Cats and Kittens

Click Here to download this Cat and Kitten care sheet.

Pet Magic wishes you the best on the purchase of your new Kitten, and would like to thank you for the opportunity to help you with your newest family member.

Welcome Home

To make your Cat as comfortable as it can in a new environment, you should be well prepared.

Below is a list of things you’ll need.

  • Clean bowls for food, water and wet food.
  • A warm bed. This should be located in a warm, draught-free, quiet place.
  • A litter tray and kitty litter. There is a huge range of litter types.
    • Try a few different ones to see what suites you and your Cat.
  • A few simple toys. There is large range of toys.
  • A scratching post. This will prevent the Kitten from scratching at the furniture or carpet.
  • A collar. Even for indoor Cats. A collar will help for indentifying if the Cat ever got lost.

For the first few days, keep the Kitten in a quiet area of the house, with all the necessities within reach.

These include food, water, litter tray and toys.

Don’t over indulge the new Kitten or Cat until it has settled in, you do not want their first impression to be a fearful one. Keep this in mind with young children who may not realise how fragile a little Kitten is.

Always allow the Cat to have access to their bed, this is their ‘safe place’ and should be in a quiet place.

Cats do live longer and are healthier when kept indoors.

If you wish to eventually have an indoor/outdoor Cat, only introduce the outdoor environment once the Cat is fully vaccinated. And only ever allow the Cat outside during comfortable days, never at night. It is important to impose a curfew quickly into the Cats routine.

Food

For the first Week, only feed your Kitten the Food that Pet Magic has provided you with.

There are numerous brands of Cat food.

A recommended good quality Biscuits such as Science Diet© Cat Food range.

Kittens can be weaned on to Adult Cat Food at around 12 months of age.

There are many benefits to the Science Diet® Cat Food. These include:

  • Maintaining strong teeth and bones.
  • Provides a complete and balanced diet
  • Defends against diseases
  • Builds a strong immune system

Kittens love to eat, and they need food available all the time. This demand is so large because Kittens grow very quickly and need maintained nutrition; a Cat is very unlikely to over eat.

With access to biscuits all the time, Kittens should be given wet Kitten food once a day. An adult cat should ideally be given wet food once a day, along with a constant supply of biscuits. Science Diet® has a large range of wet foods. 

Kittens over 6 weeks do NOT need milk supplements. Fresh water is a must.

A Family Cat

Cats are idolised for their free spirit and independence. Because of this they are not trained easily.

To teach your Cat their name, use it every time you interact with them. Soon, within a week the Cat should start to respond to their name, particularly when associated with food.

If the Cat is acting in a good manner, always remember to praise and reward them for it.

NEVER use negative punishment. Cats don’t respond well to this and can lead to behavioural issues.

A variety of cat toys such as interactive wands, pounce toys and chase toys are available from Pet Magic.

Empty tissue boxes and toilet rolls are fun too.  

You can take Cats for walks as well! There are many leashes and harnesses available at Pet Magic.

Toilet Training

Cats learn to use a litter tray from their mother. This makes toilet training easy as the instincts have already been imprinted. If the Cat does not seem interested in the litter tray, it will take time to teach them. If you notice the Cat wanting to toilet in an unsuitable area, pick them up and place them directly onto the tray, praise them for toileting in the tray. It will take them time to learn to use the tray. If there is an accident, don’t punish them.

Partial cleaning once a day of the litter keeps the smell down really well. Once a week, clean the entire tray with dish washing liquid and left to dry. This will keep the smell down and keep the tray hygienic.

Never let a pregnant woman clean the litter tray, as it can make the mother and unborn baby sick (a condition known as Toxoplasmosis)

Grooming

Cats need occasional grooming; a healthy Cat will groom themselves regularly.

Long haired cats will require more grooming; a daily brush to keep the fur healthy and clean is a must.

Cats’ nails may need trimming occasionally. Small animal nail clippers are available, but should be used carefully.

You can bathe Cats, but only ever use a good quality Cat Shampoo, and be prepared for a lot of hesitation!

Health - 'Prevention is the Best Cure'

Cats can be sterilised from 5-6 months. There is an over-population of Cats in Australia and every Cat sterilised helps. There are is now State Legislation on cat ownership that sterilisation and registration will be mandatory in WA.   

Unsterilised females have a high probability of becoming pregnant, and may result in unwanted kittens.

Unsterilised males will wander and can become aggressive and fight (spreading FIV).

Sterilised cats are more affectionate, less aggressive and will not wander far from the home.

A sterilised cat will also live longer and have less health issues (such as fighting wounds and birthing complications).

Vaccinations

Cats should be vaccinated against the 'four':

  • Feline Infectious Enteritis (FIE), an often fatal infection of the intestines.
  • Feline Calcivirus (FCV), a very painful virus causing ulceration
  • Feline Rhinotracheitis (FVR), or the cat flu
  • Feline Chlamydia Virus (FeLV)

The vets will often advice to also vaccinate for:

  • Feline Leukaemia
  • Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Flea and Heartworm Prevention

  • A monthly treatment will prevent Heartworm and fleas.
  • Cats can catch fleas and heartworm. Cats are also vulnerable to ear mites, ticks and sarcoptic mange mites. All of these can be prevented against by using a monthly treatment of Revolution®, Frontline® (only does Fleas) or any of the Advantage® or Advocate® range

Intestinal Worms

To control roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm,

The following schedule should be followed.

  • 6 weeks old
  • 8 weeks old
  • 10 weeks old
  • 12 weeks old
  • Then every 3 months for life.

There are many Cats all wormer brands such as Drontol®, Profender® and Topitran®

For Worming, Vaccination and Flea Treatment dates please refer to your Kittens Vaccination certificate, provided during the sale.

Cats can fall sick quickly and can show no symptoms until the last minute. Frequently check your Cat for weepy eyes, runny nose, flu symptoms and always watch for sudden changes in behaviour and appetite. A usual docile Cat that acts excessively defensive may be sick. Always check your Cats body condition every day, pay particular attention to the skin, eyes, ears and the Cats feet.