Enter a keyword below to search for articles and products.
Kittens can get hairballs, although it’s not as common as in adult cats. Kittens are adept learners, and as they grow up, their grooming habits will mature as well. This could lead to hairballs, especially if your kitten has longer hair.
Most cats spend a considerable amount of time grooming their coats. As they groom, they can swallow hair, which may build up over time in their stomach. If the hairball doesn’t pass from the stomach, the cat will attempt to eliminate it by coughing or gagging.
Many cats will get a hairball at some point in life, but some kittens, such as long-haired breeds and cats that groom excessively, are especially prone to hairballs.
You can help reduce the number of hairballs your kitten or cat experiences in a few ways:
The right diet can help provide hairball relief to both kittens and cats. For instance, the beet pulp in IAMS™ dry kitten formulas helps move hair through the digestive tract.
For adult cats, IAMS research has shown that cats fed IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Hairball Care pass 80% more hair in their feces than cats fed a leading premium dry cat food. By helping ingested hair to be passed from the digestive tract, IAMS hairball formulas help reduce the opportunities for hairballs to form. This fiber blend also includes a moderately fermentable component to promote intestinal health.
Maintaining skin and coat health may reduce the risks of excessive shedding, ingestion of hair from grooming, and, consequently, hairball formation as your kitten grows into an adult cat. High-quality, animal-based protein and fat, found in IAMS kitten formulas, provide important nutrients for skin and coat health.
In cats and kittens that are prone to hairballs, frequent brushing can help reduce the amount of hair they ingest, thereby reducing the risk of hairball formation.
Kittens are super adorable, and it is wonderful to have one as a pet. While it’s fun to have a kitten at home, it’s important to understand your kitten’s various needs during the different stages of its life and take care of it in the right way. ‘How to take care of kittens’ is a question that most first-time kitten owners ask. But taking care of newborn kittens can be quite a hassle-free process if you follow a routine and understand a few do’s and don’ts about kitten care. We, at IAMS, are here to help you with this process in every way we can.
Kitty care is extremely important to make sure your kitten grows up to be a healthy cat. While in the kitten stage, it is still trying to get used to the new surroundings. Therefore, we recommend that you be by its side and help the little kitten acclimatize to its new house.
A kitten becomes a part of your family right from day one. But raising a kitten might sound like a strenuous job if you’re a new pet parent, but it isn’t. The whole process can be quite fun and will help you bond with your kitten.
Some of the most important aspects of looking after a kitten are:
As a first-time kitten owner, you might not be aware of the growth stages your little feline friend will go through, but it’s very important to understand them. So, here’s a table that can help you with the same:
Growth stage | 0-2 weeks (Neonatal) | 2-7 weeks (Socialization) | 7-14 weeks (Most Active Period) | 3-6 months (Ranking Period) | 6-18 months (Adolescence) |
Character traits | Learns to incline towards sounds | Learns to socialize | This is the most active play period of your kitten | In this stage, the kitten gets most influenced by other kittens in their litter or even other animals. | Asserts maximum dominance in this stage. |
Eyes start to open by this time | Senses of smell and hearing are fully developed by the 4th week | Starts expressing affection through hugging and licking | Starts understanding and asserting ranks on people it lives with. | Exhibits sexual behavior if not spayed. | |
If the kitten is separated from its mother or siblings, it may tend to get aggressive towards people and other cats. | Sight is fully developed by the 5th week, and they can run and pounce without colliding with obstacles | Can paw, mouth, and hold objects as well | |||
Starts grooming itself | Also starts chasing its tail and starts pouncing and leaping around | ||||
Starts developing sleep patterns, motor abilities and interactions |
The major difference that occurs in taking care of kittens when they grow up is switching their food. Cats need more nutrition and vital elements that keep its body strong and healthy. It is advisable to switch to premium cat food while transitioning your kitten to adult cat food.
If your cat is neglected and does not receive proper care, attention, and nutrition, it may become depressed and weak. Your cat may also contract diseases if it is not kept clean.
While in the kitten stage, it is advisable to schedule frequent visits to the vet to check on the overall health of your kitten. It is advisable to keep a tab on their allergies while it is in the kitten stage.
Here are a few tips for first-time cat owners:
