Getting Ready For Your New Kitten
Getting a kitten is very exciting and most people can't wait for that day to arrive. Before you bring your new kitten home, you will want to make sure your house has been made "kitten safe".
Go through your house and check each room for potential hazards such as:
• Broken/missing screens
• Medication left out
• Exposed solvents/cleaners in both house and garage
• Wires
• Choking hazards : cords, string, fringe, small toys, foam toys,
sewing/knitting supplies, loose change, small hardware
• Poisonous plants
• Open toilet seats
• High open area's like a loft or open stairway
• Fragile/breakable objects with-in jumping range
Note: You should also have your vet picked out before you pick up your new kitten.
Go through your house and check each room for potential hazards such as:
• Broken/missing screens
• Medication left out
• Exposed solvents/cleaners in both house and garage
• Wires
• Choking hazards : cords, string, fringe, small toys, foam toys,
sewing/knitting supplies, loose change, small hardware
• Poisonous plants
• Open toilet seats
• High open area's like a loft or open stairway
• Fragile/breakable objects with-in jumping range
Note: You should also have your vet picked out before you pick up your new kitten.
Litter Box Placement
Do not move the litter box from place to place. This is the leading cause of litter box accidents. You want to have at least one litter box on each level of your house. If your house is very large or long, then you will want to have multiple boxes on each level. Your kitten is just like a small child; sometimes they can’t make it in time to the litter box if it’s too far away.
Do not put the litter box near the kittens food and water. Most cats avoid eliminating where they eat. Find a quiet out of the way area to place your litter box.
Remember that your kitten will grow to be a large cat, so buy a large/jumbo box that will be suitable for his size. If you are thinking about using a hooded box, make sure you always have an open box available too. Some cats feel closed in and will not use a hooded box. Some will use it as a kitten and will stop after they grow. A hooded box will also retain odor and it will deter some cats from using it (Do you like using a port-o-potty).
Do not put the litter box near the kittens food and water. Most cats avoid eliminating where they eat. Find a quiet out of the way area to place your litter box.
Remember that your kitten will grow to be a large cat, so buy a large/jumbo box that will be suitable for his size. If you are thinking about using a hooded box, make sure you always have an open box available too. Some cats feel closed in and will not use a hooded box. Some will use it as a kitten and will stop after they grow. A hooded box will also retain odor and it will deter some cats from using it (Do you like using a port-o-potty).
Grooming
Brushing - Ragdolls are easy to groom. A stainless steel comb or pin brush (slicker type) works well. Groom your kitten every other day so he learns to accept it and enjoy it. When he becomes older, you will only need to groom once or twice a week.
Ears - Don’t forget to check your kitten’s ears for wax. Gently wipe them clean with a “slightly damp” cotton ball or soft cloth.
Nail Care - Trim Nails with a good sharp nail clipper. I use the foldable made for people, but it must be a small one so you don’t pinch the paw pad or fur, plus it’s easier to handle.
Start your kitten young so he gets used to it. It’s best to do it when they are relaxed and not wanting to play. You want to trim nails in a well-lit area. Hold the paw between your thumb and forefinger and gently apply pressure to extend the claw. Clip the tip of the nail. You do not have to cut off much; you just want to take off the sharp tip. You want to stay away from the pink “quick” of the nail. If you do cut the “quick” it will hurt the kitten and bleed. Place some styptic powder on the bleeding nail to make it stop and pet and praise your kitten until he relaxes.
After each nail is clipped, you want to pet and praise your kitten. It is very easy to trim Ragdoll nails because they are frosty clear and you can easily see where the “quick” is. Trim nails twice a month.
Bathing - You can bathe your kitten as often as once a month. Use a gentle kitten shampoo (do not use people shampoo). It is easier if you have a sprayer nozzel to wet the coat and rinse. Rinse the coat several times to make sure all the shampoo is out. Kittens and cats lick themselves constantly.
After rinsing, towel dry the kitten then use a blow dryer, lifting the hair gently in the opposite direction of how it lays. Keep moving the airflow from the blow dryer back and forth over and away from the kitten so you don’t burn its skin. When the fur is completely dry, use a pin brush or metal comb to brush the coat out. Never let your kitten air dry. Kittens and cats chill very easily when they are wet.
Ears - Don’t forget to check your kitten’s ears for wax. Gently wipe them clean with a “slightly damp” cotton ball or soft cloth.
Nail Care - Trim Nails with a good sharp nail clipper. I use the foldable made for people, but it must be a small one so you don’t pinch the paw pad or fur, plus it’s easier to handle.
Start your kitten young so he gets used to it. It’s best to do it when they are relaxed and not wanting to play. You want to trim nails in a well-lit area. Hold the paw between your thumb and forefinger and gently apply pressure to extend the claw. Clip the tip of the nail. You do not have to cut off much; you just want to take off the sharp tip. You want to stay away from the pink “quick” of the nail. If you do cut the “quick” it will hurt the kitten and bleed. Place some styptic powder on the bleeding nail to make it stop and pet and praise your kitten until he relaxes.
After each nail is clipped, you want to pet and praise your kitten. It is very easy to trim Ragdoll nails because they are frosty clear and you can easily see where the “quick” is. Trim nails twice a month.
Bathing - You can bathe your kitten as often as once a month. Use a gentle kitten shampoo (do not use people shampoo). It is easier if you have a sprayer nozzel to wet the coat and rinse. Rinse the coat several times to make sure all the shampoo is out. Kittens and cats lick themselves constantly.
After rinsing, towel dry the kitten then use a blow dryer, lifting the hair gently in the opposite direction of how it lays. Keep moving the airflow from the blow dryer back and forth over and away from the kitten so you don’t burn its skin. When the fur is completely dry, use a pin brush or metal comb to brush the coat out. Never let your kitten air dry. Kittens and cats chill very easily when they are wet.
Introducing Your New Kitten to Its New Home
The ideal place for your kittens first days with you is in your bedroom. Have the litter, food, water and some toys in the bedroom. Gently place the carrier on the floor and open the door. Let your kitten come out on its own. Some kittens will come out right away and some will take a little longer.
Let your kitten walk around the room and explore its new surroundings. Show your kitten where the litter box is and then show him the food and water if he hasn’t already spotted it.
After a day or two, open the door and let him explore the rest of the house. Make sure you show him where all of the litter boxes are placed.
If you have another animal, slowly introduce them to each other and make sure you give your first pet lots of attention at first so he does not feel rejected.
Remember that punishing a kitten does not result in a positive response. Punishment will always make your kitten afraid of you and many times will increase the undesired behavior.
Your kitten will not need any help in knowing what to do with the scratching posts and cat trees. The kittens are trained to the scratching post before they leave our home. Their mothers teach them how to use them early on. If your kitten does go to scratch the furniture, just say No firmly and pick him up and take him over to the scratching post and start scratching it. Your kitten will probably start scratching it with you. You will only have to show him this a few times before he understands. Ragdolls are very easy to train.
Kittens and cats scratch not only to file down their claws, but they also scratch when they are happy. Provide them with scratching posts and you will not have any problems. DO NOT DECLAW your kitten. When you have your kitten declawed, your vet is not just taking out the claws; he is actually amputating your kittens first set of knuckles. It is very painful and not needed with the Ragdoll.
Let your kitten walk around the room and explore its new surroundings. Show your kitten where the litter box is and then show him the food and water if he hasn’t already spotted it.
After a day or two, open the door and let him explore the rest of the house. Make sure you show him where all of the litter boxes are placed.
If you have another animal, slowly introduce them to each other and make sure you give your first pet lots of attention at first so he does not feel rejected.
Remember that punishing a kitten does not result in a positive response. Punishment will always make your kitten afraid of you and many times will increase the undesired behavior.
Your kitten will not need any help in knowing what to do with the scratching posts and cat trees. The kittens are trained to the scratching post before they leave our home. Their mothers teach them how to use them early on. If your kitten does go to scratch the furniture, just say No firmly and pick him up and take him over to the scratching post and start scratching it. Your kitten will probably start scratching it with you. You will only have to show him this a few times before he understands. Ragdolls are very easy to train.
Kittens and cats scratch not only to file down their claws, but they also scratch when they are happy. Provide them with scratching posts and you will not have any problems. DO NOT DECLAW your kitten. When you have your kitten declawed, your vet is not just taking out the claws; he is actually amputating your kittens first set of knuckles. It is very painful and not needed with the Ragdoll.
Do Not Declaw Your Kitten
Declawing Cats: Far Worse Than Most People Know.
For more information Click on the links below
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
www.declaw.com
For more information Click on the links below
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
www.declaw.com
Vaccination Schedule
At 10 weeks old your kitten will have had its first 3-way shot. The 3-way shot consists of (FPV) Feline Panleukopenia, (FHV-1) Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and (FCV) Feline Calicivirus. Your kitten will be ready for it's second 3-way shot approximately 4 weeks later and then the third 3-way shot another 4 weeks later.
If you choose to give your kitten a rabies shot, please wait until the kitten is at least 6 months old.
Never let the vet give more than one shot at a time. A severe reaction can occur.
Do not give your Ragdoll shots for (FELV) Feline Leukemia Virus or (FIP) Feline Infectious Peritonitis. There is no need to vaccinate against these diseases because your Ragdoll is an indoor cat and will not be at risk of exposure. If you do allow your cat to be vaccinated with FELV or FIP it will automatically cancel the health guarantee on your kitten.
When your Ragdoll is one year old he should receive his 3-way booster shot. After that, your kitten will only need to be vaccinated every three years. I stop vaccinating my cats when they reach the ages of between 9 - 10 years old.
If you choose to give your kitten a rabies shot, please wait until the kitten is at least 6 months old.
Never let the vet give more than one shot at a time. A severe reaction can occur.
Do not give your Ragdoll shots for (FELV) Feline Leukemia Virus or (FIP) Feline Infectious Peritonitis. There is no need to vaccinate against these diseases because your Ragdoll is an indoor cat and will not be at risk of exposure. If you do allow your cat to be vaccinated with FELV or FIP it will automatically cancel the health guarantee on your kitten.
When your Ragdoll is one year old he should receive his 3-way booster shot. After that, your kitten will only need to be vaccinated every three years. I stop vaccinating my cats when they reach the ages of between 9 - 10 years old.
Feeding Your New Kitten
You want to keep your kitten on the same food that the breeder is using. A change in food can cause diarrhea and stomach problems.
Since Ragdolls are a slow maturing breed you will want to keep your kitten on dry kitten food until he is 2 years old. Then slowly switch to adult food by mixing the adult food in with the kitten food and gradually decreasing the kitten food amount and increasing the adult food amount.
Leave the dry kitten/cat food out all the time and let your kitten free feed. Give your kitten canned food in the am and then again in the pm.
Make sure there is plenty of fresh water left out all of the time. Clean the water dish and replace with fresh water daily.
Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel food and water dishes. Some types of plastic dishes can cause feline acne on the chin area.
Since Ragdolls are a slow maturing breed you will want to keep your kitten on dry kitten food until he is 2 years old. Then slowly switch to adult food by mixing the adult food in with the kitten food and gradually decreasing the kitten food amount and increasing the adult food amount.
Leave the dry kitten/cat food out all the time and let your kitten free feed. Give your kitten canned food in the am and then again in the pm.
Make sure there is plenty of fresh water left out all of the time. Clean the water dish and replace with fresh water daily.
Use glass, ceramic, or stainless steel food and water dishes. Some types of plastic dishes can cause feline acne on the chin area.
Toxic Food and Plants
Below is a list of toxic and poisonous foods and plants to cats.
Below is a list of toxic and poisonous foods and plants to cats.
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