NEW KITTEN CARE
**Realize that cats DO NOT respond to force but DO respond to praise!**
 Provide a room or space that is entirely her own, i.e. with food, water, bed (ideal: carrier
with door bungeed open, comfortable bed inside), litterbox, scratching post, window
 Litterboxes: start out with several different boxes and litters, see which is preferred
o Scoop daily, wash weekly with mild dish detergent
o At least one litterbox per cat, ideally one more than total amount of cats
o Substrate: most prefer non-scented, clumping litter; don’ change it! 2 inches deep
o Box: be sure large enough to stand and turn around in
o Location: quiet area (not laundry or furnace room), where can’t be startled (i.e.
covered boxes: can be startled upon exit leading to avoidance and accidents).
 Kitten-Proofing the Home: http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com, see also following pages
o NO STRING! Tie up cords for blinds/shades
o Like baby-proofing, but also remove easily-accessible poisons (see ASPCA site
at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control)
 Introduction to Resident Pets
o Feed on opposite sides of door, then opposite sides of gate
o When meet face-to-face, have control of kitten (harness/leash) so can’t annoy
resident cat, have them meet on neutral/new territory
 Socialization: critical between 8-12 weeks of age!
o Classes that are age-specific and require vaccine records
o Socialize with people, children, cats, and dogs
 Scratching Posts IN SOCIAL AREAS: cats NEED something to scratch on!
o Why? Cats mark their territory by releasing scents when scratching
o Substrate(s): What does your cat like to scratch? Carpet, cardboard, sisal
o Upright/Vertical or flat/horizontal? Vertical if like chair legs or corners/ edge of
couch, horizontal if scratch floors
o Can’t get him/her to use the post?
 Cover inappropriate objects with double-sided sticky tape, aluminum foil,
sandpaper, or carpet runners with points up
 Attach cotton balls soaked in citrus or perfume (be sure safe for cat in
case he/she ingests it); be sure this is away from post!
o Once your cat uses the post, it may be gradually moved (<3 inches per day) to a
location more suitable to you, but keep near preferred area
 Desensitize to “All-Over” Touching
o Ideally done when kitten is sleepy (after play)
o Rubbing outer surface of teeth, lifting lips, handling ears and feet
 Feet: gradually increase pressure from petting to gentle squeezing to
extend claw to allow for nail trims once tolerate well
 Nail trims: clip off just the sharp tips about once weekly, use cat-specific
clippers (your own nail trimmers may crush nail bed). GO SLOWLY! May
start with just one foot per day initially until accustomed to trims.
 If you’d rather not clip your cat’s nails, you can purchase soft plastic caps
that fit over the nail (Soft Paws). Need to be replaced every so often!
o Can start brushing teeth now to get used to procedure
 Nutrition: MEAL FEED!
o Feeding half wet food and half dry food prepares cat for wet-food-only when old
(moisture content ideal for chronic kidney disease)
o If eats too fast, can hide food throughout house (out of everyone else’s reach)
 Spay: may have first heat at 5 months of age (yowling, rubbing); can spay before 4
months of age (after first heat, risk of uterine cancer increases dramatically)
 Biting Issues
o Once starts biting during play, walk away
o If bites with certain petting, stop that method and try something else for pets
Resources: http://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/, http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care
INCREASING YOUR CAT’S ACTIVITY
Why play with your cat?
 To develop a bond with your cat.
 To increase the quality of life of your cat.
 To help improve behavior and health, reduce the incidence of obesity
 To help her/him sleep longer and bother you less during the night.
 To help your cat vent excess energy, which should decrease the "wild frenzies"
 To teach your cat to play in a controlled environment and decrease the likelihood that
he/she will "play bite" or attack you or others.
Helpful hints
 Do not reward bad behavior with play. Only elicit play when your cat is calm, quiet, and
behaving appropriately.
 Do not use your hands, fingers, or other body parts as toys, or kitty will learn to bite and
scratch them. Stop play that gets too rough, and resume when your cat is calm, quiet,
and behaving appropriately.
 Set aside a specific time each day and make play time a part of your daily schedule. Your
cat will be less anxious the rest of the day in anticipation of your special playtime.
 Ask family members to participate in the fun and share the responsibility of cat
ownership.
Ideas for increasing your cat's activity
 Teach your cat to play fetch. Attach a favorite toy to a line, throw the toy, and reel it back
in as needed. Your cat may learn to bring the toy back to you because he/she is
rewarded when you throw the toy again!
 Attach a toy to a shoelace and drag it around the house. Don't forget to drag it onto high
locations where your cat is allowed to climb. Many cats will chase it wherever it goes! A
shoelace with a knot at the end also works, especially for those bug-lovers!
 Help your cat push a ball around on a smooth surface (i.e. hard floors or in a bathtub).
 Encourage your cat to run back and forth between you and another person by providing a
reward when he/she reaches each of you. You can use a treat or a favorite toy as the
reward, but don't forget to reward!
 Throw a piece of dry cat food or a treat across the floor. Watch kitty chase it every time!
 Hang a toy by a string from a doorknob or use a hanger on top of a doorway. Help make
it interesting for your cat by giving it a shake to make it move.
 Place a paper bag or cardboard box onto the floor. When your cat goes inside to explore,
scratch the outside with your finger and he/she will try to catch you!
 Hide a toy under a cushion or blanket. Make it move and entice your cat to dig for it.
 Take advantage of any object your cat likes to play with by making it move!
 Many cats will chase a laser pointer for hours. Make sure you do not point the laser in the
eyes of any people or animals. You may consider discontinuing its use if your cat
becomes anxious or paranoid about seeing the laser when it is not turned on.
 If your cat is confident and easy-going, try playing hide-and-seek. Pretend to hide, and
peek out frequently. Allow your cat to watch you sneak to closer hiding spots. Finally,
come out of your final hiding spot and tickle your cat. If your cat enjoys the game, he/she
will hide and then pursue you! Try not to startle your cat, and always finish the game with
calm interaction.
Whatever toy or game your cat enjoys, try not to use up all of the fun at once. Resist the
temptation to leave kitty's favorite toys out all day. Instead, leave a few toys out during the day,
but only bring out the favorites once a day or even once a week. They will remain fun for much
longer!
POISON-PROOFING YOUR HOME
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet (V/D = vomiting + diarrhea)
 Alcoholic beverages (even unbaked dough): drooling, retching, vomiting or attempting
to vomit, bloat, elevated heart rate, weakness, collapse, low blood pressure, coma, death
 Avocado: deadly for birds
 Chocolate (all forms): kidney failure and caffeine are the sources of toxicity; smaller the
dog and darker the chocolate, the worse the toxicity!
 Coffee (all forms): hyperactivity, restlessness, vomiting, high blood pressure, death
 Fatty foods (cause pancreatitis): vomiting, belly pain in dog; anorexia, lethargy in cat
 Macadamia nuts: muscle weakness—esp. hind end, tremors, vomiting, pancreatitis
 Moldy or spoiled foods: agitation, increased body temperature, hyper-responsiveness,
panting, drooling, vomiting; progress to incoordination, seizures
 Onions (esp. Akita, Shiba Inu, cats): V/D, pale gums, weakness, exercise intolerance
 Raisins and grapes (causes kidney failure): excess or decreased thirst and urination
 Salt (i.e. homemade play dough, deicers, paintballs): V/D, inappetance, lethargy, walking
drunk, excessive thirst or urination, tremors, seizures, coma, death
 Yeast dough (expands in warm, moist environment of stomach leading to bloat/GDV):
vomiting, non-productive retching, distended stomach, elevated heart rate, collapse
 Garlic (see Onions: similar toxicity but 5x more potent than onions)
 Products sweetened with non-fat sweetener xylitol, such as gums or liquid Benadryl:
lethargy, incoordination, collapse, seizures; lethargy, vomiting, problems clotting blood
Warm Weather Hazards
 Animal toxins (toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions): varies—irritation to death
 Blue-green algae (ponds): liver damage, neurotoxicity, death (even small mouthfuls!)
 Citronella candles: drinking or eating leads to digestive upset
 Cocoa mulch (significantly more toxic than milk or baker’s chocolate)
 Compost piles (see Moldy or spoiled foods above)
 Fertilizers (disulfoton or other organophosphates): in some cases may be fatal!
 Flea products: permethrin toxic to cats in low doses causing tremors and/or seizures
 Outdoor plants and plant bulbs (digestive irritation to death)
 Swimming-pool treatments (corrosive): severe mouth/intestinal ulcers lead to death
 Fly baits containing methomyl (added to food in dogs by malicious intent; gastroenteritis,
convulsions, death from respiratory failure)
 Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde (within 1 to 2 hours see salivation, vomiting,
restlessness, incoordination; progress to tremors, seizures, and severe hyperthermia)
Cold Weather Hazards
 Antifreeze (ethylene glycol): 30 min-12h drunk/drooling, 12-24h fine, 36-72h kidneys fail
 Liquid potpourri (cats): severe chemical burns of mouth with a few licks (paw at mouth)
 Ice-melt: irritates paws, see also Salt above if lick paws
 Rat/Mouse bait: may include vitamin D (toxic) or warfarin (pet spontaneous bleeds, die)
Common Household Hazards
 Fabric softener sheets (some rub pets down with): irritation to kidney failure, lung fluid
 Mothballs (pesticides, esp. older with naphthalene): esp. cats; pale/brown gums, weak
 Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc): pale/yellow gums, vomiting, death
Holiday Hazards
 Christmas tree water (fertilizers and bacteria can upset the stomach when ingested)
 Electrical cords (electrocution when chew)
 Ribbons or tinsel (get stuck in the intestines leading to obstruction, esp, in kittens!)
 Batteries (corrosive): drooling, oral pain, pawing at mouth, vomiting, difficulty swallowing
Top 10 Toxic Plants to Animals
Autumn Crocus: bloom in fall, highly toxic. Cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal
bleeding (may see dark brown stool or frank blood in feces, blood in vomit), liver/kidney
damage, and respiratory failure. Signs may be immediate or days later.
Azalea: ingesting just a few leaves can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive
drooling. Without immediate veterinary attention, the pet could fall into a coma and
possibly die.
Cyclamen (left): roots cause severe vomiting and even death.
Kalanchoe (right): vomiting, diarrhea, and heart arrhythmias.
Lilies: Peace, Peruvian, and Calla cause minor drooling. Tiger, Day, Asiatic, Easter,
and Japanese Snow are highly toxic to cats: a few leaves can cause kidney failure!
Oleander: leaves and flowers extremely toxic, cause severe vomiting, slow the heart
rate, and possibly even cause death.
Dieffenbachia: intense oral irritation, drooling, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty
swallowing if ingested.
Daffodils: severe vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory
depression, drooling. May lead to more severe symptoms, contact vet immediately!
Lily of the Valley: vomiting, diarrhea, drop in heart rate, severe cardiac arrhythmias,
possibly seizures.
Sago palm: leaves and seeds can cause vomiting, bloody stools, damage to stomach
lining, severe liver failure, and—in some cases—death.
Tulips and Hyacinths: profuse drooling, vomiting, diarrhea. Large ingestion of bulb
can cause increased heart rate, changes in respiration (esp. Labrador Retrievers).
Medication (possibly lethal, even in small doses)
 Pain killers (incl. Tylenol/Acetaminophen, Advil/Ibuprofen, Aspirin): liver/kidney disease
o ONE TYLENOL CAN KILL A CAT!
 Cold medicines (Pseudoephedrine: common decongestant): elevated blood pressure,
heart rate, and temperature; nervousness and hyperactivity; seizures
 Anti-cancer drugs: acute V/D, seizures
 Antidepressants (very common!): sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors, seizures
 Vitamins: Vitamin D toxicity in dogs, Vitamin A toxicity in cats (i.e. liver)
 Diet pills (See Coffee for caffeine)
Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats
The following substances are non-toxic to pets but may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some
animals: water-based paints, toilet water, silica gel, poinsettia, cat litter, glue traps, glow jewelry
Call Washington Poison Center if suspect plant toxicity but unsure: 1-800-222-1222 ($30
charge).
Visit ASPCA.org for further information on toxic materials.