Complete Kitten Care

PURRS

When you purchase a kitten, there should be four requirements by law: food, water dish, litter box, and this book.

–Steve Dale, Syndicated Radio Host and Newspaper Columnist 

What baby expert Dr. Benjamin Spock did for people, kitten expert Amy Shojai has done for cats...Everything you need to know to begin a blissful life with your kitty.

–Ed Sayres, President, San Francisco SPCA

Finally there's an informative, fun-filled guide to help us raise the best cats possible...filled with practical solutions, delightful stories, and the latest in kitten-care research.

–Bob Walker and Frances Mooney, Authors of The Cats' House

Covers kitten selection and care issues from A to Z...[a] thorough guide to getting your new baby off on the right paw.

–Carole Nelson Douglas, Author of the Midnight Louie Mysteries 

Complete Kitten Care will give you all the information you need to successfully grow your young feline. Informative and fun to read.

–John C. Wright, Ph.D., certified applied animal behaviorist and author of Is Your Cat Crazy?

Thorough, entertaining and authoritative . . . a primer on the feline mystique, one that owners are sure to turn to again and again as their kitten grows into cathood.

–Kim Thornton, past president, Cat Writers' Association

Amy Shojai has once again given the cat-loving public a concise, easy-to-understand book. I wish it could accompany every kitten going to a new home.

–Kitty Angell, Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc. 

Contains a wealth of information about kittens and cats . . . a must-read for anyone contemplating a first kitty as well as those who already know the joys of living with cats.

–Lenny Southam, D.V.M., practicing veterinarian, and coauthor of The Pill Book: Guide to Medication for Your Dog and Cat

A book that will be regarded as a must in the library of any cat lover. . . . There are, quite simply, no questions left to ask about the acquiring of and caring for a kitten after one has read this book. 

–Karen Lawrence, CFA Allbreed judge

CWA AWARD WINNER for 1st Edition, 2002

3 MUSE MEDALLIONS, BEST BOOK & PHOTO

PURINA KITTEN CHOW AWARD

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3rd Edition, 2017

100+ New Pages of Content

27 More Kitten Pictures & Graphics

More Cat Books by Amy Shojai

CLICK for MORE!

Furry Muse Publishing

PO Box 1904, Sherman TX 75092

Cover image ©orhancam via DepositPhotos.com

Third Print Edition, January 2017

ISBN-13: 978-1944423162 

ISBN-10: 1944423168

Epub ISBN: 978-1-944423-91-9

Photos, Illustrations and Graphics © as follows & Used With Permission:

PHOTOS pgs. 3, 5, 25, 32, 39, 55, 60, 64, 78, 98, 131, 152, 192, 193, 205, 207, 224, 249, 284, 302, 307, 311 ©Amy Shojai

ILLUSTRATIONS pgs. 81, 149, 234, 235 ©Wendy Christensen

PHOTOS licensed via DepositPhotos.com: pg. 20 ©Cherry-Merry, pg. 43 ©cynoclub, pg. 72 ©bluebe, pgs. 101, 263 ©lifeonwhite, pg. 112 ©Sonsedskaya, 117 ©ivonnewierink, pg. 135 ©Andrey_Kuzmin, pg. 157 ©belchonock, pg. 159 ©2002Lubava1981, pg. 228 ©vitalytitov, pg. 238 ©natlit, pg. 244 ©c-foto, pg. 272 ©EEI_Tony, pg. 315 ©tankist276

GRAPHICS licensed via DepositPHotos.com: Cat heart graphic (chapter headings) ©marina99; pg. 11 ©in8finity; pgs. 57, 109, 217, 293 ©yupiramos; cat graphics for box sidebars ©ramonakaulitzki

Second Print Edition, October 2010

Cool Gus Publishing

First Published by New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

First Printing, June 2002, Copyright © Amy D. Shojai, 2002

All rights reserved

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be re-produced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:  While the author has made every effort to provide accurate product names, telephone numbers and/or Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publications.

For the people who make a difference—

Dedicated shelter staffs,

Caring veterinarians and volunteers,

Loving fanciers, responsible breeders,

Devoted cat-parents everywhere.

And for the kittens who share our lives—

Those from planned births and accidents,

Throwaways and foundling strays,

Chosen fur-kids and rescued waifs,

All those serendipity sends our way.

But most especially,

For the kittens that never find a home.

In loving memory.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many people helped make book this book a reality—now a third time around. The Cuchara Writers were incredibly supportive and instrumental for many years, and I still treasure the memories we made. More recently, Jen Talty and Bob Mayer of Cool Gus Publishing brought the print book back to life in a second edition. They introduced me to the world of indie publishing. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

With this latest third edition, I must again thank Carol Shenold and Frank Steele who have remained steadfast friends who continue to encourage me with your warm healing laughter, and sound advice that keeps me sane when the world goes nuts. My husband, Mahmoud, reminds me what’s important; my cats Seren and Karma teach me to live in the moment; Magical-Dawg keeps me smiling; and my furry muse who began my writing career and never leaves my heart.

Heartfelt appreciation goes to all the shelter staff and volunteers, cat fanciers, veterinarians and feline lovers I’ve met over the past two decades. I’m proud to have been part of the Purina Cat Chow Way Of Life tour during the time this book originally was written.

All the photos, unless otherwise credited, are ©Amy Shojai. I’d especially like to thank Cat Writers’ Association (CWA) member Wendy Christensen for the several kitten illustrations. My brother Laird Monteith prepared professional scans of my images that make my kitten photos look purr-fect—many thanks!

I will be forever grateful to Ellen Edwards of New American Library for adopting my orphaned baby and turning it into the original edition of Complete Kitten Care; and my then-agent, Meredith Bernstein, who gave me nine lives worth of books during our time together. Finally, thanks be to the kittens—may this book help them find and keep a loving home for all their nine lives.

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Nothing Beats Kitten Love

Love ‘Em & Don’t Leave ‘Em!

The Cute Factor & Disposable Pets

Kitten Preparedness:

Why You Need This Book

Organization of the Book

Part 1: Why a Kitten?

Part 2: Bringing Home Baby

Part 3: Kitten Care 101

Part 4: Kitten Sociability & Training

Part 5: Feline Fascinations—

Top Ten Lists

How to Reach Me

PART 1

WHY A KITTEN?

Rainbow Coalition

Boy Versus Girl

Aristo-Cat or the Cat-Next-Door?

Pedigree Cats

Mutt Cats

Kitten Care Considerations

2. Looking for Your Dream Kitten

Give Me Shelter

Breeder Sources

Pet Stores—Be Informed!

Friends and Neighbors

The Waif on the Doorstep

3. Choosing the Purr-fect Match

Pick Of The Litter

The Head-to-Toe Physical

Emotional Evaluation

It doesn’t take long for kittens to fall in love with people—or vice versa!

Is He Old Enough?

Matching Your Lifestyle

Apartment or House? City or Country?

Time Constraints

Other Roommates?

Which Side of the Fence

When the Heart Rules

PART 2

BRINGING HOME BABY

4. Putting Your Best Paw Forward

Kitten Central—A Room of Her Own

Kitten-Proofing 101

Electrical Cords

Hidey-Holes

Plants

String

Swallowed Objects

Hot Stuff

Holiday Hazards

Crossing the Threshold

Choosing a Name

5. Kitten Equipment

A-Shopping You Must Go

Suppertime! Bowls and Dishes

The Kitty Commode

Litter Pans, Plain and Fancy

Cat Box Filler

Toilet Accessories

Cat Nappers and Beds

Cat Toys

For Paws That Claw—

Scratching Objects

Traveling Kittens

Cat Carriers

Collars and Identification

The Ins and Outs of Cat Doors

6. ComPET ability: Cat Society Explained

C’Attitudes—Understanding

Feline Social Structure

Human Society

Cat Culture

Kitty Poker

Crowning the Ruler

Nose-to-Nose at Last

Meeting Other Cats

Meeting Dogs

Meeting Children

KITTEN CARE 101

7. Feeding For Health

Building Health from the Inside

Kitten Nutritional Needs

A Matter of Taste

Canned Varieties

Dry Diets

Semi-Moist Meals

Ringing the Dinner Bell

Treats, Supplements and Homemade Diets

Eating Habits

8. Grooming Considerations

Crowning Glory

Fur Function

Shedding

A Lick and a Promise—

Kitten Self-Grooming

Cat Tongues

Kittens use their teeth and rear claws to scratch itches and work out dirty spots in the fur.

Paw Swipes

Nibbling Nails

Scratching

Cool Cats

Kitty Cologne

Stress Busters

Kitten Comfort

Hairy Situation—Why Kittens Need Grooming Help

What’s the Mat-ter?

Hairballs

Grooming Supplies

Head to Tail Grooming Tips

Combing & Brushing

Bath Time

Trimming Nails

Cleaning Ears and Eyes

Brushing Teeth

9. Preventing Kitten Health Problems

Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed

Body and Soul—Signs of Good Health

Picking The Best Veterinarian

A Partnership for Kitten Health

The Doctor’s Role

Your Responsibility

Preventative Treatments

Vaccinations

Core Vaccinations

Biting Back at Parasites

Breeding Babies

Feline Facts of Life—Breeding Pros and Cons

The Gift of Spay and Neuter

Straight Talk About Declawing

What’s Involved?

Health and Emotional Impact

Other Options

10. Recognizing and Treating Sick Kittens

Doing Your Part

The Home Health Exam

But My Cat Hates The Vet!

7 Reasons Cats Hate Vets

Foiling Fear Before The Vet Visit

Foiling Fear During The Vet Visit

Foiling Fear After The Vet Visit

Pilling

Liquid Medicine

Ear Treatments

Eye Treatments

Skin Treatments

10 Common Kitten Health Concerns

Diarrhea

External Parasites (Ear Mites, Fleas, Ticks)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV)

Heartworms

Intestinal Parasites

Ringworm

Upper Respiratory Infections (URI)

11. Ten Common Emergencies and

What To Do

Accidents Happen

Animal Bites

Artificial Resuscitation

Car Accidents

Drowning

Falls

Electrocution

Poisons

Swallowed Medicine

Fur Contamination

Heatstroke

Hypothermia

KITTEN SOCIABILITY

AND TRAINING

12. Making Sense of Kitten Talk

Scent Communication

Paws That Claw

Bunting

Urine Spray

Sounding Off—Vocalizations

Me-wow

Purr-sonal Satisfaction

Chatter Boxes

Growl Tiggers and Hissy Fits

Kitten Body Language

Eye of the Cat

Tail Talk

Coat and Whisker Cues

Pet Postures

13. Games Kittens Play

The Health and Play Connection

Kitten Games

Wrestle and Box

Tag and Chase

Mouse Pounce

Fish Scoop

Kitten Ballet

Ties That Bind—Play as a Bonding and Training Tool

Five Unique Kitty Abilities

14. Kittens Are Trainable!

C.A.T. (Cat Attitude Training)

Kitten Preschool—How Kitty Learns

Socialization and Bonding Benefits

Rules for Humans

Patience Is Key

Effective Kitten Talk

Timing Is Everything

Effective Training Tools

Kitty Delights—Rewards and Lures That Work

Litter Box Training

What to Expect, Production-Wise

Scratching the Surface:

Claw Training Basics

Provide your cats with multiple legal opportunities to claw. This scratch post offers horizontal and vertical options, with both carpet and sisal textures.

Liberation Training

Crate Training

Car Travel

Halter and Leash Training

Tricks for Treats

15. Understanding Kitten Mistakes

Bad Versus Normal Behavior—

Physical Health

Emotional Issues

Traits of Personality and Instinct

Rules of the House—Setting Limits and Enforcing Them

Effective Kitten Corrections

P.U.R.R. Program

Using Good Sense

Common Complaints

Biting

Clawing

Retrain Kitten Claws Step by Step

Litter-ary Problems

Loudmouth Kittens

Second-Story Kittens

FELINE FASCINATIONS

TOP TEN LISTS

16. Ten Favorite Cat Legends

In the Beginning

Noah and The Kitten

St. Peter and the Cat

The Contest of Sun and Moon

Cats and the Weather

Nine Lives Legends

Marks of Favor

Tail Tales

Temple Mark

Sacred Cat of Burma

The Kimono Cat

Why Tabby Wears An M

17. Ten Fun Feline Facts Explained

Catnip Indulgence

Catnaps

Sleep Champs

Dream Cats

Eye to Eye

Kitten Eye Color

Glow-In-The-Dark Kitten Eyes

Color Purr-ception

Hunting Gifts

Kneading Behavior

Mitten-Pawed Kittens

Water Phobia

Favorite Kitten Websites

Pedigree and Show Cats

Kitten Rescue

Kitten Fun

APPENDIX B

Resources

Cat Associations

Animal Welfare and

Information Sources

More Cat Books by Amy Shojai

Care Organizations

Pet Supply Sources

Feline Foundations & Advocacy

Amy Shojai, CABC

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INTRODUCTION

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Welcome to Complete Kitten Care, the most easy-to-use, up-to-date reference available on one of the most mysterious, endearing, and extraordinary pets you could choose.

First and foremost, this book celebrates kittens. And a celebration of all things fuzzy goes beyond cute stories, and cuter pictures—although you’ll find lots of that here as well. Most importantly, this book’s solid information arms you with the tools you’ll need to build a lasting, loving relationship with the special cat babies in your life.

Kittenhood is a unique period that demands special attention. Kittens are works-in-progress that must receive proper care if they are to achieve their full potential. The physical and emotional needs of kittens are very specific and not only impact the present, but also the future. What happens to your kitten today—for good or ill—defines everything she can expect to be as an adult.

And so, cherish these days, weeks, and months, for kittenhood is a fleeting treasure. It comes only once in each cat’s life, and is even more precious because of its transient nature.

Kittenhood is the foundation upon which affection takes root. With the proper care, affection blooms into a lifetime of shared love.

Nothing Beats Kitten Love

I have known this forever, and have testified to kitten love in countless articles and quite a few books over my 15-plus years as a pet writer. Kittens are different than their adult counterparts. Not better—just different.

Obviously, kitten looks and behaviors set her apart from her parents. But more than that, adult cats have already developed many habits, whether good or bad, and their personality traits become more fixed as they mature. Kitten personality and habits, on the other paw, remain malleable and can be shaped by the world around them. The most important difference between cats and kittens, though, is that the tiny kitten brain is a sponge with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. As responsible caretakers, we must make the most of this wonderful opportunity.

Kittens aren’t born knowing how the world works or what’s expected of them. A kitten is dependent upon the humans in her life to offer guidance and structure as she matures, and help her develop positive personality traits and habits. It’s up to you to mold that non-stop dynamo into a respectable and affectionate member of your family.

You will be repaid a hundred-fold in loving purrs, head-bumps and whisker-kisses, and unquestioned trust and respect. Kitten compliments don’t come any higher than that!

Love ‘Em & Don’t Leave ‘Em!

Loving kittens is easy—especially when their purr rumbles, they chase the feather toy with full-tilt energy, or curl into a sleepy ball of fluff on your lap. You don’t need a book to tell your heart how to feel.

But kittens have no off-switch. Their high jinks can turn tolerant human smiles into nervous tics, especially when they want to play get-the-toes at three a.m., their claws target your furniture, or they leave bathroom deposits outside the litter box.

Kittens can’t explain why they do the things they do. And humans don’t automatically know how to teach kittens acceptable behavior. We don’t speak the same language, and our cultures are foreign to each other. That’s why thousands upon thousands of kittens lose their homes—and their lives—every year. People love ‘em and then leave ‘em because of unrealistic expectations, misunderstandings, and miscommunications. 

That’s where this book comes in. Consider Complete Kitten Care as the Miss Manners for teaching proper feline etiquette to your kitten, and a handy guide for you to understand what makes Kitty tick. Believe me, the more you know about the extraordinary creature you’ve chosen to love, the stronger becomes the attachment, and the greater your commitment to fix any transient problems. That’s the best way to ensure your relationship endures.

Karma-Kat showed up on my back patio when he was about 8 months old. Whoever dumped him missed out on a lovely kitty-boy!

The Cute Factor & Disposable Pets

The Cute Factor protects even the most mischievous feline prankster from a scolding. Human scowls and anger dissolve into helpless amusement with one look from an innocent, big-eyed kitten face. She didn’t mean to trip you on the stairs—or ruin your pantyhose—or fall in the toilet. It doesn’t take these babies long to learn to clown for our enjoyment, or just how far to push the limits of human patience.

But as kittens mature their cute quotient changes. While allowances may be made for the fuzzy eight-week-old baby who dabbles a paw in your coffee or swings from the drapes, the four or five-month-old adolescent kitten receives less tolerance when she spills the cup or pulls curtains off the wall. People may even characterize normal kitten antics at this age as vindictive behavior.

Once this desirable cute factor fades away, the kitten finds that everything that worked before to gain loving attention from his special human now lands him in the doghouse. And there’s nothing worse for a cat, especially when the baby hasn’t a clue what she did wrong. A large majority of the young cats relinquished to shelters are these in-between teenage kittens—not yet adults, but disposable because their cute factor has betrayed them.

I believe that’s what happened with my cat, Seren (short for Serendipity). She was dumped at that tweener age, probably when her original back-yard or accidental breeder lost hope she’d fetch a good price—or  find another home—as her cute factor faded. This attitude promotes disposable pets, and the idea that kittens are replaceable, and sadly this attitude has become all too common. I know readers will be horrified, as am I, by those who routinely trade in these wonderful creatures to shelters and then seek out another baby that better fits their notion of the perfect kitten.

Kittenhood lasts about a year—and longer for some breeds. But all cats retain that kitten-on-the-inside attitude even when they are mature on the outside, especially when the furry baby receives the proper attitude-shaping attention at the right time. While I abhor that Seren’s original caretakers cast her off, I feel blessed that she came into my life. After thirteen years together, I still see the kitten inside every time I look into her blue-jean colored eyes. And I treasure the kitten-attitude she owns in abundance.

Kitten attitude—outrageous curiosity, boundless energy, unlimited affection, and unending trust—is so fragile, often fleeting, and so easily destroyed. That makes understanding and providing for the physical and emotional needs of your kitten even more important. It’s up to us to preserve the best parts of kittenhood for all of a pet’s life. Seren constantly reminds me of that fact.

Cats remain eternal kittens. Seren (here at four months with her bare tummy from spay surgery) has never grown up. She celebrated her 21st birthday February 2017.

Kitten Preparedness:

Why You Need This Book

Loving kittens seems simple, but it gets complicated if you want to do things right. A whole lot more goes into kitten preparedness than plopping food in the bowl or setting up a litter box.

There are some terrific guides out there for cat care—but as we know, kittens are different than adults, and have quite specific requirements. Care information constantly evolves and improves, and expert recommendations of the past often give way to more current knowledge, as it becomes available. And quite frankly, there’s no one right way of doing things, no matter what some books may tell you, because every kitten and every owner and every home situation is unique. For instance, the picture shows Serendipity at age four months (with a shaved tummy from spay surgery). Now at age 13, she’s still an eternal kitten! But other cats become sedate as early as age three.

Complete Kitten Care has been written with such flexibility in mind. The book also incorporates the expertise and latest recommendations from over 300 veterinary experts in behavior, conventional care, holistic treatments, and emergency protocols I’ve been fortunate to interview over the past twenty years.  It’s important to offer a consensus of opinion and the available options to consider, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all-kittens philosophy.

Of course, kittens can’t read—and even if they could, they would probably prefer to sleep on the open pages of this book than learn from it. You, on the other hand, are able to educate yourself to learn about and choose the best options available to care for your kitten.

The purpose of this book is to help you arm yourself with knowledge. Take the time to evaluate your own expectations and abilities, and what you can and cannot offer to a kitten in the way of commitment. That, more than anything else, will help you choose the perfect match for the lifetime of that pet. That’s the smart way to choose, and then raise your kitten.

Education isn’t dry, paint-by-numbers facts you must commit to memory, either. Lots of fascinating tidbits of information about cats and kittens season our knowledge, the same way salt enhances the flavor of meat and potatoes. It’s fun to know how to describe your kitten’s unique coloring, or figure out what that tail-talk means.

Of course, those meat and potato facts are vital, and can be a matter of life and death when choosing proper toys or healthy food. And knowing why cats cover their waste or use scratch behavior provides the basis for preventing some of the biggest cat behavior problems before they ever develop.

I want you to not only understand your kitten, but also appreciate her unique and odd and mysterious kitten-ness. In my experience, it is this understanding that prompts us to do the right thing, more than anything else.

Kittens don’t stay kittens forever, though. They grow up and develop into beautiful, amusing, affectionate adult cats with their own individual foibles and special needs. Even as a kitten’s cute-factor gives way to maturity, her love for you also matures and grows stronger. Adoption is for the lifetime of the cat—that can be 13, 16, even 18 years or more when proper care is taken. And just as the kitten changes during these years, our own lifestyles and home situations may also change over time.

I hope you’ll keep Complete Kitten Care handy as your furry baby matures, because lots of the information applies to adults, too. And of course, kittens can be addictive and likely you’ll want another one before too long. First-hand experience offers a great background for the proper way to bring up cat babies. You’ll know better what to expect and how to react with subsequent kittens.

Organization of the Book

The book is divided into five parts. Begin with the chapters on making informed kitten choices, the best places to look, and how to prepare for Kitty’s homecoming. Already have your perfect match? Check out the chapters on preventative care and training basics.

Complete Kitten Care contains all the must-knows of kitten care and behavior to ensure your relationship remains a positive, rewarding one. You’ll notice throughout the book that kittens are referred to as he or she (usually in alternating chapters, just to be fair). Each chapter also includes fascinating lore, fun facts, and insiders’ training tricks. I expect you’ll keep the book handy to find out why your kitten’s favorite games include gravity experiments, how she purrs, and how you can imitate Mom-cat to teach Kitten some manners—and more!

Dozens of sidebars and boxes throughout the book flag fun, important, or more detailed information not otherwise covered in the regular text. For instance, Kitten Purrs point out products and services, and Tips highlight helpful advice for day to day living with your kitten. Technical Stuff goes into some of the science or other details surrounding a topic. Warning! highlights dangers you’ll want to avoid.

Part 1: Why a Kitten?

Kittens have traveled a long road to reach the level of popularity and place they hold today in our hearts. In the past, kittens and cats have been not only celebrated as gods, as in ancient Egypt, but also reviled and persecuted as demons during the Middle Ages—and some myths about them persist even today. You will appreciate and understand your kitten even more when you learn how and why she evolved the way she did and the way this helps her interact with you and the world today.

Although every kitten is deserving of your love, some may be more suited to your particular personality, lifestyle or household situation than others. Are you a single apartment-dwelling professional, or do you live with a spouse and children? Perhaps you are retired, have a large house, and will be home all day. Or maybe you need to integrate the kitten with other pets, and won’t have the time to provide daily grooming. I want you to know what to expect from the various kitten options available so you can make choices that best suit your needs.

There’s a rainbow of colors and patterns, in shorthaired, longhaired, wavy coats—even bald! Choosing the perfect kitten goes beyond the outside package. But if you’re drawn to a particular look, there are many pedigreed cat breeds that can offer a bit more predictability in terms of appearance and sometimes attitude. For instance, you need to understand that the beautiful Somali cat probably will prefer leaping to the tops of doors rather than sitting in your lap.

After you know what you want, you need to know all the best places to look for the kitten-of-your dreams—from breeders to shelters, or even the waif on your doorstep—to choose a kitten that has the best chance of being physically and emotionally healthy. I’ve also included some checklists for evaluating kitten potential to help you narrow your choices. And—because I know the heart doesn’t always listen to the logic of the brain—you’ll also find helpful guidelines and suggestions to consider when dealing with the at-risk or less-than-perfect baby you’re determined to rescue.

Part 2: Bringing Home Baby

After you’ve chosen your new family member, you’ll need to figure out how to prepare for the little one. In this part there’s a fun section on choosing a name for the little one (hint: kittens often seem to name themselves!). And you’ll also find information about protecting the kitten from unexpected household dangers by kitten-proofing your home.

You also need a list of all the must-haves for kittens to make him feel at home—everything from food bowls and bathroom facilities, to toys and grooming supplies. Today there are so many choices available that choosing the right product for the kitten can be tough. I provide a discussion of the pros and cons of some of the most popular feline accoutrements so you can choose the one best suited to your kitten needs.

This part also explains all about the feline social structure. Understanding how and why kittens act and react to other cats, as well as strange animals, people, and places lets you smooth relationships and speeds up the training process. That gives you the tools you’ll need to introduce your kitten to all the important things in your life like other adults, children or pets.

Part 3: Kitten Care 101

In this part, health issues are addressed, starting with proper nutrition. After all, kittens must eat to live—and establishing proper eating habits early can keep them from developing finicky or gluttonous habits that damage their health. What food should you feed? How much and how often should your kitten eat? Are treats okay? You’ll find the answers to these and other tasty questions in this section.

Kitten grooming concerns are also addressed. You’ll learn how to keep your kitten looking spiffy and feeling her best, what grooming supplies you need, from flea combs and shampoos to tooth brushes and nail trimmers—and most important of all, how to groom the baby so she enjoys the process.

Veterinarians agree that preventing health problems is much easier than treating illness once it develops. This part tells you how to choose a veterinarian, the signs of good kitten health, and key prevention care like vaccinations, parasite control, and elective surgeries like spay, neuter and declaw procedures—and the truth about what’s involved. I’ll also give you a list of the top kitten health concerns, and how to recognize possible health problems. Kittens often do need medicine, just like human babies, so you’ll find step-by-step instructions on home-medicating your kitten when needed. And because kittens do grow into adults, there’s also information on what to expect as your baby grows up, from physical signs of maturity and the behavior changes you’ll see, to recommended prevention care as well as some of the most common health concerns.

Chapter 11 covers the most common kitten emergencies and what to do. If the worst should happen—your kitten falls, eats the wrong medicine, or is bitten by a stray dog—you are the first line of defense. This chapter explains how to prevent danger, and how to save your kitten’s life. I pray