Hairballs

Before picking out a kitten, remember your kitten’s life span is possibly up to eighteen years or longer.

Make sure the kitten is the most outgoing one in the litter. Its eyes should be bright. The tail should be upright. The hair should look bright and shiny. It should be very alert to its surroundings. Make sure the kitten interacts well with you.

Do you want long hair or short hair for your kitten? Make sure the kitten has gone through a vet check. Do you have enough time to train your kitten? Do not bring a kitten into a house with an elderly cat. Your old cat does not want to be tormented by a young playful kitten.

Christmas has come and gone, and chances are you know someone who has received a kitten for Christmas. I have found from experience that it is good to have the following on hand when you bring home a new kitten:

litter box and litter scoop
kitten food
K and H heated cat bed
assorted kitten toys
water bowl
cat/kitten litter
food bowl
pet grooming tools (claw trimmers, brush, comb, shampoo, and toothbrush)
pet first aid kit
a book on kitten care

Check your kitten for ear mites, as it is no fun to have the kitten scratching at its ears. In case you don’t know what ear mites look like, they look like little microscopic pieces of black sand. If your kitten has ear mites, I recommend taking a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide and rubbing it around in their ears.

Make sure you have time to play with your new kitten. I like a stick with feathers for them to bat with their paw. Have plenty of bright-colored toy mice and balls to keep them out of mischief.

How are you and your new kitten adjusting to each other?

Hairballs

Cats are very fastidious, and this can cause a hairball problem. Cats groom themselves by licking their fur. The cat’s tongue feels like sandpaper because it has many tiny barbs. The barbs catch the hair, and it is swallowed. If enough hair collects without passing, the cat will vomit to rid itself of it. The hairball is cigar-shaped.

To treat hairballs, I feed my cats a hairball treat. I also put two teaspoons of butter on their food. My vet sells a formula in a tube that also works.

Treatment should be continued daily until the hair has passed in a stool and the vomiting has passed. If vomiting continues for over three days, take your cat to your vet ASAP.