First of all, congratulations on welcoming a new member to your life. Owning a pet is a great responsibility, but the love you give will bring you a loyal friend who will accompany you for many years.
The first six months of raising a new cat will be busy, but also the most fulfilling. During these six months, you may encounter various medical or behavioral/social issues. Our goal is to provide you with concise answers, but if you need more information during your care, please feel free to contact us.
Dietary
Cats should be fed food appropriate for their age (kitten, adult, or senior).
Kittens will gradually be weaned when they are 4 to 8 weeks old. At this time, you can gradually introduce kitten food. You can purchase dry or wet food from veterinary clinics, pet stores, or supermarkets, or even make your own food. There are high-quality cat foods formulated for different age groups available on the market, providing kittens with comprehensive and balanced nutrition, as well as all the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Dry food is nutritionally very similar to wet food, but it's generally more economical, cleaner, and more hygienic, and better promotes oral health. Food quality is very important; the quality of inexpensive dog food can differ significantly from that of high-quality dog food. As long as the cat's food is nutritionally balanced, the owner does not need to add extra calcium.
Owners should also reward their cats occasionally with treats, raw bones, or raw chicken wings. Do not feed cats cooked bones, as they are prone to splintering and can pose a health hazard.
Homemade food is a great option, but it can be challenging to balance nutrition and cooking, and it's difficult to ensure your cat will enjoy it. During the cooking process, owners must ensure the homemade food is nutritionally balanced. It's important to note that even with added vitamin supplements, feeding only meat or meat with rice doesn't constitute a complete or balanced diet. If you decide to make homemade food for your cat, consult your veterinarian for nutritional advice and to create a suitable meal plan for your pet.
preventive vaccines
Vaccination is a crucial aspect of preventative medicine. Cats should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 16 weeks of age. Vaccines protect against common and serious diseases such as feline parvovirus , feline rhinotracheitis , and feline calicivirus (feline influenza). In Hong Kong, these diseases are common in unvaccinated cats. Adult cats should also continue to be vaccinated annually.
In Hong Kong, the chances of cats contracting rabies are very low, so cats do not need to be vaccinated against rabies. However, cats that are going abroad must be vaccinated against rabies.
Feline leukemia is a chronic disease that weakens the immune system in felines, and is most common in stray cats and multi-cat households. Feline leukemia is relatively rare in Hong Kong, but owners can choose to vaccinate their cats against it.
Du intestinal parasites
Kittens should be given deworming medication once a month before their first vaccination. Then, administer it every 3 to 6 months. Deworming is very important for a cat's health because, in some cases, intestinal parasites can be transmitted to other family members.
fleas and ticks
Fleas can cause allergic reactions, dermatitis, and itching in cats, and they can also cause intestinal parasite infections. Not all cats need flea prevention, but if a cat lives in an area with many fleas, regular flea treatments are very important.
Ticks are eight-legged arthropods that look somewhat like large, slow-moving fleas. Ticks can irritate the skin and even cause anemia. They often carry the parasite Barbesia , a tiny parasite that can cause life-threatening tick fever in dogs, although cats are unlikely to contract tick fever in Hong Kong. Ticks are common in grassy areas and are widespread throughout Hong Kong.
Prevention of fleas and ticks:
Generally speaking, flea and tick shampoos, or products containing pyrethrin , are not very effective. Even after using these types of products, flea survival rates can still be as high as 75 %, and they may be toxic to cats. Therefore, we do not recommend using flea and tick shampoos on cats.
Living environment
Owners should provide their cats with baskets or pet beds so they can rest well at night; they should not be locked in cages or tied up. Cat beds should be washed regularly, and blankets should be washed weekly or whenever they become dirty. The cat's resting place should not be too far from the living room, but should be a warm, comfortable, and secluded spot.
cat litter box
The litter box should be kept away from the living room, eating areas, or noisy places. Owners may consider placing it in the bathroom or another secluded spot. Purchase good quality, clumping cat litter and place at least one inch of litter in the litter box. The litter box should be cleaned daily, removing all urine and feces. Cats are generally very clean animals and usually do not require any litter training.
Beauty Cleansing
Cats are easier to clean than dogs; they generally don't need baths, and owners only need to trim their nails regularly. If you have a long-haired cat, remember to brush it frequently. Getting your cat used to brushing from a young age will make your life much easier later. Trim its nails whenever they start to become sharp or easily get caught. Trimming all ten nails at once can be difficult; using appropriate nail clippers and trimming them in several sessions will likely be easier. Additionally, provide your cat with scratching posts and other toys so they have a suitable place to sharpen their claws without damaging your sofa.
Behavioral training
Training a cat can be quite a challenge, even training them to come or respond when they hear their name is often difficult. Owners can try using food rewards to assist with behavioral training. Generally speaking, cats do not need litter training.
Punishment (spitting or chasing a cat) is considered an outdated and cruel method that only instills fear in cats towards their owners.
Cats must be rewarded for doing the right thing – if the owner only rewards the cat five minutes after the action, it may have already forgotten why it was rewarded.
sterilization
Spaying/neutering prevents unwanted breeding in pets. Cats six months or older are eligible for the procedure. Generally, the surgery can be completed within a day, usually without requiring an overnight stay in the hospital, and most cats recover completely by the evening of the surgery.
Spaying/neutering plays a crucial role in a pet's health and social well-being. If you do not plan to breed your cat, we strongly recommend spaying/neutering it.