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Cat Housing

In many cases the kitten will be leaving the comfort and security of the litter and its mother for the first time. At your place there will be strange new smells, different people and perhaps different pets. It is essential that the new kitten has human company, warmth, ample food and something to distract its attention during the night—for example, a clock wrapped in a blanket.

Give the kitten a well-wrapped hot-water bottle for warmth. Keep the kitten on the foods that the breeder was using for at least four or five days. Any zhange in diet should be made slowly. Some kittens are allergic to cow's so if diarrhoea occurs, the milk should be stopped until the kitten is ell. Milk can then be gradually reintroduced if watered down fifty-fifty with water, with the concentration being increased over the following four to five weeks. If milk is reduced, ensure that the cat is on a balanced commercial diet or has supplementary calcium.

Young kittens are usually happy sleeping in baskets or boxes on the floor. Don't be overenthusiastic about preparing special sleeping quarters for cats, as they usually make their own arrangements. Older cats like to sleep above Thor level or ground level. If convenient, set up a shelf for your cat to use as a perch. Otherwise it will climb on chairs and other elevated places.

Most young kittens, and even older cats, enjoy playing with toys, particularly ones that move. A few simple toys will keep a kitten contented in the first few days in a strange environment—for example, ping-pong balls, a spool with a piece of string on it, a dangling piece of wool or even a small twist of newspaper hung on a string from a doorknob. Cats also enjoy crawling into cardboard boxes or tunnels made out of large paper shopping bags. The best way to stop the kitten or mature cat from wandering during the first few days in a new home is to confine it to the house or an enclosed space. Your cat will become used to being fed at the one place, and when it is left free it will return for its food. It has been said that placing butter on the cat's paws will hasten its acclimatisation. By doing this the cat leaves traces of its own scent wherever it goes in the house, thus making the surroundings seem more familiar.

Whether the cat is housed indoors or outdoors, it is important that the area is warm and draught free. Cats like to be elevated, with a good view of their surroundings so that they can maintain their alertness and independence and be safe from dogs and young children. They also appreciate being able to come and go as they please, so it is ideal to fit a cat door to the shelter your pet regards as its own (be it in the kitchen or an insulated garden shed). The door is a flap on a two-way hinge at the top, just big enough for the cat to fit through. A bolt on the flap is useful in case you wish to keep the cat in—for example, when it is ill or when a queen is in season. The best bedding for the cat is newspaper; it is cheap and disposable, which means it is hygienic. Fleas, lice and worms can be thrown out and burned on a regular basis. It is also very warm.

If a cat basket is used, the ideal style is one with a waterproof base and an elevated wire surface on which the cat lies. If a kitten does have an accident, it is not then standing or lying in its own mess. The basket should be wide and shallow so that the cat can see what is going on. A minority will prefer a closed-in basket, but they still like to keep an eye on things.

If a cat has to be kept indoors for lengthy periods, a litter box is essential. This should be a waterproof tray measuring approximately 30 X 38 centimetres with 5-centimetre side walls. Line it with a few sheets of newspaper, then fill it with commercially prepared litter or with soil or sawdust. The litter should be changed each day and the tray washed thoroughly with a non-irritant detergent and rinsed well. Don't use strong-smelling antiseptics, otherwise the animal may not use the tray. Some antiseptics, soaps and :sinfectants are poisonous to cats. Check the label.

Feeding and drinking utensils should be solid and have flat bottoms. The Additional saucer is not ideal, since it is easily tipped over by a hungry kitten. Some cats will pull the food from the bowl, particularly if there are strands of meat to play with, so it is a good idea to set the howl on a sheet of newspaper

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