Fun ‘n’ frolic

Kittens love to play. They love to pounce on things and other kittens. Here are a few tips to make playing fun for them

 

• If they are separated from their siblings, they must be provided with small toys that skitter and move when they pounce on them and interactive play when you are home, such as a Cat Dancer.


• Play with them interactively a minimum of twice a day in prolonged play.


• Leave other toys out when you are tired or unavailable.


• Anything on a string so you can make it jump is wonderful, but the kitten will tear it apart, so make sure it is safe for them as they do so.


• All our cats loved the ping pong ball in the ring and the Cat Dancer. Many are very fancy such sparkly Mylar crinkle balls, and some kittens definitely prefer the sparkly things.
  
   


• It is good to rotate toys out of their sight for a few weeks at a time to keep a toy from getting old and boring.


• Cats love to knead. If they have claws they will scratch. Immediately give them a scratching post or place.


• You can buy a cat tree.


• As they love to climb, especially as they get older, some form of tower or tree is recommended. Spray it with catnip to make it desirable at once, and take your kitten to it every time s/he scratches.

(Kiturah Humphrey, featured columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a retire physician. From Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US, she is responsible for cattery policies and choices that include a programme to eliminate Corona Virus, HCM, Bartonella, Toxoplasmosis, etc.)

Do’s and Don’ts for your kitty treats

Like humans, your kittens may like a different treat. Here are a few treats you can give to your feline friends:

• You may give upto a quarter cup of milk at a time, but more may cause diarrhoea.


• You can give yogurt for calcium and digestion.


• You may mix yoghurt with a small dash of taurine powder, a flavour the cats like and is good for them.


• Protein-based meat, poultry and fish are good for your cat. Just make sure there are no fish bones.


• Treats should not form more than half the diet.


• Avoid garlic and onion seasonings as these are toxic for cats.


• You can give Dental Chews or Greenies for cats in the recommended quantities.

(Kit Humphrey, featured columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a retired physician from Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US.)

Thought for food…

In the last issue, we gave you tips on how to make your kitty comfortable to his new environment. Here are a few more tips for feeding your kitty:

Why interval feed?

• Interval feeding is important, that is food’s not available at all times.


• Smell of the food and not the taste triggers the cat’s brain sending out the message to slow down the whole metabolism so that the body can concentrate on digesting…this is perfect for digesting the food efficiently, but not a state of affairs we want to continue 24 hours a day. So, while we often think we need to leave the food out for a cat who is finicky and/or needs to gain weight, we are actually achieving the opposite, as the cat’s appetite is not stimulated naturally.


• Recent research states that cats who fall ill with urinary blockage almost always come from homes where food was left available all day long.


• Leaving food available all day long is also the primary cause of the finicky eater syndrome. Slowed metabolism is a cause of several health problems–among them dandruff, obesity and skinniness. If a cat has a poor appetite, the answer is not to leave more food available for longer periods but just the opposite.


• Putting food out identifies you as the source of the food and helps you and your kitten to bond.


• We start training our kittens to come to “Here Kitty Kitty Kitty…” when we feed them. Adding the cat’s name to this sequence, teaches him his own name and to come when called.

How to feed?

• For a 9-12 wks old kitten, try just 1/8th cup three times a day. Call the kitty: “Here kitty, kitty, kitty, NAME-kitty” when you put food out, every time. Let the cat eat and leave. Then after 10-20 min, discard the leftovers where the cat will not smell it.


• If you have more than one kitten, give each his own bowl, which lets you monitor how much each kitten eats and

keep them from competing for food.

• Some male adult cats want more than 1/3rd cup every 8 hours and some females eat barely 1/4th cup total in 24 hrs at 12 wks though this is very low.


• Males eat twice as much as females during their rapid growth phase of five to ten months, usually. Males’ appetites sometimes increase rapidly.


• The ribs should be identifiable as ribs but not countable, having a slight layer of fat over them.


• Use cat food as it has proper supplements and vitamins.


• Dishes need to be wide enough so that he does not need to bend his whiskers when eating off the bottom of the dish, or drinking from the bottom. Cats do not like to bend their whiskers, and will eat and drink less, rather than go through this unpleasant experience.


• Dishes should be ceramic without lead or arsenic in the glaze, or metal or glass, not plastic.

(Kit Humphrey, featured columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a retire physician. From Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US, she is responsible for cattery policies and choices that include a programme to eliminate Corona Virus, HCM, Bartonella, Toxoplasmosis, etc.)

Welcome to our abode!

If you are planning to bring home an adorable kitty, then it’s your responsibility to make transition easy for your loving feline. Here’s more on how to make the physical environment conducive for this little angel.

Kittens in a new home deserve time to get used to their new situation, gain confidence and start bonding to their new family without getting too overstimulated. Here are a few tips to make it easier for them to adjust to the new surroundings:

1. Confinement: Decide the place where you wish to keep her and limit her to one room for the first week at least for a kitten and longer for an older cat or two kittens.


2. Spending time: When they are in the confined area, spend lots of time with them. Just being there only makes quick bonding to the new family. Your kitten should be confident of you and not duck away from you by the time you give her the run of the house.


3. Litter box training: It is also the best time to get the kitten convinced that she likes her litter box. Bring the kitten in a carrier and open the carrier next to the litter box.


4. Giving her own time: Let the kitten choose its own time to venture forth and leave the carrier available with open door as a refuge. If she does so immediately, make the effort to scratch her feet in her litter box, so that she locates it promptly.


5. Water bowl: Provide water on the other side of the carrier or away from the litter box.


6. Changing the place of litterbox: Move the litter box only a few feet at a time, rather than a room at a time.


7. Sleeping together: Let the kitten sleep with you if you have a single kitten. But, do not forget to wear heavy pyjamas as they have sharp little claws.

Sensational Siberians!

A Siberian is a perfect mix of all the right qualities - she's intelligent and playful, healthy, selfgrooming, and gets along well with children and pets.

Beautiful ‘n’ charming

The most distinguished feature of a Siberian is her boning. The cheekbones are low and wide, with the jaw neither pointed nor overstrong, the ears moderately wide set, the body strong and well muscled and the fur semilong. Females are significantly smaller than males and feel much less muscled when one holds them.

Other characteristic features include rounded/wedge shaped skull, short rounded muzzle and chin, somewhat widely set and preferably with tipping, rounded eyes, etc. Their coat is medium length with full undercoat. Siberian cats, once called Siberian Forest Cats, can be found in all colours.

Friendly ‘n’ intelligent

Generally a very mellow cat, Siberians are indeed a pleasure to be with. They are very friendly cats, unafraid and very fond of their own family. When the doorbell rings, they are the first to welcome - be it stranger or family. They are not easily startled or upset, have little terror of loud noises or water. They are often fond of high places, as well as their owner’s laps. Siberians seldom meow but often use a trill or chirp in greeting. They have a moderate energy level, like to play, and often will fetch.

Keeping her pretty

The semilong fur goes through twice yearly heavy shedding. While the Siberian cat is an excellent groomer, it is a very good idea to groom your cat daily during this stage.

Watch out for health problems

Siberians are at risk for the genetically transmitted disease HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). They are also prone to suffer from feline lower urethral tract disease or feline urethral syndrome.

These diseases run in the same or higher incidences in many or most breeds of cats.

Siberians form lovely companions. Simply bring this extraordinary cat home and bask in their intelligence, affection, and amiability.

(Kit Humphrey, Featured Columnist of Cats & Kittens, is a physician who is retired due to chronic illness. For Siberian Gatos Cattery in the US, the author is responsible for cattery policies and choices. This includes a program to eliminate Corona Virus, HCM, B a r t o n e l l a , Toxoplasmosis, etc. You can contact her atkit.humphrey@comcast.net or visit http://siberiancats.home.comcast.net/index.html)