The Pet Nurse
Kitten Information Pack
17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE
Nutrition
Without water to drink, a cat may become seriously ill within hours.
Cats need a well-balanced, meat-based diet to stay fit and healthy - cats cannot be
vegetarians.
Cats have very specific dietary needs which typical human food does not meet, and some
human foods are poisonous to cats, e.g. onions.
An individual cat’s dietary needs depend upon its age, lifestyle and its state of health.
Cats naturally eat several small meals per day.
How much a cat needs to eat depends on its diet, its bodyweight and how active it is.
If a cat eats more food than it needs, it will become overweight and may suffer.
Many cats will not eat if their food is placed too close to their toilet site.
Things you should do
 Provide your cat with constant access to clean drinking water; cow’s milk is not a
substitute.
 Make sure your cat eats a balanced diet suitable for its age, health status and
lifestyle.
 Feed your cat every day, preferably splitting the daily ration into several small meals
throughout the day (unless advised otherwise by your vet).
 Read and follow the feeding instructions relating to any cat foods that you buy.
 Adjust how much you feed your cat to make sure it does not become underweight or
overweight.
 If your cat’s eating and drinking habits change, talk to your vet, as your cat could be
ill.
 Position your cat’s food and water well away from its litter tray (if you provide one).
Recommended Foods
Here is a selection of the brands that I recommend; it is up to you which type of food you will
feed. Dry kibble is better for oral health, where as wet food is more palatable for them.
Hills Science Plan, James Wellbeloved, Royal Canin, Pro Plan.
What I will say is that if you chose to feed wet food then please make sure you either brush
your cats teeth regularly or add in one of the dental supplements available i.e. Plaque off
Exercise & Play
Set aside playtime with your cat. These sessions both increase bonding and exhaust excess
feline energy that might otherwise be used to harass the family dog or to climb the curtains.
Keep play sessions brief (10 to 15 minutes). Cats are designed for short bursts of intense
activity, not marathons. Often, a cat will signal its fatigue by losing interest and departing the
play area. When the session ends, lock most of the toys away. This will prevent the cat from
losing them under the furniture or tearing them apart.
Cat Games and Toys
Because of their innate curiosity, cats can turn virtually any household item into a game, toy,
or amusement. Sometimes, such play can lead to the destruction of valuable personal
property. To prevent this, try any of the following activities.
 One of the best cat toys is a piece of string tied securely to a stick. You can amuse the
cat while remaining seated in a chair.
 Place ping-pong balls in an empty bathtub and let your cat bat them around. This game
is particularly exciting for kittens and younger cats.
 Some felines enjoy exploring paper bags and boxes. Avoid bags with handles (cats can
catch their necks in the loops) and never risk suffocation with plastic bags.
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© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com
The Pet Nurse
Kitten Information Pack
17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE

Cats will stalk and pursue a point of light played along the walls and floor of a darkened
room. Try laser pointers and/or torches.
 A window perch positioned within sight of an outdoor bird feeder provides endless
passive entertainment.
Avoid play objects that are small enough to be swallowed, and don't allow unsupervised play
with anything incorporating string, ribbon, twine, etc. Check toys for pieces that might detach
and be swallowed. It is also wise to watch a cat as it plays with a new toy, to see if any
unexpected problems arise.
Catnip
Many cats enjoy playing with catnip stuffed toys. Catnip (Nepeta Cataria) is a member of the
mint family. This common herb, also called "catmint," affects felines in much the same way
that marijuana does humans. An exposed cat will spend about 10 minutes rubbing against
the source of the catnip, obviously in great pleasure. Then the interlude ends with the cat
(according to the latest scientific studies) suffering no short-term or long-term ill effects. All
feline models, including lions, are susceptible to catnip. The herbs valerian and Canadian
honeysuckle produce a similar reaction. However, not all individuals are affected. Only 50
percent to 60 percent of adult cats react to catnip, and kittens younger than 2 months are
indifferent to it.
Cats and Socialisation
Most cats rarely mingle in the wild, except for procreation or combat. This rejection of group
living has many repercussions in a domestic setting. On the one hand, cats can make do
with much less personal attention than, say, a dog. On the other, they have little interest in
ingratiating themselves to their human masters. A cat's loyalty has to be won, and
sometimes it does not come easily.
Cats and Communication
Because they lead solitary lives, the means of expression at a feline's disposal are not as
versatile or extensive as those available to dogs, whose survival depends on communicating
in a group setting. For instance, while a dog can employ a nearly endless array of facial
expressions, rigid feline faces are more restricted in their ability to transmit data. Body
postures and audio cues may be called upon to reinforce important messages.
Cats and Hunting
When it comes to hunting small game, the cat is without peer in the animal world. Indeed,
hunting is such an important function that it has shaped almost every aspect of its natural
behaviour. The feline is attracted to a piece of twitching string because its vision is optimised
for spotting small moving targets. It sleeps most of the day because its predatory skills make
lengthy, strenuous exertion necessary; and it prowls at night and in the early morning
because that is its traditional stalking time.
Cats and Territoriality
Each cat has its own territory; it is the need to patrol and defend this expanse of ground that
gives them their extraordinary situational awareness, their famous "curiosity." No detail of
their turf, whether it is a stretch of African savanna or a two-bedroom bungalow, escapes
notice and investigation. This is one of the reasons why cats can be traumatized by a move
to a new home, the addition of a new person to the household or even rearrangement of the
furniture in the living room.
Cats and Dominance
Though cats are primarily solitary animals, issues of social hierarchy come into play during
mating (where the strongest male usually wins) and territorial struggles (in which the most
able feline controls the best domain). Glimmers of this can be seen in many odd aspects of
cat behaviour for instance, burying faeces to keep them from attracting predators, but also
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07754269810
© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com
The Pet Nurse
Kitten Information Pack
17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE
as a sign of subordination to other cats. When cats live together, it is not unusual for the
dominant feline to leave its faeces uncovered as a symbol of its status.
Cats and Self-Grooming
One of the most useful bits of built-in feline programming (next to the predisposition for litter
box use) is the tendency for grooming. Recent studies indicate that the typical cat spends at
least 15 percent of its time in this pursuit. The procedure is identical from one cat to the next
and begins with licking the front paws until wet, then raking them over the head. The cat then
progresses down its body, ending with a thorough licking of the tail. It is important to
remember, however, that this is not a fully self-sufficient function. Longhaired felines require
human intervention to adequately maintain their coats, and short-haired cats may develop
fur balls from ingesting too much hair during this process. (See Hair Balls)
If your cat stops grooming itself, contact your local vet. This may indicate a major
malfunction. Likewise, a feline who grooms itself excessively may be manifesting a
psychological disorder
Vaccination
Make sure you protect your pets and keep them safe by keeping
up to date with their vaccinations.
In the past many animals became severely ill because of
diseases which, thanks to vaccination, are now rarely seen.
Although these diseases are now less common, they have not
been completely eradicated.
If the number of pets protected by vaccines drops our animal companions could be at risk
from an outbreak of infectious diseases, some of which can be transmitted to humans.
Protect your pet by ensuring they receive regular vaccinations.
When to vaccinate
When kittens are born they are usually protected from infections by their mothers’ milk,
providing she has been regularly vaccinated. However, this protection only lasts a few weeks
so they need regular vaccinations from an early age.
Kittens are normally vaccinated at nine and 12 weeks, with an initial course of two
injections.
Your young kitten should then be given a booster 12 months after their first vaccination.
Older pets need protecting too, as their immunity can decline. Speak to your vet as the
regularity of your companions vaccinations can vary depending on the diseases prevalent in
your area.
Vaccines against infectious diseases
Cats should be routinely vaccinated against:
 Feline infectious enteritis
 Feline herpes virus
 Feline calicivirus
 Feline leukaemia virus*
*Current recommendations are that only at risk cats
are given vaccine against feline leukemia virus. See
our cat’s vaccine factsheet for more information.
Parasites
Worming protocol

Worming cats and dogs is very important, as there is a risk to humans especially
children. Every year in this country a number of children go blind due to damage from
worms found in pet’s faeces.
www.the-pet-nurse.co.uk
07754269810
© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com
The Pet Nurse
Kitten Information Pack

17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE
o Worm at 2 weeks old
o Then every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old.
o Then every month until 6 months old
o Then every 3 months routinely
If your cat is fed a ‘raw meat’ diet or regularly hunts and eats prey or eats slugs and
snails then worm monthly as a routine.
What to use in cats
o
o
o
o
o
Panacur granules or paste for kittens and adult cats. (Available in
granules/paste/liquid) dose daily for 3 days each time they are wormed, for the
treatment of gastro-intestinal worms, lungworm and protozoa.
Milbemax tablets for kittens and adult cats - is a treatment for mixed gastrointestinal worms, lungworm and it can also be used in the prevention of
heartworm disease. Milbemax can be used in pregnant and lactating queens and
in breeding animals
Drontal tablets for kittens and adult cats - For the control of the following
gastrointestinal roundworms and tapeworms of dogs and puppies.
Profender spot-on is a broad-spectrum control of intestinal worms with the ease
and convenience of spot-on treatment. No more struggling cats. And above all,
no more worms.
Supermarket branded wormers do not work
Flea Protocol
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

Fleas bite your pet to feed on their blood and by doing that they can pass diseases
such as tapeworms. They can also cause intense irritation and even lead to your pet
developing an allergy to them called Flea allergic Dermatitis (FAD). Often you don’t
see the fleas because your pet grooms them off. Depending upon the severity of the
allergy it is possible that just one bite can trigger the whole allergic cascade. Large
flea infestations in young animals can cause a fatal anaemia. And flea bites on
people can spread diseases to us.
If your pet gets fleas then either get a product from your vets or ring for some advice
as not all products on the market are equally effective. The house will also need
treating as a single flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day in its environment, that’s a
whopping 1,500 in a month. The unpleasant statistics are that for every 1 flea you
find on your pet 99 others are in the environment, which often means in the carpets,
bedding and even laminate flooring. Most products for use in the house will provide
cover for 12 months but it’s worth checking the manufacturer’s guidelines.
You can pick up fleas from walking through an area where fleas are breeding or
coming into contact with other infested animals.
Effective Flea Treatments



Make sure you know the weight of your pet to avoid over or under dosing, both can
have serious consequences.
Frontline will protect against fleas for 8 weeks but you only get up to 4 weeks tick
coverage. Therefore it depends upon what your pet needs protecting against as to
how often to apply the product. It should be used at a minimum interval of 4 weeks to
avoid overdosing and cannot be used in pups less than 8 weeks old or less than 2kg.
It is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation.
Frontline Combo – prescription only It has an additional action of inhibiting the flea
life-cycle in the environment by killing eggs, larvae and the pupae. There is still the
same level of cover as Frontline with respect to ticks and biting lice.
www.the-pet-nurse.co.uk
07754269810
© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com
The Pet Nurse
Kitten Information Pack


17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE
Advocate – prescription only - is a heartworm prevention, flea and lice treatment
and prevention of flea infestations. The product can be also used as part of a
treatment strategy for FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis), gastrointestinal worm control
including several larval stages, treatment of lungworms, control of ear mites, control
of sarcoptic mange and Demodex mites. It should be applied once a month,
Stronghold – prescription only is a heartworm prevention, flea and lice treatment
and prevention of flea infestations. The product can be also used as part of a
treatment strategy for FAD (Flea Allergy Dermatitis), for the treatment of adult
intestinal roundworms. For the treatment of sarcoptic mange and ear mites. It should
be applied once a month.
Micro-chipping
The microchip is and internal identification for your kitten. If an unknown cat (regardless of
age) is brought in to a veterinary clinic or an animal shelter, a microchip scan will be
performed. If a microchip number is detected and has been activated by the client, they will
then contact the microchip company and that company will then inform you
Insurance
Pet cover can be broken down into three different types, so you need to think about the
amount of cover you want for vet fees.
These are ‘basically’
1. Basic annual cover: Per Condition, with time limit
This tends to be the cheapest cover but offers the least insurance as it puts a time bar on
how long you can claim for a particular condition or ailment - usually 12 months once
diagnosed and treatment started - and a cap on how much in vets' fees you can reclaim.
After the time or limit has been exceeded most insurers will refuse to let you claim for the
same condition again once it's been treated - it will count as a pre-existing condition.
2. Mid level cover: Per Condition, no time limit
Like the basic cover, this policy limits vets fees for any one illness but doesn't apply any time
limit on how long the treatment lasts. Here, a £3,000 vet fees policy could pay for treatment
over any number of years until the point when you exhaust the financial limit.
Again, in most cases, once treated, most of these policy types won't then allow you to claim
again for the same condition.
3. High level cover: Lifetime policies
These offer the most comprehensive cover. They insure your pet for illness or injury up to a
maximum amount each year - or to an overall high sum, throughout its life.
Despite being 'lifetime' policies, they offer different types of cover limits (ie, the maximum
you can claim) depending on the insurer, so it's vital you know which yours is.
a) Per condition per year limit
Not every lifetime policy has this. A £3,000-a-year cover limit means each individual
condition or illness your pet developed would be covered, every year of its life, up to
£3,000 in bills.
As long as you renew your policy annually, the £3,000 cover is rolled over, so if your pet
were to suffer severe arthritis, for instance, that cost £2,750 a year to treat and he lived
for 10 years, you wouldn't have to pay a penny (except the excess) of the £27,500 in vet
fees - just the annual cost of your premium.
b) Lifetime limit
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© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com
The Pet Nurse
17 Browns Square
St Neots
Cambs
PE19 1PE
Kitten Information Pack
Others instead offer an overall 'lifetime' sum per condition - £10,000, say - during the
animal's life to cover treatment for it. This means that if you reach the limit before your
pet died, you'd then have to start paying the bills out of your own pocket.
c) Annual catch-all limit
This is the maximum amount of money you can claim from the policy in any one year though not many insurers have one of these. For example, if a lifetime policy offered
£7,000 'catch-all' per year, you would have £7,000 for all the conditions your pet may
suffer from inside 12 months, the following year, the 'catch-all' starts again for all
conditions.
Ensure that you know exactly what you're paying for - pet policies can exclude all sorts of
claims, impose plenty of limits and even leave you exposed unless you add extra bits on.
Neutering your cat
It is the duty of every responsible pet owner to have their cat spayed or neutered. Unwanted
litters contribute to a vast oversupply of cats around the world. This is a particular problem
because cat, if left unchecked, can reproduce in staggering numbers over a short period.
Unless you plan to breed your cat (which is not recommended, except in the case of highly
valued purebreds) it should be neutered before reaching sexual maturity, usually around 6
months old. For males this is called castrating (removal of the testicles); for females, spaying
(removal of the ovaries and uterus). Without neutering, the habits of a male cat (marking its
territory with urine; engaging in fights with other males; patrolling ceaselessly in search of
females in heat) can be nearly intolerable. The neutering process deletes these behaviours
along with the testicles. Neutered males also experience fewer health problems.
Likewise, female cats spayed before puberty are spared medical problems such as uterine
and ovarian cancer, two common disorders. Female cats will also stop going into heat (a
two-week-long trial of house-soiling and howling that occurs three or more times each year).
Indoors or Outdoors?
Until recently, cats were considered an indoor/outdoor or even an exclusively outdoor pet.
This is no longer the case. Today, experts on feline care advise keeping cats exclusively
indoors. The reasons are numerous. Indoor cats are, for the most part, safe from virulent
diseases, from fights with other cats, from dogs and wild animals, and from many other
threatening situations. The dangers of an outdoor life are so pronounced that it lowers the
life expectancy of the cat. While an indoor cat can be reasonably expected to live 15 years
or more, an outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat will be lucky to last 10 years. The disparity has not
gone unnoticed by animal shelters, an increasing number of which will not release felines to
applicants unless they sign a written agreement to keep the cats exclusively indoors.
Ideally, a newly acquired kitten should be raised as an indoor only cat at least until
neutered. This is, in most cases, the simplest way to program a feline for this lifestyle.
However, if you acquire an adult cat, there are many techniques by which it can be
habituated to life inside. The key is to make sure your feline can find as much stimulation,
pleasure, and comfort indoors as it would outdoors.
If the smell of the litter tray puts you off buy a covered one with a filter.
Remember to keep a check on the claws and have them trimmed regularly, you can also
provide scratch posts to keep them under control.
If you need any extra information or help then feel free to contact me
God Bless
Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA
The Pet Nurse
www.the-pet-nurse.co.uk
07754269810
© Bryony Peacock RVN MBVNA 2011
Bryony.thepetnurse@gmail.com