Committing to Living with a Nine-Lived
Creature: The LCAH Kitten Behaviour Series
(Part 4)
Adopting a new kitten is a big decision, and requires more preparation and responsibility than you may think.
Potential owners may find themselves overwhelmed with all kinds of issues that they are not prepared for:
What do you do if your kitten becomes pregnant? What are common
illnesses that you should look out for? These are both great questions,
that will be answered right here, in part four of the kitten behaviour
series!
What do you do if your kitten becomes pregnant?
Surprising to many pet owners, kittens do not stay kittens for long, and
if you procrastinate the highly recommended spay procedure--you may
have an unplanned litter of kittens on your hands.
Did you know?: A cat's reproductive cycle is seasonal! This means that
their cycles are inactive during the short winter months, and are charged
to give birth only during warm spring and summer months (although
not every cat follows this rule to a T). During the heat cycle your cat may
have an increased appetite, be restless, utter short low calls and be
unusually affectionate. Some females may mark urine around the house.
Additionally, it is important to know that the female cat will begin
their cycle when they are only 80% of their adult size
(around 6 months of age!)--this means they've barely left
kittenhood before they're ready to become pregnant.
Look at Ollie Ledbury's bright blue eyes!
Owner: Shona Ledbury
You'll be able to tell that your cat is pregnant by the size of their midsection and their prominent nipples. If you
have a sneaking suspicion your cat is expecting, take them to the
veterinarian and a blood test or an ultrasound may be able to determine
your hunch!
It is important to note that spaying your cat is still possible after
becoming pregnant, and can actually be administered fairly late in the
pregnancy. Talk to your veterinarian to see if this is the right option for
you.
If you choose to go through with the pregnancy, you'll like want to spay
the new mother as soon as possible afterwards so this doesn't happen
again. Unfortunately, it isn't safe to spay a mother cat too soon after
giving birth, and should be scheduled about a 6-8 weeks after the big day
when the kittens are no longer nursing. Make sure to keep your cat
inside for this period! If they find another male cat within this time
frame, it's almost guaranteed you'll have another litter of kittens on your
hands before you know it!
Carolyn French's trio of tree cats:
Phantom, Meow, and Purr!
What are Roundworms?
Roundworms are a long, white, spaghetti-looking worm that exist as two different species: Toxocara cati and
Toxascaris Leonina. Both species have the exact same treatment, so the differentiation is not important for pet
owners to know. What IS important to know, is the many ways in which your cat could become infected:
1. The cat could consume worm eggs from the soil, simply through natural grooming processes
2. Kittens can be infected through nursing from their infected mothers
The infection is very serious, as it can cause intestinal obstruction or pneumonia at its worst. Unfortunately,
symptoms don't always surface, which is why regular de-worming appointments are recommended for all
cat owners. That said, there are some symptoms that may occur, the most obvious being the vomiting up of a
worm. If a kitten does this, it is most likely a roundworm!
Fecal testing kittens for roundworms is a must because the infection is so common. This is also true for
outdoor/hunting cats that commonly eat wild rodents.
Ask your veterinarian about de-worming products and most important of all: DO NOT FORGET THE
FOLLOW UP DE-WORMING. Worms that are in migration within the body are difficult to kill using most
de-worming products. This means a second de-worming is necessary to ensure all worms have been targeted!
Norton Grant is a cuddly one!
Owner: Cindy Grant
Sources:
Brooks, W. C. (2001, March 12). Roundworms: Cats & kittens. Retrieved from Veterinary Partner website:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=498
Brooks, W. C. (2004, October 04). Feline reproduction: Giving birth to kittens. Retrieved from Veterinary
Partner website: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1738
Content Contributor: Dr. Sandy Drury
Written by: Lindsey Drury