Nutrition

Kittens should be fed a combination of both high-quality kitten food and some natural foods to ensure a balanced diet is provided. Avoid giving cow milk to kittens, but always ensure they have access to fresh, clean water at all times.

If you know the brand of food your cat was eating prior to adopting it, it helps to get a small amount of the same food to keep them on a consistent diet and make a slow transition to whatever food you plan on feeding them. Changing to a new food takes a little adjustment and a slow transition can prevent an upset stomach.

Bedding

Most cats sleep a lot during the day, so give yours a comfortable place to rest. Although your kitten may want to share your bed it is important to provide them with a comfortable dry bed of their own as well. Use bedding that is safe, can be easily cleaned and dried and place the bed somewhere cosy and private.

Some cats prefer sunny, warm spots to sleep; others want to hide away in someplace dark and private. Notice where your cat sleeps most often and put the bed in that area.

Litter box

You'll need at least one litter box for each cat you have. Place a litter box in a quiet and private area for your kitten to use when they need to go to the toilet.

Whatever type of box you choose, make sure it’s large enough. Smaller boxes are fine for kittens, but cats over 4.5 or 5 kilograms may find a regular size box too small. Large litter boxes give your cat plenty of room to move, and low walls make it easier for them to get in and out.

Play time

Play time is important for bonding between you and your kitten. Kittens are very playful and curious and love to expend some of their energy chasing cat toys and interacting with their owners. Try rotating a variety of different types of cat toys and try different games so your cat doesn’t get bored. Toys may include chase and catch toys; toys that you can put tasty food treats in and puzzle feeders.

If your cat is lazy and needs some encouragement to get moving, try ‘Da Bird’, which is a long wand with feathers on the end of a string, which mimic a bird in flight when you swing it around. Even the laziest cat usually can’t resist taking some swats at it or chasing it around.

Grooming

Regular gentle grooming is important particularly for medium-haired and long-haired cats. Start grooming your kitten early on so that it becomes an enjoyable bonding activity and part of routine care. Positively reward your cat with a tasty cat food treat, verbal praise and gentle patting for allowing you to groom them. This way your cat will associate grooming with positive things.

Scratching poles

Cats instinctively need to scratch things to keep their claws in good condition and to express natural behaviour. It’s important to provide a scratching pole or several scratching poles around the house. This will help to prevent your cat scratching other objects such as furniture, etc. If your kitten does start to scratch furniture, cover the furniture with protective material and provide plenty of appropriate alternative things for them to direct their scratching behaviour towards. Some cats may prefer a scratching mat.

You can also buy a small amount of dried catnip to sprinkle on the scratching pole to get your cat’s attention.