Have you recently adopted a kitten? Congratulations! Your feline friend is bound to fill your home and your heart with love, and will charm you with her adorable antics. Just as with people, Fluffy’s childhood is a crucial time. If you want your pet to grow into a friendly, (at least somewhat) polite adult cat, this is the time to teach her proper petiquette. An Oshawa, ON vet lists some things to teach your kitten below.

You Live Indoors

Little Fluffy will be very curious about the world, and may be very interested in exploring the great outdoors. Keep your adorable adventurer safe and sound indoors! Cats—especially baby ones—are very small and vulnerable, and can easily get hurt or lost. They are also at risk from cars, chemicals, weather, predators, stray cats, and other hazards.

Play Nice

One thing on your feline buddy’s agenda for the near future is figuring out how all those claws and teeth work. She may very well want to practice on you. This may be cute, but it’s not a habit you want to encourage. Those little claws and teeth are sharp!

Not Everything Is A Toy

Cats are just as mischievous as they are cute. Kitten parents need to be on their toes, especially during that adorable toddler phase. Little Fluffy will try her hunting skills on pretty much anything and everything. This can be very dangerous! Do some petproofing, and remove anything toxic, small, sharp, or otherwise unsafe.

Proper Scratching Habits

Kitties are instinctively driven to take care of their nails, and with good reason. They depend on their claws for survival in the wild. It’s up to you to teach your furry little diva proper scratching habits. Get her a good scratching post, and offer treats, praise, cuddles, and catnip for using it. If you notice little Fluffy scratching improperly, clap your hands and say ‘No!’ or ‘Bad Kitty’ in a stern, disapproving tone.

You Are Loved

Socialization is very important at this stage. Many kittens love being cuddled and held, so it usually doesn’t take much for them to start seeing their owners as their ‘parents.’ Pay lots of attention to your tiny furball, and let her snooze on you sometimes. Please reach out to us, your Oshawa, ON vet clinic, for all of your kitten’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!