Kittens can start to look like adult cats by 6 months of age
Their natural curiosity will kick in straight away! Read up on these tips when bringing a new kitten home to make sure they get the best start in their new life with you.
Help them settle in by reading these top tips
Give your little one all the time they need - don't rush their exploration...
Outdoor cats find their own entertainment in the great outdoors. You'll need to put more effort into stimulating a house cat
Read about your kitten's natural territory instincts - your home will now be their 'home range' whether they are an indoor or outdoor cat...
There are some important things you need to know when you start litter training your cat. Their first experience of their litter tray will shape their behaviour in the future, so start them off on the right foot...or paw!
Top tip from WHISKAS: keep their litter tray in a quiet safe area of the house
Keep an eye on your kitten - they will make it obvious when they need to go, this will usually be in the morning, the evening and after mealtimes. Read on to discover more tips on litter training...
Make their territory as safe as possible!
Kittens will be kittens - you'll find that they will find trouble wherever they can. Read here to minimise the damage...
To get your kitten settled in their new home, try out some routines of play and toileting. Read here to find out how introducing some habits can help make your kitten more comfortable.
You can bring routines to almost every part of your kitten's day - play, feeding and even bedtime!
Read this article to discover how to get your kitten into a habit and minimise their stress when settling in.
Here you can read about your little kittens natural behaviours and what they mean. Once you understand that all of their motives are survival based, you'll begin to love their wild personality even more.
You'll have to get the balance right - fuel their natural instincts, but make sure they don't cause too much damage!
Your cat is a solitary animal and don't need a pack to have their back. Sometimes you'll want their attention more than they'll want yours - it's just their natural instincts kicking in...
They may not look like a predator, but everything about your new addition is highly evolved to give their acute senses that we could only dream of. Here you can read about their extraordinary hearing and other senses of your new furry friend.
Watch your kitten as they play...you'll be amazed by how they balance with such precision, pounces at just the right moment and can climb almost everything!
You will notice that your kitten takes great care in their shiny coat. Grooming themselves is a natural instinct learnt from their mother that serves to not only make them look healthy, but also control parasites.
Start your grooming routine with them as early as possible
Grooming is a great way to mimic the social bond between and kitten and their mother.
Your kitten will sleep for up to 16 hours a day! You may notice that they doze off after meals...here you can find out the interesting reason why.
They can be active at inconvenient times! Early in the morning you may hear them chasing toys, not counting sheep
Your cat isn't lazy - they're giving in to their big cat cousin instincts! They don't call it catnapping for no reason...
Your new furry friend loves to groom themselves- you'll notice them spending a lot of time licking their coat. This is completely natural. Read here why they have the natural instinct to do this.
Keep an eye on their grooming routines and check for any matted hair that they might not be supple enough to reach
If your kitten gives up grooming themselves it might be a sign that they're poorly...
Your kitten relies on their sharp claws to give them grip when they're climbing and give them stability on shiny surfaces.
For indoor cats, give them a scratching post to mimic the textures they would sharpen their claws on in the great outdoors
Have some peace of mind - get your kitten microchipped to prevent them getting lost.
Evert micro-chip is unique, meaning your kitten will come home safely if they ever get lost and found!
Ask someone to pop in and check on them every day, or book them into a cattery nearby
Kitten-proof your home. Your kitten will be naturally inquisitive which can get them into some sticky situations.
Always strive for prevention. Keep any hazardous liquids locked away from your kitten. It's much easier to prevent than to cure a poison...
Keep an eye on your kitten's coat - they could end up getting nasty substances stuck on them that they can't avoid licking when grooming themselves.
