Kitten Care

If you have an indoor cat or one with limited access to outside, a litter tray is essential. Litter training kittens and cats is relatively simple and with this helpful guide your furry friend will be using the tray confidently in no time! Your cat’s natural instincts will usually find them wanting to go to the toilet outside, but many cats like to have a litter tray indoors too. It’s usually best to start with cat toilet training from a young age, but older cats can still be taught to use a litter tray. In fact, they may even find it beneficial as their joints are stiffer and they lack the same energy to go outside. If you’re new to litter training kittens or cats, you may be wondering where to start. That’s why we created this guide to tell you everything you need to know, from what you’ll need to get started to how to get your new kitten accustomed to using the tray. Getting the perfect cat litter tray If you’re just starting out litter training kittens, ensure you use a low-sided plastic tray at first for easy access. When they’ve grown a bit, you’ll want to swap to a larger and deeper tray to give them enough room to turn around and prevent kicking up and scattering the litter all over your home.

Do kittens teeth? All kittens go through a teething process – it’s a natural part of growing up. But whilst some kittens deal with teething well, others may need a little reassurance from you. Whatever the case, rest assured that teething is completely normal. Keep reading to find out more about the process of kitten teething. When do kittens start teething? Just like humans, kittens do not have visible teeth when they are born. Your kitten’s 26 ‘baby teeth’ only start to appear at around three weeks of age. Once the baby teeth start to break through and pierce the gums you may start to see your kitten behaving differently – for example, they might begin to chew things. Don’t worry, this is completely normal. By about six weeks of age most kittens will have grown all of their ‘milk teeth’ (or ‘baby teeth’). If your kitten hasn’t grown all of their teeth by this stage, don’t worry. Not all kittens’ teeth grow at the same rate. However, if there are a number of teeth missing once your kitten reaches nine or ten weeks, you may want to contact your vet to check everything is okay. At around six months of age most cats should have lost their baby teeth to make way for their adult teeth. As the baby teeth are slowly replaced by 30 adult teeth, this is when the majority of kitten teething issues begin. The new teeth that are beginning to poke through will replace the baby teeth and will be the final set of teeth your cat will have, so it’s particularly important to take care of them. If you find your kitten’s baby teeth on the floor during this time, don't worry – kitten tooth loss a natural part of the growing-up process. Kitten teething symptoms When your kitten is teething, they may be experiencing some discomfort. The most obvious signs of dental discomfort are: • Your cat has started to eat less. If they are chewing slower than usual, or more tentatively, it could be a sign their gums are hurting. It may be a good idea to pay a visit to your vet, just to be on the safe side, particularly if they also lose weight. • Urgency to chew. Another sign that your kitten is teething is excessive chewing. If your cat or kitten is chewing everything in sight including its bed, your furniture and its toys it may be a sign that teething has begun. • Inflamed or sore gums. As their adult teeth erupt, kittens may experience mild gingivitis, which can lead to inflamed gums and bad breath. If this is down to teeth erupting, it will usually resolve itself. • Other signs of dental discomfort are drooling, bleeding gums, and pawing at the mouth. These can also be signs of other dental conditions, so see a vet for a check-up. • Increased irritability. This is most likely due to sore gums and a sign that your kitten is teething.

If you have a cat in your life, you may be wondering about their origins and where your domesticated kitty came from. Find out all you need to know about the history of cats in this article. Our cats have been members of our family for as long as we can remember. They’re amazing snuggle companions and their funny mannerisms constantly amuse us, but how much do we actually know about the history of cats? For many of us, the origins of our felines are a complete mystery and very little is known about the reasoning behind certain behaviours. To help you better understand the miniature tiger on your lap, we’ve put together this article that tells you everything from the origin of cats to why they possess certain instincts.

From trailing leads to irresistible, but dangerous food scraps, there is so much to be mindful of when welcoming a new cat. Find out how to make your home safe for your pet. Playful, curious and extremely mischievous, cats won’t wait long before taking over your entire house and everything that’s in it. So, before you welcome your little ball of fur, make sure you’ve got the basics covered by cat proofing your entire home. From dangling cords to abandoned shopping bags and the beauty products on your nightstand, here is the list of unsuspecting items that can cause serious trouble in the company of a feline. Kitten and cat-proofing your home With so many things to consider, cat-proofing your home requires a solid plan. Here is what to keep in mind for a friendly and safe space: 1. Windows and doors When you first bring your new cat or kitten home, keep all windows and doors closed until they’re fully settled in, have had all their vaccinations and have been neutered.

Cats are famously independent, which is one reason why they are so well suited as pets, especially for those who are best suited to furry friend who isn’t so needy. This personality trait can have a flip side, as it can potentially make them a bit anti-social and unpredictable. So, if you’re introducing a new cat to your home and to other pets, be patient, understanding and approach with care – with a bit of time, everyone should get on just fine. Bringing a kitten home The good news is that adult cats tend to be much more welcoming to kittens or young cats than other adults. If both cats are neutered, better still (providing your vet advises that the kitten’s old enough to be neutered). Before bringing a kitten home, or in the first few days of introducing a kitten to a cat, get your existing cat used to the smell of their new companion. Swap their bedding back and forth over the first week and, if either cat gets angry or distressed around the scent, try to offer calm reassurance by associating the new scent with a positive experience, such as a tasty treat. While cats and dogs can be great friends, or live quite happily together even if they’re not, some pets should be kept away from cats. Small furry animals, like rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, gerbils and chinchillas, as well as reptiles, must be protected at all times from cats.

Your new cat is precious, so you will want to make their new environment as safe as possible. So where do you start when creating a cat proof garden? Cats, and especially kittens, are naturally inquisitive, and investigate objects by touching, sniffing and tasting them. When you bring a new cat into your home they’ll be curious about everything and unlike us, won’t be able tell the different between what is and isn’t dangerous. If you’re not sure how to cat proof your garden, follow our checklist to keep your pet out of trouble! Dangerous plants to remove for a cat proof garden Although we think of cats as meat-eaters, don’t be surprised if you spot your cat chewing vegetables or other plants. Some cats like to munch on grass outdoors, or nibble at the leaves of potted houseplants indoors. Keep an eye on exactly what your cat is grazing on, as some plants have parts that are toxic to them. Make sure your project to cat proof your garden includes getting rid of these toxic plants for cats: • Lilies; • Azalea; • Daffodil; • Tomato; • Foxglove; • Yew; • Hydrangea; • Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane); • Philodendron; • Mistletoe; • Poinsettia. Your vet can give you a complete list of plants that could be harmful to your cat, or click here for a list of dangerous plants for cats. Do you need to cat proof the garden for an indoor cat? Yes. Your cat or kitten has a natural instinct to play outdoors, establish territory, climb trees, and catnap in the sun. As fun as this sounds, there are some things that you’ll need to look out for in the great outdoors. When outside, cats are exposed to more diseases and parasites, risk getting lost or stolen, and could potentially get hurt by a car. To allow your cat outdoors and also keep them safe, you can create a cat proof garden. Some cats are quite happy staying indoors – although that does rely on you knowing how to make a cat friendly home and make their environment exciting to compensate for the lack of outdoor stimulation. Other cats will prefer to roam outdoors – deciding between which option is best for your cat will take careful consideration on your part. If you decide to allow your cat outdoors, ask your breeder or vet for advice and make sure you've made their outdoor space as safe as possible.

Cat insurance can bring real peace of mind and help to take the worry out of a stressful situation. Choosing the right insurance for cats might seem like a big job, but we’re here to help! Our cats give us a huge amount of enjoyment, as well as being our steadfast companions. So, when they make us worry you want to have a good cat insurance policy in place to make sure they get all the help they need. After all, money is the last thing you want to think about if your cat is ill, lost or stolen. You could chat to your vet about the types of insurance for cats that your pet might benefit from, and we’ve made a list of some general things to help you out too. Knowing how to choose pet insurance can be a little tricky, but once it’s done nothing beats the peace of mind you get from knowing your cat is in good hands! The importance of cat insurance Medical care for cats is improving all the time. However, these treatments can be costly, and when added to the stress of your cat being under the weather, they can really put the pressure on. Getting the right insurance for cats can take some of the worry away, as you’ll know you’re financially covered. Even so, it’s important to know how to choose cat insurance that will fit your pet’s needs – which means reading the small print! What to look for in a cat or kitten insurance policy When looking for cat or kitten insurance, it’s a good idea to do your research on the companies that are offering the policies. In the unfortunate event that you do need to make a claim, a good company could make the experience far less stressful. You should firstly search for a good track record from your cat insurance company and look into how many other people have claimed and what their experiences were like. They should be easy to contact and offer a good, simple and straightforward service. Don’t forget to check opening times and if they have live chat, email or if all contact is via phone. Additionally, make sure that they’re happy to answer any questions and the people you talk to should be friendly and helpful. Remember that you might need to call them at a difficult time, so you need to feel like they are approachable. Things to bear in mind for your cat insurance policy You’ll probably end up looking at all kinds of policies – and it can be difficult to choose between them if they all start to look the same! To help you out, here are the main things you might want to consider when choosing insurance for cats. The cost of your policy While you want the best policy you can get when it comes to your feline friend, you must be able to afford the cat insurance cost. If the monthly premium is too high for your finances, you’ll just be giving yourself extra stress. How much excess will you have to pay for each claim? The excess is the amount of money you have to pay before the cat insurance company covers the remainder. If the excess is high, you’re less likely to claim for minor conditions – and this should be reflected in a lower monthly cost. Only you can weigh up the pros and cons, but make sure you think it’s fair. Does the cat insurance cover all the costs of your pet’s treatment? It’s also important to find out what areas of treatment will be included within the policy.

If you're about to welcome a new kitten to your home, you'll need to think of the perfect name for them! That's why we've created this list of the best boy and girl kitten names to assist you on your way to giving your new four-legged friend a name that suits them to a T. Once you've finally got a new kitten, there comes a very important task: choosing a name! While it can be as easy as looking into their big, adorable eyes and the perfect kitten name just pops into your head, sometimes, it's not always straight forward and you need a little inspiration to get you going. Here at Purina, we've compiled this list of all of our favourite girl and boy kitten names to help you find the perfect moniker for your new fluffy tailed friend. Top tips for choosing a kitten name The first step in choosing your kitten's name is to make sure it's not too long. Where there's nothing funnier than a cat called Pawdry Hepburn or Lord Fluffybutt, these can get confusing for your kitty. It's not likely that you'll need to call out their name in a busy park (like you do with dogs), but it's still a good idea to stick to names that are one or two syllables, or if you really want it to be longer, think of what the shortened version for the name will be. If you can wait, sometimes it's best to wait a few days before deciding on your boy or girl kitten name, this way you can take in their personality and breed into account. You may find that after spending a little time with them, the ideal kitten name just materialises based on something they do or who they look like! Girl kitten names Dinah You may recognise this cute girl kitten name from Alice in Wonderland. Characterised as a fluffy red cat with big green eyes in the 1950's film, this name is perfect for kitties with an adventurous personality.

If you're lucky enough to have a new charcoal kitty in your life, find here the perfect name to go with that slick dark fur. We've taken our inspiration from the popular culture, the world of celebrities and we looked into the magic side of things too. Out of all the kittens out there, black cats have the top choice when it comes to picking names. Unique, mysterious and moody, black cats have inspired countless of stories and superstitions. So if you are looking for the best moniker for your black cat, the sky is the limit. With so many cool black cat names from pop culture and mythology, to all the clever word associations you can make based on their dark looks, you're one of the luckiest cat owners out there. Here is a list of the best black cat names you can choose from. Popular Black Cat Names Shadow A perennially popular black cat name, Shadow is definitely here to stay as one of the coolest cat monikers. Symbolising darkness and mystery, here is a name that will match the enticing looks only a black cat can get away with. Olive Olive has won its place on the best cat names list for being the classic female black cat name so many owners choose for their coal kittens. And when you start thinking about all the sweet nicknames you can come up with - from Liv to Livy and Oli - you will love this name even more. Spooky Black cats have the unique ability to almost disappear when you turn off the lights. If it weren't for their gorgeous sparkling eyes, you would completely lose them until the morning. So if your cat has the habit of coming to say hello in the middle of the night (and scaring you out of your wits in the process), it's only fair to choose Spooky as your black cat's name. Lucky We believe that all the bad luck myths and superstitions are just a gross misrepresentation of the fun and lovely nature of black cats. If you agree with us why not choose a name that will show the world just how fortunate you are to have such a ball of joy in your life. Pepper Inspired by the black pepper used to give a spicy taste to food, Pepper is the black cat name you need for a confident kitten that plays by their own rules. If you can't stop your new feline playing games and chasing everything in sight, you've just found the Pepper in your life. Black Cat Names from Popular Culture Sylvester Sylvester is a great black cat name for all the kittens that love the thrill of chasing.

Marmalade, red, orange or ginger - whatever you want to call it, ginger cats are nothing less than extraordinary. Find out everything there is to know from what's responsible for the colouring of ginger cats to the cat breeds that come in this wonderful shade. It's no secret that ginger cats are among the most well-loved and that all who come into contact with them think there's something special about them. This may be due to the fact that they've played such cheeky characters on TV and film, including Shrek's Puss in Boots, Breakfast at Tiffany's Orangey and of course, who could forget Garfield? As they've made such an impact on us in the land of pop culture, we've found ourselves wanting to discover as much as possible about them and wondering if there are any specific ginger cat breeds. Keep reading to find out everything from the reasoning behind their ginger colouring, to the breeds which are more likely to come in this marmalade tone. What's responsible for the colouring of ginger cats? It may surprise you to know that there's quite a lot that goes into deciding if your cat will have red fur or not. There's actually a 'ginger gene' and it has a lot to do with inherited genes and chromosomes. According to The Spruce Pets, the ginger gene 'O', is responsible for producing phaeomelanin (the red pigment), and this pigment is so dominant it will mask all other colours. In order to produce your ginger cat, the gene needs to be carried to the 'X' chromosome - a male cat has one 'X' chromosome, whereas females have two. Additionally, this ginger gene comes in two variants: 'O' which produces red pigment and 'o' which doesn't. If the ginger cat is male and gets the 'O' type from their mother, they'll be ginger, however if they get 'o' they'll be calico or tortoiseshell instead. For females to be ginger they'll need the 'O' chromosome on both 'X' chromosomes, if they have 'Oo' instead, they'll be calico or ginger. Due to the fact females have so many more possible combinations, they're less likely to be ginger and as such only 20% are. A huge 80% of all ginger cats are male, as there are far less variables involved. Also, ginger males can come from red, calico and tortoiseshell mothers, whereas females need to have one fully red father and the mother will have to be red, calico or tortoiseshell. Are all ginger cats tabbies?

Buying a kitten can be a bit of minefield. There's so much to consider such as how to find a reputable breeder to begin with and what questions should I ask? At Purina, we've created this guide, complete with handy checklists to give you all the information you need. If you're looking to buy a pedigree kitten from a breeder, there are numerous factors to consider. Before even beginning the search, you'll need to make sure that you have enough time in your busy schedule to dedicate to a new kitten from this day onward, as they mature into a wonderful adult cat. For those that are seriously considering buying a kitten from a breeder, we've created this guide to lead your through the entire process, so you can come out with a healthy and happy four-legged friend to cherish for many years to come. Buying a kitten checklist Before you start thinking about buying a cat, you'll need to consider your own personal circumstances before. You need to ask yourself the following questions: • Are you ready for a cat? • Are you prepared to deal with the costs? There are vet fees to bear in mind, such as neutering/spaying and vaccinations. If you choose a long-haired breed there may be grooming costs. Additionally, there will be daily costs such as feeding to consider too. • Are your circumstances right for a cat? This includes your current working hours and your home environment - if you work long hours, is there someone else at home to care for your cat?. • Can you make a lifelong commitment to a cat? On average an indoor cat's lifespan will be between 13-17 years, so you'll need to be able to commit for this amount of time. You'll need to ensure that you can answer yes to all of the above questions, otherwise a cat may not be suitable to you. Which cat breed is right for me? Whilst you may already know what cat breed you want to get, you may find yourself unable to choose (which is hardly surprising as there are so many cute cats out there!). Each breed of cat has their own characteristics and care requirements to bear in mind. These are some good questions to consider:

You've decided to give a cat from a shelter a forever home-a fantastic thing to do! There are so many pets in the world that have been abandoned, abused or simply had owners that were no longer able to take care of them. All of these animals are looking for a second chance at a loving home. Whether you're looking to adopt a kitten or an adult cat with a fully formed, unique personality, there are many things to consider before bringing your new family member home. Find out how to adopt a cat and what you'll need for your new arrival with this guide. How to adopt a cat When considering how to adopt a cat, the first thing you need to do is locate a suitable shelter or charity with an established reputation. You can easily find plenty of these by searching for your local centres online. You can also try looking on Cats Protection, Blue Cross and RSPCAwebsites for your closest rescue centre to you. At Purina we’re also proud to have a partnership with Wamiz to connect you to local adoption services and help you to find your forever friend. Once you've located a rescue centre, most have online directories of the cats they currently have up for adoption, alternatively you can speak to the staff at the centre for advice on the kind of cat which will suit you.