All About Kittens - Selection, care, facts, and information. 

Naming Your Kitten This is fun, but it’s also very important. A kitten needs a name it will recognise, so try and avoid names that sound like commands you are likely to use. For instance “Beau” sounds similar to “No”. A short, simple name is ideal. Don’t forget one day you may have to stand in your front yard and call it, so don’t pick something you’ll be embarrassed by. Kitten Definitions Baby Teeth - A cat's baby teeth grow to full size by about eight weeks, and at five to six months they are replaced by permanent ones. Dam - a mother cat Kitten - A young cat up to 9 months of age. Kitten Heap - The average kitten weighs 3.5 ounce and must be kept warm if it is to survive. Kittens sleep in a clump, which provides warmth and a sense of security. When the top kitten becomes too cool, it slides off and burrows underneath the others for warmth. This is repeated as each top kitten becomes chilled. The kitten heap prevents any one kitten from becoming too cold to survive. Lactation - The production of milk by the mother cat. Litter - The kittens born approximately nine weeks after mating. An average first litter is three to four kittens. Subsequent litters will contain four or more. Skin - The skin on a kitten is loose so that the mother can carry her offspring in her teeth. When a cat grows, the skin stays loose. This is an aid to the flexible skeleton and muscle combination. When grabbed by a predator, this loose skin enables the cat to escape and only lose some fur. Adult or Kitten? Consider adopting an adult cat. An adult cat already has a fully developed personality, so you know what you're getting. Adult cats generally adapt well to new homes and bond just as strongly with new owners as kittens do. Also, adult cats are much less likely to be adopted. Kittens require more care and watching, they may need to be litter box trained, and they require several trips to the veterinarian for vaccinations, checkups and spaying or neutering. In addition, it is difficult to predict what a kitten will turn out like when she grows up. If you decide on a kitten, the kitten should not be separated from its mother until it is eight to ten weeks old. Male or Female? Neutered males and spayed females make equally good pets. Neither gender is uniformly more affectionate, more intelligent, more calm or more playful. Unaltered cats of either gender, however, can be difficult to live with. Unaltered males mark their territory by "spraying" foul smelling urine on the walls and furniture. If allowed outdoors, they will roam and fight with other cats. Unaltered females may also spray and usually are very vocal when they are in heat. Neutered and spayed cats make much more pleasant and healthy companions. Keep in mind that, while you have several options as to where to get a cat, animal shelters are a great place to start. You will be saving a new best friend who really needs you.

How to Bring a Kitten into the Home of Older Pets Even if your older pet has lived peacefully with other animals in the house, there is no guarantee that he will welcome a new kitten with joy, or even tolerance. When you bring a new kitten into the home, your older pet will need lots of extra attention. The cat needs to know that you still love him and that the newcomer is not a threat to his position in your household. When you bring your new kitten home, it is important to isolate her. Choose a room in neutral territory. The first time the two pets meet face to face should be short. If the older pet is a dog, proper restraint, such as a leash, will prevent him from chasing and scaring the kitten. Your older pet needs to be reassured that the newcomer will not take over his territory. If he has a favorite sleeping place, don?t let the kitten sleep there. Provide the youngster with her own toys. Animals are often possessive of their food and feeding dishes. Ideally, since the kitten should be eating her own kitten food, have her feeding dishes in a different room or area for as long as possible. Top 10 Kitten Care Books Learn all about the care and raising of kittens from these top books . . . 1. The Cornell Book of Cats: A Comprehensive and Authoritative Medical Reference for Every Cat and Kitten by Mordecai Siegal 2. The Perfect Kitten: How to Raise a Problem Free Cat by Peter Neville 3. The Kitten Owner's Manual: Solutions to all your Kitten Quandaries in an easy-to-follow question and answer format by Arden Moore, John C. Wright 4. The Total Cat: Understanding Your Cat's Physical and Emotional Behavior from Kitten to Old Age by Carole C. Wilbourn, Edward Frascino (Illustrator) 5. Hand-Raising the Orphaned Kitten by M. L. Papurt 6. Kitten Care and Training: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet) by Amy Shojai 7. Complete Kitten Care by Amy D. Shojai 8. Aspca Pet Care Guides for Kids: Kitten by Mark Evans 9. Your Kitten: Expert Advice on How to Choose a Kitten and How to Keep It in Good Health (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals) by Ute Lehmann, Helgard Niewisch 10. The Essential Kitten: Total Care, Training, Companionship, Feeding and Grooming Your Kitten, Keeping Your Pet Healthy by Betsy Sikora Siino (Editor), Ian Dunbar (Editor) Kitten Breeds Abyssinian American Curl Bengal Birman British Shorthair Burmese Devon Rex Exotic Himalayan Kittens Longhaired Maine Coon Manx Oriental Shorthair Persian Ragdoll Russian Shorthair Scottish Fold Shorthair Siamese Somali Tabby Cats All Breeds

Getting Ready for Your New Kitten: A Wish List Required items for your kitten's health and safety: Collar is needed for attaching your pet's identification tag. Make sure you buy a breakaway collar. ID tag is an absolute essential for every pet. Food bowl is obvious and there are many to choose from depending on your personal preference. Water bowl for clean, fresh water to be available at all times, even though they don't drink much. Food that is well balanced and premium to maintain your pet's health. Toys to keep kitty from being bored. Plus, playtime gives you a chance to bond with your new feline friend. Toothbrush and toothpaste to provide a dental health program that will promote healthy teeth and gums that need to last your cat a lifetime. Comb to keep your cat's skin healthy and the coat shiny and mat-free. Nail clippers unless you plan to have your cat professionally groomed. Bed or mat to provide a place to cuddle up. Scratching post or furniture since it's either a place of his own to scratch and perch, or it's your couch. Litter needs no explanation, right? Litter Pan Highly Recommended Items: Stain and odor neutralizer for quickly treating any accidents. Litter pan liners to make cleanup a little more convenient. Treats just because you love her! Catnip because cats have fun with it, and their owners have fun watching them! Hairball paste to help keep hairballs from becoming a problem. Ear cleaner to keep your cat's ears clean and healthy. Shampoo and conditioner to keep your kitty looking (and smelling) nice. Containers for holding dry food and treats is more convenient than digging to the bottom of a big bag. Scoop for scooping dry food designed for getting food from the container to the bowl without getting it all over you and the floor. Hair pickup device so you can remove all that pretty cat hair from your clothing and furniture. If you ever wear black, you're going to want a few of these! Carriers are essential for traveling with your pet and going to the vet. Flea prevention medication to ward off a possible infestation. Books, magazines, and videos to learn more about your new buddy. Special Items: Vitamins for pets that need a little extra boost due to being undernourished or sick. Leash and a harness may be necessary if you want to train your cat to walk with you. Kitten Facts Right after the kittens are born, the mothers will clean them up and start to nurse them. Kittens are born blind, deaf, and helpless. They must stay warm in order to survive. Birth to 10 days: Kittens are virtually helpless. Primary focus is eating and staying warm. Between 10 and 14 days: Eyes and ears open, allowing kittens to become more responsive to their world. Kittens can be exposed to gentle handling and new sounds. Kittens begin to stand and walk, and "baby teeth" appear. Day 14 to Week 14: Referred to as the socialization phase, this is the most sensitive period for learning to form social relationships. Especially up to 7 weeks, kittens should have many positive experiences with humans, other cats and other species. Week 3: Kittens are able to eliminate without aid of queen. Between Weeks 3 and 4: Kittens eat first solid food. Weaning begins during this period and is usually complete by 7 weeks. Kittens progress from walking to running. Week 4: Kittens begin to dig or rake in any loose, particulate matter they encounter, a behavior important to later litter box use. The first signs of predatory behavior appear. Week 14: Running, jumping and climbing skills become more refined and efficient. Growth continues, but at a slower rate. Between Months 6 and 12: Sexual maturity is reached. Secondary sex characteristics appear. Territorial behavior and behaviors associated with mating appear. *Note ~ Kittens/Cats can mate before 1 year of age, but it is better not to. Owners of cats are warned to keep their adolescent kittens indoors and away from the opposite sex until 1 year of age. Information on this page was compiled by PETsMART.com staff and PETsMART Inc. experts and other experts. Information and advice contained on this site is for your consideration only. Please consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the care and treatment of your pet.