You're New Persian Kitten
Before you get your new kitten � Kitten Proof Your Home
Keep the following items out of Kittens Reach: pins, thread, needles, buttons, rubber bands, pieces of string, plastic bags and antifreeze, poisons and cleaners, and dental floss. Also Many house plants are poisonous. Also watch out for doors and wind suction during those days when windows are open and doors can slam slut from a gust of wind. Electric cords can be chewed, rocking chairs and recliners can crush a small tail or paw. A hot iron can fall on a kitten playing with the cord. And don't forget not to leave the window open without a good reinforced screen securing it. Keep a good eye on making sure the kitten does not get trapped inside the washer, dryer, dishwasher, freezer, refrigerator, lazy boy chair, under a rocker leg�or a door being shut. Persians are generally not climbers but please teach him to stay off anywhere you don�t want it to go. Your spay bottle of water is your disapline, and it begins immediately.
Taking the new Kitten Home:
Once your new kitty arrives, you might want to set him/her up in a single room such as your bedroom or the den. Keep him/her closed in this room for the first day or so and then allow him to slowly be introduced to your home as each day goes by. Supervise him/her while he/she explores the new home and don't let him/her out of your sight until after he/she has completely adapted to his/her new surroundings. The purpose of this is first, to make sure he adjusts to the move and stress less, second, to learn where the litter box is, and third, you will find some things and places within your home may need to be kitten proofed just as you would for a baby. And don't forget about those spaces behind the couch and bed that he/she can get into and become lost or stuck in. Make sure you introduce him/her to the litter box by placing him/her in it before placing him /her anywhere else in your home, And let him/her get himself/herself out of the litter box. We will provide you with a small amt of used, but clean litter from his/her pan here, to put in your litter pan. This gives the kitten that familiar smell that says, ah�this is the place. This is his/her first home without his/her brothers/sisters and mom. You're kitten may meow, especially at night. He or she may not feel like eating until it feels more comfortable. This wont last long. Just keep reassuring your new baby that it is safe and loved.
Teething:
Kittens love to play and teeth on wires...discourage wire play. You can purcgase a product called 'Bitter Apple'. It comes in a spray form, taste very bitter and discorages kitty from biting. Kittens love to bite your hands to play while they are teething, discourage this as well or you will regret it when he/she becomes an adult. It may seem cute today, but it will not in the future. Kittens need to teeth around the 4th and 5th month, offer them a cardboard box to sleep and play in outside his bed. An empty tissue box works good...just don't use one of those tissue brands with creams in the tissues. The kitten will chew the edges when itsr gums are sore. Also it may also not want to eat its hard food well for several days during this period, always watch and make certain kitty is getting enough food and water.
Feeding:
Shikoku kittens and adults are currently eating Iams dry food. This is served freely in bowls all throughout the day and evening. We refill as often as needed. For the wet food, some of Shikoku kittens are eating dry food made into wet, just add warm water and let soak a bit. All cats and kittens are on the same diet. We will send home samples of these to you for starters. Please keep new kitties on the current food when you first get them home. After the 5th month you may slowly move kitty to another commercial (not grocery store) food. To change food, mix the new in with the old, increasing the new while decreasing the old slowly to avoid diarrhea. Please pay carefull attention to this or you will drown in messy diarrhea, on a long haired kitten. I cant think of anything more messy! Never feed your kitten people food from the table! Please do not put the food and water dishes next to the litter box. How would you enjoy eating while sitting next to the toilet?
Water:
If your new kitten is a male, I want to make certain you are aware of the importance of fresh daily water. Males need more water especially when they are whole in order to keep their system well flushed. Fresh daily water can save his life and help eliminate crystals from forming in his urine. Always serve water in a glass, ceramic or metal bowl, never plastic. Plastic has been known to cause mouth ulcers and allergic reactions in the Feline world, esp. in Persians. If your kitten is soaking its ruff, try using a smaller bowl, perhaps you may need to refill it more often, but if they can't dip the face, they may stay dryer. They normally outgrow this stage of development
Litter:
Try to use one litter box per cat, but I would suggest an extra box if your home has more than one level. I highly suggest low dust, not too highly perfumed and no scoopable (clumping) litter for young kittens and whole males. I use any type of CLAY litter, and suggest it for your kitty when he/she arrives. Empty the litter and wash the pan once weekly. Scoop daily, Your home and the "smell of cats" is only as good as the litter used and the cleaning and upkeep of the box. Some cats prefer deep pans, Persian's like large pans, and please don't use a hooded box. A cat's sense is 14x's ours and it gets rank inside that box. This can cause the cat not to want to always use it properly. In addition, Persian's need room to move and a hooded box might leave you cleaning bottoms off from where it sticks to their tail fur. Kittens have been known to eat the litter and scoopable is very dangerous if ingested. You can begin using Scoopable sand type litter after the 5th month. Be warned that Persians are notorious for not covering their solid waste, and they will appreciate you removing it as soon as you can.
(Continued on Kitten Care -Part 2)
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