Are you welcoming a kitten into your home? Congratulations! Little Fluffy is sure to keep you smiling with her adorable furry face and cute mannerisms. Your pet’s toddler stage won’t last very long, but you’ll need to take some precautions to keep her safe and healthy at this crucial time. Here, a Plano, TX vet discusses kitten care.

Veterinary Care

Your bouncing ball of fur will need to come in a few times during that critical first year. Microchipping and spay/neuter surgery are definitely in order. Little Fluffy will also need her initial exams, as well as important vaccinations. Parasite control is also important. Ask your vet to recommend an appointment schedule. In between appointments, keep an eye out for any potential signs of illness. Some common ones are hiding, poor grooming, fever, lethargy, respiratory issues, vomiting, and diarrhea. Call your vet immediately if you notice any of these red flags.

Furball Sitting

You’d be amazed at how many ways kittens can get into mischief! Keep a close eye on little Fluffy. Always check cushions, chairs, and beds before sitting down. Adult cats make a fairly sizeable lump when they curl up under a blanket, but baby furballs are easy to miss. Also, check washers, dryers, and stoves before you close them.

Kittenproofing

Little Fluffy has lots to learn about the world, and will be very interested in exploring all of the nooks and crannies of her new kingdom. To keep your furball safe on her adventures, you’ll need to remove or secure toxic plants; plastic bags, wires, and cords; medicines; and chemicals, such as pesticides, automotive products, and household cleaning agents. Anything small or sharp can also be dangerous. Keep things like earrings, rubber bands, pen caps, tacks, craft kit pieces, fishing tackle, well out of reach of those tiny paws.

Supplies

Offer your furball a good, kitten-formula food. Kittens grow very quickly, so proper nutrition is absolutely crucial at this stage. We also recommend avoiding clay and clumping litters for now. They’re fine for adult cats, but are dangerous to baby felines.

Love and Purrs

Now for the fun part! Make sure little Fluffy feels safe and loved by spending lots of time with her. Don’t forget to take pictures: this cute phase passes very quickly! As your Plano, TX vet clinic, we’re happy to serve of your kitten’s veterinary care needs. Call us today!