Kittens

Arrival

Once you've decided on your kitten, try to bring it home when there's going to be a member of the family there for a few days. Depending on the kitten's nature it may well want to explore every corner of the new home or may well hide away and sleep. Don't forget it's a new environment, so wait until the kitten comes to you and then talk and stroke it gently. Ensure your kitten has a clean litter tray, which it can easily get to but is away from the feeding area. If you have any other pets in the house, keep them away from the kitten for the first few days and then gradually start introducing them to each other by bringing your old pets into the new kitten's area.

Apart from the basics of feeding, bedding and grooming equipment, your kitten will need to be registered with a local veterinary surgeon. Feeding

Kittens have small stomachs but large nutritional needs, and they start to eat solid foods from about 3 weeks, and are fully weaned at about 8 weeks. It is likely therefore that the kitten will come to you with a pre-planned diet. For the first few days of owning give the food that your kitten is used to. Then if you want to serve other food, gradually introduce it. At first your kitten will need small meals often (about four or five a day). By the time your kitten is about six months old, two meals a day should be fine. Cats are natural carnivores, and they have special dietary needs. These requirements are fulfilled by the well-researched commercial tinned food, and if fed quality kitten food there is no need for supplements.