Care for Your Kitten
Published in association with the RSPCA, the UK’s leading animal welfare charity, this practical family guide is full of expert advice on how to choose a kitten and how best to look after it.If you already own or are planning to buy a kitten this easy-to-use introductory guide is a must. Clearly illustrated with colour photographs throughout, it covers all aspects of daily care including housing, feeding, handling, hygiene, grooming, health and first aid.Published in association with the experts at the RSPCA, this book will help you ensure that you are giving your kitten the best possible start in life.
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HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF
First published 1985 as Care for your Kitten by William Collins Sons & Co Ltd
This new edition published 2015
© Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 2015
RSPCA name and logo are trademarks of RSPCA used by HarperCollinsPublishers Limited under licence from RSPCA Trading Limited. From every book sold 5% of HarperCollinsâ proceeds from sales will be paid to RSPCA Trading Limited which pays all of its taxable profits to the RSPCA. Registered in England and Wales, Charity No. 219099 www.rspca.org.uk
The RSPCA is registered in England and Wales, Charity No. 219099
Front cover image: RSPCA
This book has been compiled on the basis of expert advice and scientific research. To the best of our knowledge it is correct at the time of going to press. The information contained in this book is intended only as a guide. If you are unsure, or you have any concerns about your pet(s), you must speak to a vet, who will be able to give you advice that is appropriate for your individual animal(s).
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 applies to England and Wales. Similar separate legislation covers Scotland and Northern Ireland, so owners must fulfil the same legal duties of care.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
Source ISBN: 9780008118297
eBook Edition © 2015 ISBN: 9780008119256 Version: 2015-04-16
Contents
Copyright
Foreword
Introduction
Choosing the right type of cat for you
Types of cat
Getting a kitten
Biology
Your questions answered
List of Searchable Terms
Resources
About the Publisher
Owning a kitten can be incredibly rewarding and a great source of companionship. Pets can provide opportunities for social interactions, helping people feel less lonely and isolated. Growing up with pets also offers health benefits, and caring for an animal can help improve a childâs social skills, encouraging the development of compassion, understanding and a respect for living things. Having a kitten is, however, a huge responsibility and requires long-term commitment in terms of care and finances.
Before getting a kitten, it is important that time is taken to discuss the commitment and care required with all family members, and that everyone agrees to having and looking after a kitten in the home. Bear in mind that once you have your kitten there is a legal requirement under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to care for them properly, so you must be sure that you will be able to do this throughout your kittenâs life. This means providing somewhere suitable for them to live, a healthy diet, opportunities to behave normally, the provision of appropriate company, and ensuring that they are well.
If you are able to care for a kitten properly and make the decision to go ahead, then please consider giving a home to one of the many kittens currently in the RSPCAâs animal centres throughout England and Wales.
This book is based on up-to-date knowledge of cat behaviour and welfare approved by the RSPCA. It has been written to provide you with all the care information you need to keep your kitten happy and healthy throughout your lives together. We hope you enjoy it.
Samantha Gaines BSc (Hons) MSc PhD
Alice Potter BSc (Hons) MSc Lisa Richards BSc (Hons) Jane Tyson BSc (Hons) MSc PhD Animal behaviour and welfare experts, Companion Animals Department, RSPCA
Andrew Forsyth/RSPCA
Owning and caring for a cat can be great fun and very rewarding. But it is also a big responsibility and a long-term commitment in terms of care and cost. Typically cats live for around 14 years, but some may live much longer, so before you get a kitten here are some of the things you need to consider:
Keeping a cat is costly
There is the initial expense of buying the kitten and everything they need, such as toys, bedding and litter. There are also long-term costs you should budget for, including food, insurance, veterinary care, neutering, vaccinations and the cost of catteries or pet sitters when you go on holiday.
Cats need space
Cats need space to exercise, climb, explore and rest undisturbed. Ideally most cats should have access to a garden or outdoor area where they can move around safely. They also need to be able to get back into the house at all times, day or night. One way that cats exercise is by scratching â you will need to provide scratching posts and should be aware that your kitten may damage carpets and furnishings.
