KITTEN CARE


Going home Information


Your kitten/cat's immune system needs time to adjust to its new environment.  To build immunity against new things in its new environment before it comes in contact with new animals especially those that are allowed to go outdoors and bring in a myriad of things that kitty has never had contact with.  The isolation period of up to 2 weeks is a very important adjustment period for your kitten/cat’s mental and physical health.
Remember your kitten/cat does not know what is best; it depends on you to do what is best for it.


Please don’t change their feeding schedule too suddenly it will upset their system and may cause them to gorge themselves and get stomach aches or diarrhea.  They eat early morning, afternoon and early evening.  This is when I feed so they won’t expect to eat when we eat.  Gradually change it to suit your schedule.


If you change food brands do it gradually by mixing it bit by bit.  Only change brands one at a time in case you have an allergic reaction.  It is easier to identify the offending food.  Dons love to try different foods.  Try anything you like but slowly, one at time to see what is tolerated. Some like raw potato, tomatoes, gummy bears, bread, sponge cake, spaghetti and meatballs, boiled chicken, deli meats (turkey or chicken), mushroom sauce, lobster, shrimp, tuna, (all mine hate salmon), love crab and the list goes on.  They even like cotton candy; it's just not good for them, so just a tiny taste or two is enough!
Remember CHOCOLATE and ONIONS KILL.


Cat grass is also good for them and they enjoy it.  Follow the instructions on the package to grow it.  Catnip is also good for them and they eat it when offered.  1tablespoon a week is good for them.


Please Read all cat food labels.  NEVER continuously FEED CAT FOOD THAT HAS FISH IN IT!
Let them enjoy the real thing once a week instead of having fish as a pollutant in their daily diet.
Fish not fish oil rob nutrients from their bodies and cause them to become ill.



NEVER FEED Raw Chicken that has not been soaked in Grapefruit Seed Extract for at least one hour (4 drops to 6 ounces of water) to kill the Salmonella.  Dons are sensitive to Salmonella and it can kill them.  Salmonella will not necessarily kill other breeds of cats.  Grapefruit Seed Extract can be purchased at your local health food store.  Cooked chicken bones can also kill your Don.



Bath Weekly:


-Run water for bath with an additional container of warm water for rinsing.  A thermometer is a good idea (available at the dollar stores).  Temp for bath and rinse should be around 40 degrees, no warmer.

  • Place kitten in one part of a double sink using a towel on the bottom to prevent toes from being caught in the drain. Bath water is in the adjacent sink. The clean rinse water is beside the sink.
  • Clean face with warm damp washcloth being sure to clean between all the wrinkles.

With bathing gloves wet kitten, apply soap to gloves, rub together to create lather and wash kitten. Avoid getting soap in kitten’s eyes and water in its ears. I recommend Ivory Dish Detergent as the soap to use. It is pure, inexpensive and does not irritate their skin.


  • Rinse kitten well with the clean rinse water.
  • Wrap kitten in a warmed towel to dry.

Clean ears with Q-tips using recommended Vet Solution being Careful not to go to deep in the ear.  I warm a little of the Vet Solution in a small container and dip the Q-tips into it instead of pouring cold solution in their ears as this is a shock to their system.  If the ear is especially tarry, warm the VET ear cleaning Solution, and put a small amount in each ear.  Let it set a moment, gently bend the ear down to close it and massage the solution around inside.  Remove what you can see in the outer ear, then clean the inner ear being careful not to go too deep.  If you discover a foul smell or something seems wrong you may need to see a vet.

With kitten wrapped in a warm towel or after bath coat expose one paw at a time and gently clean each toenail with a soft cloth.  The skin around their nails is called the foreskin and is very sensitive.  Clean under the foreskin by pulling it back very GENTLY with a soft cloth.  This prevents bacteria build up. If a black oily substance does develops under the foreskin it can be either a bacteria or yeast and needs attention.  I use a mild bleach solution (It should not be very strong, about 1-10) once or twice should do it.  Use a warm bowl of this bleach solution and a baby tooth brush that is very soft.  Wet the tooth brush with the bleach solution and gently expose the oily build up by pulling the foreskin back on the toe exposing the whole nail and clean very GENTLY with the soft tooth brush as you brush the black off the nail.  Do this right after the bath so the tarry build up is soft and easy to remove.  If it is resistant, go to the next nail letting the nails soak until you come back to the first one.  It should come off easy then.  Clean under the foreskin of each nail with the same solution using a soft cloth or very soft brush.  Work rapidly.  Don't leave the solution on too long.  Rinse by dipping the paw into a container of clean warm water.  Dry well.


  • Using Nail trimmers trim nails, do not trim above the blood line or bleeding will result.  If you are unsure of the blood line please consult your vet or myself.  Repeat the process on all 4 paws.

The Tail:  Baby wipes work real well as a daily cleanser to help prevent and avoid black heads (Stud tail) If you find black heads are occurring, swab the area with "Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother" for a few days and the black heads will dry up and fall out. "Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother" can be found at your local health food store. "Apple cider vinegar with mother" gets rid of the blackheads without bruising or damaging their sensitive skin.


DailyCare:

  • Clean kitten’s eyes daily with warm wet wash cloth.  Failing to do this can cause an infection.
  • Use Tear Gel daily for bald babies to keep their eyes clean and lubricated.

Kitten Supplies You Will Need

Following is a list of recommend supplies.  Your kitten has been using these products and is doing very well.

Feeding:

  • A high protein diet is necessary.
  • Royal Cain Kitten formula – for the main diet.  Free Feed this.
  • Raw beef – approximately a 2 inch square cube three times a day in place of wet canned food until 6 months old. Then twice a day.
  • Royal Cain Dental Diet - use as treats daily
  • Fishonly once a week.
  • Whiskas foil pouches can be used as wet food substitutes when traveling or when in a pinch, they contain no fish.
  • L=Lysine Using L-lysine - 1/2 (250) capsule sprinkled on their food each day helps to protect against the Herpes virus (colds and eye problems).
  • Vet Solutions Ear Cleaner
  • Ivory Dish Soap
  • Q-tips
  • Small pair of pet nail clippers

Daily Neccessities:

  • Tear Gel for bald babies.
  • Baby wash clothes for eye care
  • Toys, lots
  • Cat scratching post, this is a must.  They use them to clean their nails, prevents them from using your couch, they also love the cardboard ones that lay on the floor.
  • Heated pet bed
  • Blankets
  • Sweaters
  • Kitten Attract is the litter I recommend and the litter your kitten is used to.  I gradually move them to a mixture of Cat Attract and World’s Best Cat Litter.  They do real well with these.
  • I recommend 2-3 litter boxes until the kitten acclimates to its new home.  Beware of Pine cleaners and pine pellets can cause upper respiratory infections.

If I can answer any questions please feel free to contact me.  As I learn I will change my information and share it.  Thanks and Have a Nice Day!  Evelyn