Cat Care Advice . . .
This information is intended as a guide only.
Whatever the question it is recommended you speak to a vet first to be sure you have the right information.
Happiness is a Healthy Pet
FOOD
Your kitten has specific nutrition requirements, which is quite different from an adult cat. A good quality kitten food will support optimum growth and help keep your kitten healthy.
Avoid supermarket dry foods for a cat or kitten as they contain high quantities of sodium and lack the balance of fats that kittens, and cats need. Also avoid feeding table scraps as these foods can create dietary imbalances to create picky eaters.
Kittens and cats are not milk drinkers as milk can very easily sour the stomach and cause diarrhea. Please offer your cat or kitten clean drinking water each day.
Cats or kittens must not eat dog food; it is not made for them and you don't want to risk harming your pet.
It is best to feed frequent small meals to kittens, say four or five times a day till 6-9 months old. Then reduce it to three meals daily till 9-12 months old. When a year-old feed twice a day till your cat is aged about 7-8 year then reduce the cat to one meal a day depending on condition and activity. For more information on nutrition and feeding advice go to https://www.royalcanin.com/nz/nz/tailored-nutrition
There are now many well-balanced foods available such as IAMS Purina PROPLAN and Royal Canin Cat or Kitten formulas. These are available both as dry foods and the equivalent tinned kitten foods that contain a higher volume of water.
WORMING
It is important to worm your kitten or cat regularly. Round worms and tapeworm are the two worms causing most problems in cats.
Initially I worm kittens once from an early age when they are 4-6 months old. After that I suggest you or your Vet may worm them with a multi-wormer following the directions on the product label.
If you are unsure what to do please call your local Vet first for advice.
FLEA CONTROL
Fleas are usually found in the ground outside and can become a real nuisance, especially in summer. They can be walked inside on your feet without you noticing the hitch-hiker has arrived with mates.
Flea control is possible with a number of products. However, our Vet advises the most effective way is to use BAYER Advocate or similar.
The use of flea collars particularly on Persians is questionable as I have found fleas under collars less than 2 weeks after fitting that new collar. If you prefer this form of control get a collar product that is in sealed packaging, is not old stock, and monitor the cat’s condition frequently IE weekly.
Other options include flea powders, shampoos or sprays. Check with your Vet before choosing a treatment suited to your cat/kitten. Sprays are best avoided for a number of reasons, eye damage, cats lick it, or are easily frighten when a spray jet hits them.
If the house becomes infected with fleas consider doing a thorough vacuuming preferably with a machine that uses a brush action, followed by a carpet spray or use a flea-bomb following the instructions. Remembering of course to keep the cat or kitten out of the area deloused for the time the product indicates.
DE-SEXING
In a female spaying is best done around 4-6 months but can be done earlier. There is no truth in the idea that a female needs to have a litter before spaying.
In a male it is best done after the testicles have dropped. This usually happens between 3-6 months old. Male cats can spray or become sexually active after 8-10 months.
My contract for a sale contains terms and conditions that I will have your pet kitten/cat spayed or neutered before you come to pick up your pet.
VET CARE
Your best investment in good health care for your kitten or cat is to have a regular visit to your Vet. There you can get up to date information about health issues or threats.
It is recommended all your cats need to be vaccinated. When buying, unless I have said otherwise, in the agreement a kitten will have had its first two vaccinations done. I will provide the health record from my Vet to you. Please do check your cat/kittens record to see what shots have been done or need to be done and when.
Questions
I’m Jan, our primary cattery manager, a NZ Registered Nurse (Dunedin) and formerly a Private Hospital Clinical Manager for 15 years operating under ISO 9000 systems. My cattery is a private facility situated in the Waipa District of the Waikato close to Te Awamutu. Pepperbox Pedigree Persians was established in 1990 at my then cattery in Tawa Then in 2014 I started Magicbox Pedigree Exotics. I have been successfully breeding and showing my progeny since 1992.
Please contact me, Jan with any questions; happy to help.
Jan’s mobile – 027 449 4301
Email – [email protected] and/or [email protected]
My vet is the wonderful Katie and her very professional friendly team at 3 Stone Vets - link - Taking care of your pet | 3 Stone Vets
FOOD
Your kitten has specific nutrition requirements, which is quite different from an adult cat. A good quality kitten food will support optimum growth and help keep your kitten healthy.
Avoid supermarket dry foods for a cat or kitten as they contain high quantities of sodium and lack the balance of fats that kittens, and cats need. Also avoid feeding table scraps as these foods can create dietary imbalances to create picky eaters.
Kittens and cats are not milk drinkers as milk can very easily sour the stomach and cause diarrhea. Please offer your cat or kitten clean drinking water each day.
Cats or kittens must not eat dog food; it is not made for them and you don't want to risk harming your pet.
It is best to feed frequent small meals to kittens, say four or five times a day till 6-9 months old. Then reduce it to three meals daily till 9-12 months old. When a year-old feed twice a day till your cat is aged about 7-8 year then reduce the cat to one meal a day depending on condition and activity. For more information on nutrition and feeding advice go to https://www.royalcanin.com/nz/nz/tailored-nutrition
There are now many well-balanced foods available such as IAMS Purina PROPLAN and Royal Canin Cat or Kitten formulas. These are available both as dry foods and the equivalent tinned kitten foods that contain a higher volume of water.
WORMING
It is important to worm your kitten or cat regularly. Round worms and tapeworm are the two worms causing most problems in cats.
Initially I worm kittens once from an early age when they are 4-6 months old. After that I suggest you or your Vet may worm them with a multi-wormer following the directions on the product label.
If you are unsure what to do please call your local Vet first for advice.
FLEA CONTROL
Fleas are usually found in the ground outside and can become a real nuisance, especially in summer. They can be walked inside on your feet without you noticing the hitch-hiker has arrived with mates.
Flea control is possible with a number of products. However, our Vet advises the most effective way is to use BAYER Advocate or similar.
The use of flea collars particularly on Persians is questionable as I have found fleas under collars less than 2 weeks after fitting that new collar. If you prefer this form of control get a collar product that is in sealed packaging, is not old stock, and monitor the cat’s condition frequently IE weekly.
Other options include flea powders, shampoos or sprays. Check with your Vet before choosing a treatment suited to your cat/kitten. Sprays are best avoided for a number of reasons, eye damage, cats lick it, or are easily frighten when a spray jet hits them.
If the house becomes infected with fleas consider doing a thorough vacuuming preferably with a machine that uses a brush action, followed by a carpet spray or use a flea-bomb following the instructions. Remembering of course to keep the cat or kitten out of the area deloused for the time the product indicates.
DE-SEXING
In a female spaying is best done around 4-6 months but can be done earlier. There is no truth in the idea that a female needs to have a litter before spaying.
In a male it is best done after the testicles have dropped. This usually happens between 3-6 months old. Male cats can spray or become sexually active after 8-10 months.
My contract for a sale contains terms and conditions that I will have your pet kitten/cat spayed or neutered before you come to pick up your pet.
VET CARE
Your best investment in good health care for your kitten or cat is to have a regular visit to your Vet. There you can get up to date information about health issues or threats.
It is recommended all your cats need to be vaccinated. When buying, unless I have said otherwise, in the agreement a kitten will have had its first two vaccinations done. I will provide the health record from my Vet to you. Please do check your cat/kittens record to see what shots have been done or need to be done and when.
Questions
I’m Jan, our primary cattery manager, a NZ Registered Nurse (Dunedin) and formerly a Private Hospital Clinical Manager for 15 years operating under ISO 9000 systems. My cattery is a private facility situated in the Waipa District of the Waikato close to Te Awamutu. Pepperbox Pedigree Persians was established in 1990 at my then cattery in Tawa Then in 2014 I started Magicbox Pedigree Exotics. I have been successfully breeding and showing my progeny since 1992.
Please contact me, Jan with any questions; happy to help.
Jan’s mobile – 027 449 4301
Email – [email protected] and/or [email protected]
My vet is the wonderful Katie and her very professional friendly team at 3 Stone Vets - link - Taking care of your pet | 3 Stone Vets