Understanding Pet Needs

Posted on: 19 November 2017

If you've recently found one or more kittens that you want to rescue and care for, it's important to know where to start. Kittens are much more susceptible to diseases, illness, and damage from external factors than adult cats. Your kitten should get these three things right away in order to ensure that it's healthy and strong.

Food

If your kitten has a mother that you've also rescued and the kitten is still suckling, you don't need to worry about this step. However, most abandoned kittens aren't so lucky. Regardless of your kitten's age, it's important to get nutrition into them as soon as possible. Starvation can occur quickly in kittens without food.

Kittens need different kinds of food depending on their age. Kittens under the age of four weeks typically need a mother's milk or kitten formula in order to survive. If your kitten is older, kitten kibble or wet food will do just fine. However, it's a good idea to consult with a vet. Your vet will be able to explain how old your kitten is and determine how much food they need based on their weight.

Flea Control

Fleas are itchy and irritating for adult cats, but for kittens, they can be downright deadly. When fleas bite, they draw a small amount of blood with each bite. A kitten's blood volume is much smaller than an adult cat's, but that doesn't mean that the flea takes less blood with each bite. As a result, kittens can be stricken with severe anemia that can put their lives in danger without flea control.

There are a few ways you can tackle this problem. Giving your kitten a warm bath is a good way of getting rid of the majority of fleas. However, from there, you should talk to a veterinarian about kitten flea control. Certain topical medications and anti-flea collars are a good choice for kittens, and not all of them are equally effective depending upon the area you live in and how much of a tolerance the fleas have built to it. Your vet will know what's best for your kitten.

Vaccinations

Lastly, time is of the essence when it comes to getting your kitten vaccinated. It's only possible for vaccines to protect your kitten if they haven't already been exposed to the virus you're vaccinating them against. Certain illnesses like feline leukemia can cause problems throughout a cat's life, so it's a good idea to get your kitten vaccinated as early as you can, especially if they're exposed to other kittens or cats on a regular basis. Vaccinating your kitten can even help to protect them from the common cold, so visit a vet right away.

Kitten care doesn't have to be confusing or costly if you work with a vet from the get-go. Your low cost cat vet will help you to decide what your kitten needs and ensure that it's receiving the best care to achieve its ideal health.