If you are looking to book a cat vaccination, please be aware that there is an ongoing shortage of some cat vaccines affecting all UK Veterinary practices. Find out more here.

Kittens

The basics when it comes to caring for a kitten

A kitten will cheer up the home... but will grow up!

Once you've made the decision to keep a kitten as a companion, this is a commitment for several years – and perhaps even decades! Choosing a kitten is therefore a matter for the brain as much as for the heart.

Your Home

When your kitten arrives, make sure your house is quiet, calm and safe. Decide in advance where they will eat and sleep - they need peace and quiet for both, especially in the early days. An out-of-the-way corner is ideal.

If the atmosphere is noisy or disturbed, your kitten could grow into a nervous and fearful adult. The best approach is to move gently without shouting and to avoid passing the kitten around for everyone to cuddle. Gain your kitten's trust by keeping them safe.

Diet

There are many different types of pet food, but choosing the right one for your kitten is what really matters. 

The best and easiest solution is to feed an ultra-digestible food specially designed for kittens (the kibble size, shape and texture in dry foods are also good for their teeth), and to feed little and often. In the wild, kittens and cats tend to snack, eating up to 20 small meals a day. So using a dry food means you can put the daily portion down (using the guidelines on the pack), and let your kitten feed at will - just as long as you are sure no other pet will snaffle it before they do!

We advise you to buy a high-quality food such as Royal Canin®.

Playing

Kittens love to play (it's pretend hunting), so toys are essential - either home-made like squashed-up balls of tinfoil, a bunch of feathers tied on to a bit of string, an old ping pong ball, or choose some from your vet or pet shop. Play with your kitten every day – it's good for you both, and keep it up as they mature so they get plenty of exercise.

Keep safe though – check the toys regularly, and make sure your kitten can't get into anything they shouldn't.