INTRODUCTION

The arrival of a new member of the family is always exciting, but preparation is essential (when that arrival has not been unexpected), in this article we will look at the essentials when we are getting a new kitten.

SAFETY FIRST

If you live on a high floor (a first floor is already a high floor for your cat) you have to protect the windows or balconies so that they can't fall, because, as we said, they don't have seven lives and it's not true that they never fall. Despite the fact that they are excellent tightrope walkers, a distraction, a miscalculation or them wanting to run away from you because you are trying to keep them away from danger can lead to a fall which, in the best case scenario, can result in a broken leg or, in the worst, trauma to the thorax, jaw or head, which can lead to death.

To prevent this from happening and to protect your cat by allowing them to be on the terrace, balcony or look out of an open window, enclosures or patios (cat yards) are recommended. There are various solutions to suit all budgets. ‘Ideally, enclosures should be made of metal and airtight materials (cover windows, balconies and terraces in their entirety, not partially). For large spaces, such as terraces or patios, reinforced anti-UV nets can be used’.

In addition, these nets or meshes must be anchored with rigid materials, such as wooden or PVC profiles, so that there are no nooks and crannies through which the cat can escape. Rings cannot be used because they leave large gaps and even if the net is very taut, the weather and the sun can deteriorate the net and not prevent your cat from escaping or injuring itself. Or, your pet may even find a way to make holes.

If you opt for an enclosure with reinforced netting, bear in mind that it can only be used under supervision. That is, you cannot leave your cat alone because, even if they are made of hard materials, if your pet is very curious or very active, it could break them.

On the other hand, mosquito nets should not be used as they can easily break or get their claws caught in them.

If you have tilt and turn windows, they should be changed or opened only when the cat is not in the room, as they are a death trap for cats.

THE FIRST VISIT TO THE VET

The first check-up for kittens is usually carried out at eight weeks of age. If you have adopted a kitten, you will need to take it to be seen by a vet after a short settling-in period.

Ideally, kittens should remain with their mother until they are twelve weeks old. The antibodies in the milk protect them against infection.

However, if a kitten becomes ill, it should always be taken to the vet. Kittens in particular have fewer defences and therefore their vital functions can quickly fail.

About four weeks after the first appointment, you should take the kitten back to the vet. Here, the kitten will be given the next basic immunisation vaccination in order to achieve the highest possible antibody titre. In addition, the vet will examine the kitten again.

If the cat comes from an ethical breeder, the veterinary check-up will be complete and the cat's health will be optimal, and the new visit will only be routine and for registration purposes, but if our kitten comes from a private individual or from the street, one of the things we will have to do is to test it for feline leukaemia (essential) and to deworm it internally and externally.

Veterinary insurance is usually a good option to save money in this regard.

QUALITY FOOD

A quality food is essential, the cat is a strict carnivore so we have to opt for a BARF diet (raw) or feed without cereals, a good example of this type of feed are those of Reis d'Aranda, which they have for both kittens and adults.

A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP

We will prepare a safe place for the kitten to sleep, where it can rest peacefully or take refuge when it thinks it is necessary. We can choose a room in the house, the terrace (as long as it is closed) or any place where there is little movement of people; the cat is a very capricious animal that will end up choosing its favourite place to sleep, but a shelter composed by a closed bed that makes a ‘cave effect’, with few sounds, will be very pleasant for it.

CONCLUSION

Having a new pet is exciting but we must do it responsibly and adapt our home correctly for its arrival. We should not try to save (badly) on veterinary issues and much less on security, as doing this can lead to more than one unpleasant situation.