This is the saddest day of my life because I am leaving my mother, brothers and sisters and going out into the great big world alone. Forgive me if perhaps I seem ungracious and cry and refuse the first nice meal you so kindly put before me. I have no words to describe my utter bewilderment at being taken from home, where I was happy and thought I belonged; but I believe this feeling will not last and that I will grow to love you and my new home.
About my first night...Even if I have been a perfect kitten all day, it is just possible I will forget myself when it is dark and I am feeling alone. My breeder recommends that for the first night or two I be confined to a room such as your bedroom. Here there is enough room for me to bond with you and you bond with me. PLEASE do not confine me to a cold laundry or bathroom, as I am not accustomed to being shut away from family living and wont like it at all. You may also wish to leave a litter tray, plus a food plate and a water bowl, so there is not much chance of my forgetting where anything I might need is. Remember you have purchased me to be your companion and friend, by allowing me to sleep by your side it will take me no time to forget about my brothers and sisters I have left behind
About my toilet...I am house-trained and have been used to a tray left near my sleeping quarters, which my breeder cleaned daily. (Don't hide it away when you are spring-cleaning and expect me to be psychic and find it.) Please keep my tray clean and dry - if it is unpleasant to you then you can imagine how bad it must seem to me and I can't be blamed for not wishing to use it. If you are thinking of letting me outdoors (my breeder doesn't recommend it, due to the dangers of my picking up infections or have a nasty experience with a dog or, worse, a car) Breeders Choice paper litter is what I am accustom too. Again please do not change this as I may have an accident, and we don’t want that to happen.
Your new kitten of twelve weeks or so has been fed on a well balanced diet and will eat approx three heaped tablespoons of food per meal, and then increase it as your kitten demand more. These meals should be of raw Beef or Lamb Whiskas tin varieties are great as add inns. Chicken, Turkey Varieties are mainly used, and please do not give him/her tin mince or casserole as he/her may get an upset tummy. Dry food is used as a garnish only, and Do not allow your kitten to graze endlessly on it, as it can cause problems, and lesson your cat’s life. Dry food is mixed with the wet food and fresh meat, this will avoid your kitten only eating dry, and leaving the rest of the good food you have served him/her. Optimum or Advance is what your kitten is accustoming to and no other brand should be offered please. My breeder avoided giving me foods that contained lots of preservatives. Fresh beef, lamb or chicken is the only meat I can tolerate table leftovers can be given occasionally.
If your kitten is living on his own he will probably not eat quite as much as when he was one of the mob and had to fight its way to the plate. Two cats together eat better than one on its own.
About my meals……….Most Important……..I am only used to Filtered WATER…..
NO TAP WATER PLEASE…….
My breeder has been giving me three meals a day, once I am 6 months of age, then you can wean me to 2 meals a day, provided I am gaining weight and growing. Always feed me on a flat china plate, that way I cannot gobble too much at once, which in turn will make me vomit. Always feed me on a flat plate, to prevent this.
BREAKFAST – Wet food mixed together with my raw beef and or chicken fillet, and maybe a sprinkle of dry food or grated cheese
DINNER – Raw beef mixed with tin and a sprinkle of dry food. Or a occasional sprinkle of grated cheese or Nestle LC1 yoghurt (Vanilla)
SUPPER – chicken wing with cheese (if I can tolerate it) or tin, we do not recommend a dry food diet though your VET may suggest otherwise. Dry food is given as a garnish, and nothing more
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Treats – which my breeder gave me regularly, was cooked 2-minute noodles with tin human salmon and grated cheese all mixed together, this is yummy and I just love the odd treat to break the routine. Beef/Lamb Ribs or raw chicken wings/necks are especially good for my teeth but I must be supervised with these. My breeder suggests Leonard’s to purchase my chicken, as I cannot tolerate chicken from other suppliers.
PLEASE STICK to my diet and do not alter it, if you find that something you give me to eat upsets me, and then don't give it to me again. Cats are just like humans; each one of us is an individual - what most cats may enjoy, may give me a tummy-ache. You will notice that my breeder has not included cow’s milk on my diet sheet. It may come as a surprise to you, but cats don't need milk once they are weaned and it gives many of us diarrhoea.
ALWAYS LEAVE OUT A BOWL OF FRESH FILTERED WATER...
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About my health...Despite vaccinations, young kittens may still be susceptible to infectious diseases, If I am to become unwell within the first 7 days of being in your care, my breeder must be notified immediately, and if necessary, I must be taken back to Minga Cattery for a refund or be taken to the Burwood Cat Clinic (see my card) (conditional No other Veterinary can be used). Please do not take me visiting until I am fully vaccinated. If you take reasonable care of me, I am quite a tough being, but do not believe the fable "a cat has nine lives,” because sometimes my one life can be threatened very easily. I have been inoculated twice with a KILLED VACCINE against Feline Enteritis, Cat Flu and Calici virus but check to see if my initial programme has been completed, if it hasn’t, please remember to get my next booster, at 16weeks or the date given on my card and it must be a KILLED VACCINE
PLEASE ASK YOUR VET TO ONLY GIVE ME F3 KILLED VACCINE, if I am given a F4 OR F5
Vaccination, my breeder will not guarantee my health
My breeder has tried the F4 & F5 and my cousins have either died or taken very ill from them.
Months later… If I act differently, like cry a little, or do naughty things to my nice home, this could be because, I am bored and very lonely, I might not be getting as much attention as I am used too, and you are not home as much as you use to be, if this happens, then my breeder recommends that this is a good time to consider getting me a play mate to befriend, I love company and I am sure you would not like to be left alone for long hours at a time.
Desexed… I have been desexed, vaccinated, wormed and Micro-chiped, please continue my monthly flea/worm treatment. I have been treated with Advocate.
Children… I will love playing with them, but please remind them I am only a baby and need lots of sleep, so they shouldn't wake me if I am taking a nap. Young children should be discouraged from picking me up until they are old enough to do so in the approved manner, with one hand under my chest and the other supporting my hindquarters. My bones are still soft and my muscles are still developing and it is easy for them to be damaged. Also if I am hurt I might scratch. After my warranty, please see that I get qualified veterinary help if I am sick. As Minga Cattery is not responsible for any illness due to negligence, stress (Flu like symptoms), poisoning, broken bones, dietary indiscretion or accidents. My breeder is happy to assist with information or advice when appropriate to assist you in bringing me back to excellent health. If you have chosen to take another’s advice, then my breeder cannot be responsible for any outcome that may happen to me. And I can only stress that any other person qualified to see to my health care is the Burwood Clinic for Cats. No other Vet in my breeder’s eyes is ever as good, as our Doctor Carole Webb at the Clinic for Cats in Burwood.
About internal parasites...To date I have been wormed several times for round and hookworms and at least one for tapeworms. If you keep me inside, it is unlikely that I will ever be troubled by these nasties, but to be on the safe side, and certainly if I go outdoors, my breeder recommends that I be flea/wormed every month because I eat lots of raw meat.