New Cat Owners What You Need to Know

A New Experience

Adopting a pet cat is an exciting moment for new cat owner and why shouldnt it be. A cat is one of the cutest, cleanest and smartest pet you can have in your home. It also brings lots of responsibilities. There’s no second thought in the fact that you will soon love your cat just like a family member and feel joyous and cheerful in your kitty’s company. 

Being a new Cat owner, you must know the basics about how to keep your kitty safe, healthy, and happy. You will need to keep it safe from harm, just like a little baby. You need to know all the significant aspects of taking care of your furry friend. Here, we’re going to discuss everything you need to as a new cat owner. So, let’s get started

Everything You need to know as a new cat owner

Minimum Age to Separate a kitten from a mother

Adopting a Cat brings happiness to your life, but it also raises a lot of questions in your mind. Among those questions, the most asked one is “What is the minimum age of a cat to be separated from a mother.” It’s a sensitive question because it’s a matter of your kitty’s social, mental, and physical health. There’s a common misconception that kittens can be separated from their mother when they are 8 weeks old. An 8-week-old kitten barely starts eating solid foods and mostly requires mother’s milk. So, if you separate an 8-week-old kitten from a mother, it can increase the risk of developmental, social, and health issues.

Expert Veterinarians recommend keeping kittens with their mothers until they are 12-14 weeks old. After 14 weeks, kittens not only start eating solid foods but also manage to play on their own; thus, you can separate them from mothers. Veterinarians believe that feeding kittens on mother’s milk for up to 12-14 weeks can be helpful to overcome the stress that comes from weaning. So, the minimum age to separate a kitten from a mother is 12-14 Weeks.

Immunizations for cats against diseases and fleas

Once you’ve completed the adoption process, take your cat to a professional Vet for immunizations and vaccinations against different diseases and fleas. Your vet will inform you about necessary vaccinations that you must complete to keep your kitty healthy and fit. Most veterinarians recommend two types of vaccines:

Core Vaccines

Core Vaccines are essential for your cat’s health there compulsory to be completed. They protect your kitty against respiratory viruses, rabies infections, and feline distemper.

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-Core Vaccines are extra immunological boosters. They protect your kitty against fleas and common infections. You should complete these vaccines on your vet’s advice.

Fleas, ticks, and worms can cause parasite infections both within and outside of your kitty’s skin. On-Time and regular vaccinations can prevent the development of parasite infections.

Bad behaviour in Cats

How to react to bad behaviour with your cat

Being a new cat owner, you might experience bad behavior from your cat, which is mostly due to stress, fear, and strange feeling. Cats are intelligent pets with splendid memory. They keep their previous home, mother, and living conditions in their mind for a long time. So, when they change their home and take them from their mothers, it might trigger bad behavior, which you can control by being supportive, kind, and gentle. Follow these useful tips to stop bad behavior in your cat:
  • Always discourage bad behavior by trying a variety of tricks such as shaking a noise can, using a water spray bottle, or saying some strong words loudly, like “No.”
  • Always encourage good behavior. Whenever your kitty shows good behavior, reward her with treats, praises, and attention. It can be helpful for your kitty to differentiate between good and bad behavior.
  • Never physically hurt your cat. Avoid spanking, kicking, or hitting because they can exacerbate the problem instead of improving. Attempting to stop aggressive behavior through physical means doesn’t provide the outcomes you’re looking for and can trigger more aggressive behavior.
  • Don’t use any painful or hurting techniques to teach your kitty. If it appears to you that things are out of your hand, consult your vet for professional help in this regard. Make your kitty feel as much comfortable as you can because it’s a key to treating bad behavior.
  • Keep your cat away from all such things that trigger aggressiveness. For example, some cats don’t like to be socialized and need to be kept away from strange people.
Arrange Healthy Food and Comfortable Shelter for Your Cat

After immunizations of your cat, shelter and food are two essential things to be considered. Make sure that the shelter you’re giving to your cat can prove to be a home sweet home for her. Arrange a shelter that is wide enough that Your cat can walk in it freely. It should be open enough to allow the entry of sunlight and fresh air.

Your cat’s food is what you’re going to give her to eat. Cats are carnivores and get their proteins from a wide range of meat sources. Consider investing in a good cat food brand which within your budget as well as healthy for your kitty.

Cats Love to play

Cats are playful pets that stay curious all the time and look for stimulation from their owners. Giving them full of entertainment toys that can promote energy-demanding activities is a great way to make your kitty go through healthy exercise sessions. 

You can buy the occasional squeaky toy mouse or any sort of catnip toy for your cat. Avoid giving them anything hard because it can affect their soft claws.

Give Your Cat a space to hunt and climb.

Cat love to climb heights because it’s their natural ability. Take your cat in the jungle for a healthy climbing session. Play throw and fetch with Your cat with the help of a minor softball to promote hunting practice.

Cats are soltariy hunters and have a natural ability to sneak up to and hunt small mammals and birds. Your aim should be to give your cat ability to climb, hide, sneakup to moving objects such as balls and toys to satisfy its predator insticts.

Be sure to check our article on what your cat really wants for inspiration.