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Caring for a New Kitten: The First 6 Months

Raising a kitten is one of the most enjoyable experiences a pet owner can have, but it can also be as challenging as it is rewarding. When it comes to your kitten’s diet, it’s important to set up a solid foundation to make sure your kitten grows into a healthy, well-adjusted cat.

Feeding Your Kitten during the First 6 Months

The timeline for feeding your newborn kitten changes rapidly during the first six months. The following is a broad overview of the key development milestones your kitten will experience to help you learn what and how you should feed the newest member of your family.

Common Milestones for Kitten Development

AGE	MILESTONE
7-10 days old	Kittens begin to urinate and defecate on their own.
10-18 days old	Kittens attempt to stand. Kittens double their birth weight at about day 14. Kittens’ eyes begin to open. Kittens’ ears begin to open.
18-21 days old	Kittens hear and respond to noises. Kittens begin to walk.
3 weeks old	Begin weaning process for orphaned kittens. Kittens begin responsive vocalization. Deciduous (baby) teeth will begin erupting.
4 weeks old	Begin weaning process for mother-fed kittens.
3-6 months old	Kittens’ adult teeth erupt.

Due to breed differences and animal individuality, it is impossible to predict exact dates for growth and development milestones for kittens. However, by using these milestones as a guide for healthy growth, you can spot and possibly prevent developmental problems early on.

How to Wean Kittens with IAMS™

When your kitten reaches 4 weeks old (or 3 weeks old for orphaned kittens), you can begin the weaning process. Follow this step-by-step process to wean a kitten using IAMS:

Introduce a small amount of water in a shallow dish. Most kittens will play in the water; however, within four or five days, they begin to develop drinking skills. Some kittens may require longer periods for training, so don’t be discouraged if they resist bowl training.
Begin mixing IAMS™ Proactive Health™ Mother and Kitten with water. Be sure to also provide a separate dish for fresh water.
Gradually increase the amount of soft food while decreasing the amount of water in the mixture until the kitten is eating soft food only.
Repeat the process, mixing dry food with the soft food, and then increasing the solid food while decreasing the soft food until the transition is complete.

The entire process should take approximately three weeks.

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How to Keep Your Cat’s Urinary Tract in Tip-top Shape
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Is your feline leaving puddles of urine in your bathtub or on your tile floors? Making lots (and lots) of trips to the litter box? Or crying out in pain when they pee?

Sounds like
tinkling trouble.

Urinary problems pester lots of grown-up cats, especially dudes, bro.
Your furry friend might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is just scientific jargon for a collection of painful conditions that can wreak havoc on your kitty’s bladder and/or urethra.

So, what common urinary tract conditions are we talking about, exactly?
Some of the most common FLUTD diseases include urinary tract infections, urinary stones caused by a buildup of minerals, obstructions within the urethra or an inflamed bladder.

What causes FLUTD?
Not drinking enough water
Not urinating often enough
A urine pH level that’s too high
Too many minerals and not enough water in the urine
Being a male cat — because their urethras are longer and narrower
Stress or anxiety

Keep your
eyes peeled for
peeing problems ...

How to check if your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other urinary health issue:
The American Veterinary Medical Association says to watch for these major signs:

Straining to go
Frequently urinating a little at a time
Prolonged attempts to go
Crying out while urinating
Excessively licking their genital area
Peeing outside the litter box
Passing blood in their urine

Get your cat back
on the right tract.

How to treat
FLUTD:
Decide whether you need an immediate vet visit.
First things first, if your feline seems to be in a lot of pain or isn’t able to pee at all, get to the vet — stat!
Your cat might have a urethral obstruction, a life-threatening condition that your veterinarian must treat quickly!
Seriously, don’t dillydally.

Next, try these tips to help get your cat’s system flowing again:
Feed smaller, more frequent meals.
Always provide your cat with clean, fresh water.
Encourage your feline to drink as much as possible to help keep mineral buildup at bay and flush your feline’s urinary system.

Finally, don’t forget about litter boxes and S-T-R-E-S-S!
Be sure you have the right number of litter boxes — usually one more box than the number of cats you have.
Place litter boxes in quiet parts of the house.
Always keep litter boxes clean — they should be scooped once or twice a day.
Maintain a steady routine and make your home as stress-free as possible. Consider how your own stress level, any visiting house guests and any other pets might be affecting your cat.

Take this old adage to heart:
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
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