Kitten Vaccinations

• Kittens begin vaccinations at 9 weeks old - this is around the time that the natural protection afforded by the mother is no longer adequate.

• It is important to note that cats and kittens should be vaccinated whether or not they will be allowed outdoors.

Cats, like all animals, are susceptible to a variety of diseases - some of which can be very serious and even fatal. When your kitten was born, some natural protection against disease will have been passed on by the mother - however this doesn't last very long. As a responsible cat owner, you must ensure your cat's health is protected by having your kitten vaccinated.

Your vet will vaccinate your kitten against the following:



Cat Flu

• First vaccination at 9 weeks old, followed by a booster three weeks later. Annual boosters are recommended.

This vaccination will cover two types of cat flu:

Herpesvirus Cat Flu: (also known as Feline Rhinotrachetis)


This is a common type of viral upper respiratory disease and is most common in kittens and older cats. Once your kitten or cat is infected with this disease, it will have it for life, causing problems with the eyes, nose and sinuses.

For more information, please visit: http://www.cat-world.com.au/FelineHerpes.htm


Calicivirus Cat Flu:

This type of cat flu is milder than the herpesvirus but more difficult to fully vaccinate against because, like human flu, there are many different strains. Cats are able shake off this type of the virus in later life, but it can cause much distress to young kittens.

For more information, please visit: http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Pawprint/AllAboutPets/Cat_flu.asp


Feline Infectious Enteritis: (also known as Feline Panleucopenia, Feline Parvovirus)

• First vaccination at 9 weeks old, followed by a booster three weeks later. Annual boosters are recommended.

This is an acute type of gastroenteritis that attacks the affected cats gut and can cause brain damage in unborn kittens. It is often fatal.

For more information, please visit: http://www.fabcats.org/enteritis.html


Feline Leukemia

• First vaccination at 9 weeks old, followed by a booster three weeks later. Annual boosters are recommended.

This is the most dangerous virus to your cat, killing more cats than any other virus or disease. Your kitten MUST be vaccinated against feline leukemia.

For more information, please visit: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/FeLV.html


Feline Chlamydophilia felis: (also known as Feline Chlamydiosis or Feline Chlamydia)

• This is a relatively mild upper respiratory disease, which can be vaccinated against if the owner wishes it. Some cats or kittens are at greater risk than others. It is important to consult your vet, who will advise you about this vaccination.

For more information, please visit: http://www.future-of-vaccination.co.uk/conjunctivitis-cat-chlamydophila.asp

Weaning Your Kitten

A common problem with new kitten owners is knowing when to start the weaning process.

Milk is necessary in a kittens diet for the first 4 to 5 weeks of age. It is important to be patient! Remember, your kitten is still a baby and has a very delicate stomach.

Week four is the average time to start weaning but some kittens might take longer so looking for some signs will help you in knowing when to wean a kitten.

They will generally signal an interest in solid foods by biting the bottle nipple or showing an interest in licking milk or formula from a finger.

To start weaning, try feeding some formula or milk from a spoon or in a small bowl or flat dish.

The next step is to begin adding some high quality canned kitten food with the milk (or water) and making a soft paste out of it.

Don’t use a dry food yet unless it is thoroughly moistened as a kitten can’t chew dry food until they are 8 weeks old. It is a good idea though to make some dry food available as some kittens like to crunch on the smaller pieces.

Use a bowl that is easy to access. Putting a little food on the kitten’s mouth might help stimulate their appetite as they will have a natural tendency to lick it off. Avoid blocking the nose with food or formula so your kitten can breathe easily and not panic.

You should continue to bottle feed during this process to make sure the kitten is getting enough to eat and slowly reduce the feedings as the kitten eats more solid food.

Weight gain can be slow and some diarrhea is common but if it is excessive it can be a serious life-threatening problem and you should take the kitten to your vet immediately.

Continual weight gain is the goal and a good rule of thumb is around four ounces a week.

About the author:
For expert advice on cat urine cleaner visit www.cat-urine-remover.com
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Training Your Kitten To Use A Cat Litter Tray

Kittens will usually start using a cat litter tray at about 4 or 5 weeks old. Normally, the kitten will have learned this from her mother before she comes to you. If this is the case, it’s a good idea to use the same type of cat litter she is used to. Cats have a very acute sense of smell, so the familiarity will make training your cat easier.

If your kitten has not yet been litter trained, you will have to show her how it’s done!

Before you start….

Ø Choose a cat litter tray that is a suitable size for your kitten. If the sides are too steep, she might not use it.

Ø Ensure that the cat litter tray is placed in a suitable and accessible place in your home. Cats don’t like to urinate near the places where they eat or sleep.

Ø Choose a cat litter type and stick to it. There are many different litter types on the market and it may take some trial and error at first. Some are perfumed to disguise odour, which may make life more pleasant for you, but may perhaps be too strong for your kitten. Litter types can include:

Non-absorbent or re-usable litter
Wood-based litter
Earth based litter
Silica Gel
Paper-based

Ø Being extremely fastidious, cats will refuse to use their cat litter tray if it is not clean enough. If it smells too strongly of urine, they will go for a more pleasant smelling option (e.g. a nice corner of the room!). Cat litter trays should be cleaned every day, removing all soiled cat litter and, most importantly, the litter tray should be cleaned properly. It should then be replaced by about 2 inches of fresh cat litter.

Remember that some cleaning products are hazardous to cats! A thorough clean with hot water is sufficient. A little vinegar can be used to neutralise the smell of cat urine. However, if the cat’s litter tray is cleaned regularly, this should not be necessary.

Now that you have all the tools, you are ready to litter train your kitten. Cats learn very quickly, so it should not take too long before your cat feels comfortable with using her cat litter tray.

Ø Cats learn to use their cat litter tray by example. Take your kitten to the cat litter tray several times a day to show her where it is. Gently take her paws and make a scratching motion in the cat litter. It may also help if you do it yourself – only when it’s clean of course!!

Ø Your kitten will most likely need to use her cat litter tray after eating and waking up from sleep. Take her to the tray and put her inside it, making the scratching motion with her paws for encouragement.

Ø The most important thing is to keep watch over your kitten. If she crouches down and sticks her tail in the air, that’s a sure sign she’s ready to go. Quickly scoop her up and take her to the cat litter tray – she’ll soon get the message!

Best of luck!...

Kitten Training Tips

Scratching on different items can create a big problem. It’s a normal thing for a cat to scratch, but get things that are appropriate for them to scratch on. Place them around the house so that there is not just one scratching post. Make sure that you trim your kittens claws at least once a week.

Sometimes kittens will chew on different things, such as strings from mini-blinds, curtains, pretty much anything that sways and could catch their attention. You should take your cords and place them out of reach or just unplug them. You can also get a special cover for the cords.

You will want to keep a close eye on your kitten. Make sure that your kitten is not snagging their claws on your curtains; if they do they have the chance of ripping one of their nails out. This same rune should apply for your carpet, and throw rugs. You want to make sure that your kitten is safe as possible.

The next thing that you should do is make sure that the kitten has enough chew toys. This can help with a lot of oral activity, this being very important for the development of the kitten’s gums and teeth. Another thing that you can do is grow your kitten some of their own grass. This will also help with their digestive system.

Kittens require a lot of attention, they have playful tendencies and if they do not get enough play time they may seem like they are attacking you. All they really want is an outlet for their destructive behavior.

About The Author

Burt Cotton http://www.petcarenews.org

Our Feline Friends

Taking care of a kitten or a new cat is exciting but it is also a huge responsibility. In order for your cat to be happy and healthy, there is so much to consider so it's important to establish a solid routine from the beginning.

Many people think that because cats are such independant creatures, they don't need as much care. However, this is just simply not true!!

Feline Facts is dedicated to giving the best advice to kitten and cat owners, ranging from diet, grooming and training to health, immunisations and ailments. By collating the best information that can be found on the web, we hope to build a comprehensive guide to looking after your cat.

And off we go....

How To Have A Happy Cat

Do you like to learn about new and interesting things? If so, this article will be right up your alley! A healthy animal makes for a happy pet. If you are a cat owner and you want to make your pet happy, you need to make sure that your cat is groomed properly, fed on time and is given enough love and attention.

Here are some tips on how you can have a healthy and happy cat:

1. Take care of your cat's health.

As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that your cat is healthy and free from diseases that may even be transmitted to humans.

Visit the veterinarian if you notice that your cat has become lethargic or less active than usual.

If you see them 'shedding' excessively or has something unusual on their coat, immediately consult a professional.

Your cat might have a skin disease, or this could be a symptom of a sickness that you do not know about.

2. Groom your cat properly.

Cats are in the habit of grooming themselves. You will often see them using their tongue to clean their coat.

In spite of this, you should still do your part in grooming your cat if you want to keep them really clean.

Brush your cat's fur regularly. There are several short-haired cats that need minimal brushing. For this, you can use a comb with soft bristles.

There are also cat breeds which have long, silky furs and this variety needs a much longer grooming time.

Use a wide-toothed comb initially then brush up with a fine toothed one afterwards. You can also use talcum powder in order to separate the hair strands.

Make sure that you brush with gentle strokes so that their skin will not be hurt or scratched.

Cats are also not that fond of taking a bath. But there are times when your cat would need bathing.

This is when they have accumulated a lot of dirt on the skin and coat. Bathing will help eliminate ticks and lice.

Also, there might be substances that could cling on the fur which can be poisonous and it is important for them to bathe.

When bathing your pet, use a shampoo that is specially made for cats. Prepare the following before bathing:

-a small tub or sink
-slip-proof mat
-water spray attachment
-clean, dry towels
-shampoo
-comb

Adjust the water temperature, then place your cat in the small tub or sink before filling it up with water. It is better to attach a sprayer in the faucet rather than pouring water directly onto its body. Apply a liberal amount of shampoo on the cat's body, and try to avoid the face, especially the eyes and ears.

After rinsing, towel them dry and comb the coat. Bathing time should build trust and create some quality time between you and your pet cat.

This should prevent your cat from making much of a fuss the next time it needs a bath.

Another part of grooming is keeping the eyes, teeth and ears clean. Also remember to keep the paws clean and the nails trimmed.

Go to a pet store and you are sure to find products specially made to clean these parts. You can also look for a nail trimmer specifically designed to use on your pet cat.

Ask a professional groomer or a veterinarian so that you can learn how to properly clean your cat's eyes, ears, teeth and nails.

3. Feed them on time.

Another aspect of keeping your cat happy and healthy is by feeding them well and on time.

Your feline friends can learn how to "stick" to a schedule with your guidance and training.

Make time in your busy day to feed them. You can learn which variety of cat food they prefer by serving different brands and variants.

Along with cat food, you should give them plenty of clean water to drink.

If you have a lot of pet cats, give them individual feeding plates.

If there is just one dish, other cats might not be fed well because dominant felines will take the most part of the food that you serve.

4. Shower them with love and attention.

By giving your cats your undivided attention while grooming and feeding them, you are already showering them with love and attention. In addition to this, make their play time a lot more fun by appreciating the things that they do.By following these tips, you are sure to have a healthy cat and be a contented owner. When we learn, we continue on a path of growth. Therefore, learning about this subject has already helped you more than you know.

About The Author

Ken Charnely is webmaster at two of Internet's popular article directories. For more articles on this topic and for free content for your website visit http://www.articleteller.com/ and http://www.contentwow.com/.