how to use a litter box, place her in the litter box after a nap or a meal and encourage her to dig and scratch several times daily until she gets the idea. - Provide a quiet, warm place for your kitten.
Young kittens rely on their mother and littermates for warmth and security. Their bodies are not very good at temperature regulation and can become cold. Line a box with a blanket or purchase a pet bed to keep your new kitten cozy and secure. - Supply your kitten with a high quality food that is appropriate for his age.
Little Mr. Kitten’s nutritional needs are different than Big Mr. Cat. He needs energy and protein for growth while an adult cat needs just enough nutrients to maintain his body.
