Celebrating National Kitten Day!

July 10th is National Kitten Day. In a world of 600 million to a billion cats roaming around, 38% of them are considered kittens (5 months old or younger). 82% of shelter kittens are adopted by pet parents. That is a much higher rate than adult cats, who only average about a 43% adoption rate. It seems like most everyone loves a kitten! And why wouldn’t you? Kittens are cute, cuddly, fuzzy, very fragile, playful, pocket sized, full of fun, and haven’t yet developed the stubborn and aloof nature of an adult cat. Kittens pull at the heartstrings and unknowingly beg to be taken care of by willing (or unwilling) humans.

Did you know that…

  • Kittens are born deaf, and at around 2.5-3 weeks of age, their ear canals will fully open

  • Kittens are born with closed eyes and ears, and their eyes do not begin to open till they are approximately 8-12 days old

  • Kittens are usually born with blue eyes, and their true iris color will be evident by 8 weeks of age

  • Kittens sleep around 18 hours per day

  • Newborn kittens purr

  • Kittens have a strong sense of smellv

  • Kittens begin walking around 3 weeks old

  • Kittens are super easy to potty train

When it comes to care, a kitten is a much easier starting pet than a puppy due to their independence and low maintenance…

There will never be someone knocking on your apartment door because of an annoying cat barking at all hours of the night and day.  A puppy will watch a mouse rob your home blind, maybe even help the mouse with its crime spree. A kitten’s natural curiosity and predator nature will send that mouse packing. Kittens love to be loved, are famous for cuddling, and fit in one hand, or under your chin. A puppy flops and rolls and bites and runs… then passes out to recharge that energy cell, just so they can start again. Kittens “do their business” in a box, and then learn to cover it up. Puppies do their business where they are at that moment, until you train them to go outside… and even after that training they have accidents. Kittens grow up to be older versions of their kitty selves, and are even easier to care for, as they are self starters, often loaners, and very independent. A kitten brings their intention to have affection to you, on their terms… a puppy never doesn’t want to be with you, have affection, and be at the center of it all.

So What’s Involved in Raising a Kitten?

Universally, kittens expect less, and cost much less than a puppy. You don’ have to buy special beds, cages, cats don’t normally wear any clothing, and their toys can be feathers or string. Kitty’s are smaller and eat less, and less often than their canine counterparts. A kitten startup is a pretty simple thing and their asks are fairly minimal…

  • Play with them! Kittens learn through playful interactions. They learn to communicate, grow relationships, gain coordination, grow motor skills, fine tune their hunting instincts, and discover how to express themselves through playing. A great deal of their waking time will be in pursuit of some play time, so have the toys available for them to have a ball. It’s also the bonding time between new pet parents and their kitty, which means you’ll need to assure that you’re taking the lead on playing with them.

  • Feed Them Right! Invest in quality food that is high in protein and fat content. Kittens burn energy at a high rate and need to replace it. Fat and protein also helps the body AND brain grow. Make sure you are purchasing a “Kitten Food” formulated and designed for kitten consumption. The kibble will likely be smaller and softer than an adult version, as a kittens teeth are SHARP but not as strong as they will be when they reach adulthood. Cats.com rated the Top 10 Kitten Foods on the market, so you have starting point
    The 10 Best Kitten Foods of 2024: Unbiased Review – Cats.com

  • Don’t be a Jerk to your Kitten! If you think adult cats react poorly to negative reinforcement… they learn it early in life. Your kitten is going to do bad things, cats simply don’t give a crap, and they will not learn if you spank, raise your voice, tap them on the nose, or squirt them with water. They will simply resent you and start to plan on how to break all your really cool stuff on shelves and claw everything you own. Rather than live in a negative world of horrible things they are doing, look for positive acts and thoroughly praise every good deed or action. Keep kitten treats, all the pets and loving for the good behavior. Don’t force affection, they hate that, let them come to you and celebrate the pluses together.

  • Respect their Space! Cats normally have a favorite person, a few favorite places, and are steeped in their routines. This starts early in their lives, so respect that part of them. If you have multiple pets in the home, isolate your kitten and SLOWLY bring other animals into the mix. Dogs get pretty up close and personal very quickly and this action could freak out a kitten (consider the size difference alone). Other cats may become territorial with a new kitten, so making sure the cat hierarchy is kept In tact is important. Once the new kid has met everyone and becomes comfortable that they aren’t the only animal in the home, you can supervise group visitation and eventually allow free roaming. This is difficult to manage, as everyone normally wants to be up in the kitty’s business. Human children need to be managed, as well. A kitten is very physically fragile, young children don’t always understand that and want to “Lenny” (from “Of Mice or Men”) the new baby. Loud squeals, quick movement, fast advances towards the animal, flips and flops of an excited child, these all can be traumatic to a baby kitty. Be sure children are controlled, educated, trained, and supervised with a new kitten until they show the ability and desire to treat the cat correctly.

  • Know the No-No Zones!  Cats have places they don’t want to be touched or fiddled with, kittens are the same. However, with early training and trust building you can greatly reduce negative reactions… like clawing and biting. GENTLY pet a new kitten on the legs, paw, under the chin, behind the ears, and on the belly (when standing at first, then cautiously continued when the animal is lying down). If they pull away, then you’re done for this lesson. Try again later, so they know its okay and nobody is going to get hurt. If the kitten just doesn’t like being touched in a certain area… KNOCK IT OFF! You know you have quirks too, Mom & Dad!

  • Know When to Hold ‘em! Which is not all the time for most cats. Some cats HATE to be held because of trust issues, fight or flight instincts, or a feeling that they are not in control. If you start training early as a kitten, you’ll not only build a trust between you and the cat, you’ll also create a safe environment that will aide you in giving oral meds, flea treatments, claw trims, or getting them in and out of a cat carrier. If your kitten pulls away when you pick them up, don’t clam down and force them to stay… this only heightens the “fight or flight” senses and makes the cat leery of you and your motives.

  • Speak Softly and Carry a Big Smile! Have you noticed that a cat looks you in the face? They are studying you and how your expressions lead to actions. They also do not react well to loud noises or angry tones. Use your “Kitty Voice” and, in the beginning, do everything slowly and deliberately. Let them associate your smile and happy faces with your soft and loving tones. Let them know that you’re safe and that you love them unconditionally, even if they just knocked over your drink or stuck their foot in your spaghetti. Take the lead and the kitten will likely follow… maybe not at first, but eventually.

  • R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what that means to Kitty! Just because Hairy Pawter, or Mrs. Fluffernoggin jump up and sit next to you DOES NOT mean that they are begging for a petting or to be assaulted! Kittens are cats, cats have boundaries and space issues. You can try to pet, but if they reject that or act negatively… STOP and reset the moment. Let them come to you and allow them to set the pace of loving. The more they trust, the more they are respected, the more likely the boundaries will fall and they will open up to you.

  • Healthcare is NOT Negotiable! Take them to your trusted veterinarian for routine checkups, vaccinations, dental cleanings, and the ol’ spay/neuter. Make sure you’re up to snuff on flea & tick medications, regular testing for feline leukemia, and brush their baby teeth often to assure healthy gums and adult teeth. Change their litter often and scoop regularly, as old litter can carry disease (especially in a multi-cat environment).  Not only that, litter stinks and a cat will not want to use a dirty and smelly box. Check poop for worms, ears for mites, and watch the consistency of the poop. Their poo carries messages of health issues or potential health problems in the making.

  • Be Your Kittens Superhero! Provide a kitten-proofed environment by hiding cords and cables, using plug covers, assure not plastic bags are accessible, and know the deadly and dangerous plants/foods.  Provide your new kitty kid with fresh water, a food supply, a comfortable sleeping place (often more than one), clean litter, scratching posts or pads, and toys to enjoy. Make sure they don’t have a path to the outside until they are older, and make sure other residents and guests know and respect the kittens right as part of the family. Keeping the kitten safe is a full time/all time job. Be a patient, loving, kind, understanding, and fun parent for your kitten and they will return your action with the unconditional love and companionship only a cat can provide. Assure they can always find their way home with a collar tag and micro-chipping.

Is it a lot of work? Sure, to raise a kitten right is signing up for a full time job. It’s a living creature with needs, wants, desires, emotions, and actions. If you simply follow the motto, “Be the Person my Cat Thinks I Am” then you’ll be the parent you cat needs. Don’t expect the kitten to stay that way for long, so be ready to love the cat they will become… and know that the work you’ve put in to love, respect, teach, and raise the kitten will pay off when the baby teeth fall out and the “fur ball” becomes the Top Cat.

Regardless if you adopt a new kitten, find an adult cat that needs a stable and loving home, or if you’re already raising a feline of your own, take a moment to celebrate National Kitten Day with the “4 Paws and a Fuzzy Face” that you love.

That’s all for this weeks Dog Blog, with a Cat Twist! Just a reminder that we are in the midst of the hottest summer on record (in some areas of the nation) and the heat and humidity is just that much worse on someone wearing a full time fur coat. Be sure your pets are safe, cool, watered, fed, and kept indoors during the hours of 10am to 4pm, when the suns rays are at their most harsh. Exercise at home, or take them to a pet store or pet friendly retailer to get some socialization and to stretch their legs. They can’t speak to you when they are to hot, so look for the signs of heat stroke or overheating.  Remember, inside of a car temperatures can rise to 120 degrees in minutes if the windows are up and the A/C is off. Pavement, sidewalks, blacktop, concrete, sand, and even dirt pavement can burn pads and cause blistering. THINK before you venture out with your fur kids!

Till we meet again next week, from our pack to yours… have some fun, spend time with those you love, think happy thoughts, see the world through your dogs eyes, smell every flower and blade of grass as if it was the first you’ve seen, and always be Pet Friendly! #FreddieSez!