Polesden

Feeding

Your kitten will be fully weaned when you collect them.

They will need to have 2 meat feeds a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.  I highly recommend you use Whiskers kitten food as this is what they are used to.  It is best if you mash the food to remove any lumps as this makes it easier for them to eat and it aids digestion.  Large lumps could choke your kitten.  If your kitten doesn’t seem keen on some foods have patience as they will get used to it.

Do not leave cat food in a tin once it is open.  Put it in to a plastic air tight container. Cats do not like cold food straight from the fridge it is best at room temperature.

Never leave uneaten food down, always throw away any that has been left. 

As they have been used to having their mother’s milk they will enjoy an evening snack of evaporated milk mixed with water, 1 tablespoon of each.  Never give a cat cows milk as it will badly upset their tummy.

They should have dry food available at all times.  To start with I recommend you give them Royal Canin Baby Cat biscuits mixed with Royal Canin Kitten biscuits which they are used to.  After a couple of weeks you can stop using the Baby Cat biscuits and just use the Kitten biscuits.  They should have kitten food until they are about 1 year old then you can change to the adult.

Fresh water must be available at all times.

Litter Trays

A litter tray will be needed and available to your kitten at all times.  Wood, wheat or corn based litter is best as these do not harm your kitten if they fancy a nibble.  I use a corn based cat litter ‘Worlds Best Cat Litter’ which is quite expensive but I find brilliant as it is a clumping litter which means you can remove both wee and poo and it is flushable so you can put it down your toilet instead of making your bin smell.  It also has natural deodorizers to keep the smell down.  The tray should be kept as clean as possible and should be completely cleaned out and disinfected regularly. Household bleach with water is best as this is not toxic to cats, whereas some cleaning fluids are.

Neutering or spaying 

It is essential you have your kitten neutered or spayed between 6-9 months old.  Your kitten has been registered on the GCCF non-active register and you will have signed an agreement to say you will not be breeding from them.  IF you have one of our British Shorthair cross Persian kittens these will not be registered with the GCCF.

Neutering a tom too early can prevent the development of the nice big British Shorthair head, but don’t leave it too late as an un-neutered tom can be a real nuisance and become very smelly!

It is unwise and cruel to keep an un-spayed female unless she is to be used for breeding. A calling queen will wear herself out, lose weight and be thoroughly frustrated.

Vaccinations 

Your kitten will have had their Feline Infectious Enteritis, Leukaemia and Cat Flu vaccinations by the time you collect them.  You must ensure they receive their annual boosters.

If you have one of our British Shorthair cross Persian kittens these will not have been vaccinated.  You collect your kitten when they are 8 weeks old and they cannot be vaccinated until they are a minimum of 9 weeks.

Health

Your kitten will have been wormed just before collection and you will need to do this regularly, approx every 8 weeks.

Their ears should be clean.  You should check them regularly and if you see anything unusual you should have this checked by your vet as ear problems such as ear mange, Canker or Otitis can cause very painful infections.

Regular grooming is advisable to keep the coat in good condition.  You can use a brush and your hands which help give the coat a good shine and remove all the loose hair.

To prevent fleas you will need to use a flea treatment.  I recommend Front Line which is available from your vet.  For the first 2-3 months a kitten only requires a small amount sprayed on a grooming comb and combed through the fur.  After this you must use the recommended dose.

Do not be alarmed if your kitten sheds its first teeth as this is supposed to happen. 

A well fed cat who has lots of exercise, fresh air and is well loved and cared for will remain fit and healthy with few problems.

General

Do not let your kitten outdoors to begin with unless you are there to supervise.  Once they become bigger and mature in to an adult cat they will become more aware of the dangers.  If you intend for them to be allowed outside I recommend you try and keep them in at night.   

If your cat will need a collar with a tag then make sure they get used to wearing one from an early age.  However take it off at night as collars wear bald patches in the fur and can then irritate the skin.  Microchipping is advisable for identification in case they should get lost.

Keep washing machine doors and toilet seats closed.  Look out for toxic chemicals in places they could get in to and any other dangers you can think of.  Kittens are very curious and can get themselves in all sorts of trouble!

A scratching post is a good idea and will help to save your furniture, however regular cutting of their front claws will also help.

British Shorthair cats are very intelligent, affectionate cats that love to have your company.

Please enjoy your new kitten and keep in touch!! 

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