Beaphar

behaviour

It is a moving sight to see a proud mother cat surrounded by her offspring. When chosing a kitten, you should make sure it is cheerful, playful and alert. An animal that is shy, acts like a loner, or even hisses at strangers, might have a difficult temperament and become a problem cat later on. It is a good sign when a kitten is chubby and a little flabby, but thin legs and a very fat belly or bloated body with a fat, but slack, watery belly indicates the kitten is not healthy. Its coat should be shiny, clean and not contain parasites. Check the kitten’s ears as well; there should be no traces of dark, crusty exudate whatsoever: it could be just dirt, but it could also indicate the highly infectious ear mite. Be wary of a “cold”. Cats do not get colds like people do, and constant sneezing, coughing, secretions from eyes and nose should be a cause for alarm, as it could indicate cat flu. This is a viral disease that needs to be taken very seriously and often ends up being fatal. Of course, it is best if you take home a bright or lively and healthy kitten, which should always be the case if you buy one from a reputable breeder.

What do I need before my the cat arrives?
Before you welcome your (young) cat into your home, you will need the following items:
• a sleeping basket (with a blanket or pillow)
• food and water bowls
• cat/kitten food
• a litter tray
• cat litter
• scratching post
• toys
• cat brush and comb
• carrying basket/box to transport your cat

Collecting your kitten
When picking up your kitten, keep in mind that the outside world can be very scary the first time! Use the carrying basket you brought with you to safely take your cat home.

Entering a new home
Young cats need to get used to their new environment. A cat can be unpleasantly shocked when you take it out of its trusted environment, even if it came from an animal shelter. It will hear new voices, smell unknown scents and it may miss its brothers and sisters and mother. If you treat your little cat well, it will soon bond with you. As soon as you and your new cat arrive at home, allow your cat time to explore its new surroundings. Don’t confront your cat with excited children, other pets or a room filled with visitors. Open all doors in your house so your cat can investigate as it pleases. First show your new pet where its litter box is, put your cat in it. If it has to do anything, it will. Praise it, and it will now know where its litter box is. Your cat’s sleeping basket should be in a warm, dry and draught-free spot: next to a radiator, for instance. Make sure your cat has access to fresh drinking water. Teach your cat to use its scratching post from day one, instead of destroying your furniture.
If you learn your cat’s ways quickly, it will soon feel at ease in your home. Just make sure you understand the following signals: if your cat is yawning, it means it is sleepy and wants to rest (you should let it do so), and if it circles and rubs against your legs while meowing, it means it is hungry.
A kitten grows quickly in its first year: it will learn and discover new things every day!

Care for the pregnant cat
To make life easier for the mother cat during the nursing period, start giving her Sherley’s Lactol Kitty-Milk during her pregnancy. The high protein and fat levels in Lactol make it the ideal supplementary food for the mother cat and the kittens. Never give a mother cat cows’ milk, as it lacks essential substances that are present in Lactol, making it such a unique product.
Caring for motherless kittens
It is possible that the mother cat might not seem to want one or more of its kittens, that the mother cat does not have enough milk to feed all its kittens or even that the mother cat dies. Given the latter scenario. Sherley’s Lactol gold offers the ideal solution. With endless care and attention, and the assistance of the special Lactol Feeding Kit, containing a feeding bottle, teats and cleaning brush, you will be able to raise your kittens without any problems.