What to do if you pick up a cat from the street: action plan

Often the decision to adopt a cat arises spontaneously. It's hard to pass by a cute baby who trustingly rubs his feet. It’s hard to resist the sight of a plaintive little lump that you want to fatten and caress. Let's figure out what to do if you pick up a kitten from the street, what first steps you need to take to care for a potential roommate.

Unfortunately, for people who do an impulsive act, a holiday can turn into a tragedy. Viruses, parasites, unprepared housing - without proper care, all this can end the life of a pet.

What to do if a cat is picked up from the street

If a person took pity on a stray cat and picked her up, his further actions after the new cat is in the house:

• visual inspection;
• mandatory examination by a veterinarian, carrying out the necessary treatment if prescribed;
• bathing with special shampoo;
• purchasing a tray and filler, getting used to them;
• buying food, getting used to it;
• socialization of the animal, arrangement of a place for the kitten.

Fluffy newcomer needs to be treated for worms

Important! Immediately after the cat appears in the house, you need to examine it yourself.

A kitten is one month old - how to train a kitten?

At one month of age, the kitten can eat on its own and, if necessary, it is permissible to take it away from the cat. She is still just a baby who needs maximum care and affection.

It will be especially difficult for the baby at night, because he is accustomed to his mother’s warm body and the beating of her heart. To at least to some extent compensate for its absence, you can put a heating pad and a small alarm clock under the bedding. A uniform sound will calm and lull the kitten to sleep.

Kittens take toileting seriously even at this age, but there is no need to punish if a puddle appears in the wrong place. Just put the soiled napkin in the tray and show it to the kitten - next time he will follow that smell. And then don’t be stingy with praise, animals, even small ones, love it.

Visual inspection

Kitten eats litter: what to do

If an outdoor kitten appears in the house, what should you do first? The first steps for a kitten into home life begin with a visual inspection. It means:

• ear examination. Normally, cat ears are pink (inside). The sink is clean and contains minimal earwax;
• checking fur for fleas. This is done simply: the kitten is stroked with your hand against the fur, spreading it and examining the skin. If the skin is clean, pale pink, without scratches, irritation or inflammation, your pet is unlikely to have fleas. Fleas are small, dark insects that move at high speed. They are easier to detect on cats with light fur than on dark ones;
• cleanliness of the eyes. The eyes should be shiny, without suppuration or discharge;
• The kitten's nose is usually clean, without dry crusts in the nostrils or any discharge;
• the oral cavity is pink, the teeth are white. There is no plaque, ulcers or scratches on the tongue and gums;
• the genitals are clean, without matted hair around.

Important! After an independent examination, the animal must be shown to a veterinarian, even if the baby appears to be well.

A small kitten in the house - how to start communicating with it at home?

From the first minute a kitten appears in the house, you need to remember that the baby is scared. Just recently he was taken from his mother cat and a friendly company of brothers and sisters. The familiar environment has been replaced by a completely alien space and the kitten will cry and hide.

This behavior may continue for several days. You need to talk to your baby gently, without raised tones. Accustom him to hands gradually - if he runs away, then stroke him after feeding, when the animal is relaxed and in the mood for contact. You should not forcefully pick up a kitten; this will scare it even more. Be patient and soon the fluffy one will climb onto your lap.

Ideally, communication with a kitten should begin long before you bring it into your home, in a nursery or from a private breeder. This will allow you to choose the most active and sociable baby from the litter. You should pay attention to the largest kittens, those that reach the nipples first. This means that such nimble creatures received more mother’s milk and are much stronger and more resilient.

A preliminary visit to the nursery gives you the opportunity to meet the kitten’s parents and see how the pet will grow up. And the breeder will tell you about the characteristics of the breed.

During the adaptation period, the baby may be frightened by loud music or sharp sounds; you need to warn everyone at home, especially children, about this. Talk kindly, touch gently. Your hands should become a source of joy and calm for the kitten, then he will get used to it faster and reciprocate.

When you need veterinary help

The kitten is sneezing: why and what to do

Often a cat from the street comes into the house sick. Animals often suffer from rhinotracheitis. Main signs of the disease:

• mucous discharge from the nose that resembles snot;
• coughing, sneezing, the animal breathes through its mouth;
• teary eyes.

Important! If these signs are present, the kitten is urgently taken to the veterinarian. It is forbidden to treat the animal yourself, and the specialist’s instructions must be followed strictly.

What should confuse the new owner:

• lethargic, indifferent behavior of the baby;
• rapid breathing, shortness of breath;
• the kitten has difficulty swallowing;
• too dirty ears;
• red, watery eyes. Purulent crusts in the inner corners of the eyes;
• bloated belly;
• lack of coordination of movements;
• dirty anus, matted fur near it;
• loose stools;
• bloody urine or stools;
• lameness.

If the owner notices something strange and dangerous that is not included in this list, it is better not to delay visiting the veterinarian.

An examination by a veterinarian is required, even if the pet looks healthy outwardly.

Take it to the vet

Even if a kitten is outwardly healthy, it can be infected with dangerous infections. Most often these are dermatophytoses - lichens. People themselves, children and other pets can become infected with them. And treating lichen is long and tedious.

Parasitic diseases are very common in street animals: both skin parasites and internal parasites - worms. Antiparasitic treatments for animals with an unknown fate are mandatory. The veterinarian decides which medications and in what sequence should be used after a clinical examination and weighing. It is difficult to determine all this by eye, so you need to consult a doctor.

Appointment with a therapist

Quarantine

If the veterinarian examined the pet and did not find any serious health problems, nevertheless, the animal should be subject to mandatory quarantine. The event usually lasts a week (at the discretion of the doctor).

How to tame a cat and a wild kitten from the street

The first action after picking up a kitten from the street is quarantine. Ideally, during quarantine, the kitten should live in a separate room, without contact with other pets. In most cases, people do not have the opportunity to keep a new resident in a separate room; they buy a special cage or box for him. The box contains a tray with filling, a bed in which the kitten will sleep, and a bowl of water and food. Toys for the baby are also left here, and contact with other pets is excluded as much as possible.

For your information! Outdoor kittens adapt more easily to a new life in a confined space.
On the street, such kittens live with their mother cat, as a rule, and do not know anyone except her. It is difficult for them to get used to people, and this is why quarantine measures are required. After some time, when the baby gets used to it, he is released from the cage.

Getting used to the new home

The life of a street cat is full of hardships and dangers; he is in constant stress. Therefore, when caught, it may not give in to your hands, hiss and scratch. To prevent a frightened animal from causing you harm, it is better to deliver it to a new place of residence wrapped in a hat or other warm thing, or in a carrier.

The pet should be placed where it will be easier for him to get used to his new home. At first he may hide, this is normal. The main thing is that the kitten does not climb into a hard-to-reach place. The animal can also be injured due to compression by a door, a folding sofa or another object. To prevent this, it is advisable to temporarily place the cat in a separate room.

You may be interested in the following products:

Toilet for cats 40.5*30*12 cm “KIS” (Deep with frame)

Matatabi / weaning off 1 gram marks / Japan

Milbemax for kittens and small cats

Getting rid of fleas, worms and first vaccination

What should you do first if you find a kitten on the street? Take it home, show it to the veterinarian, treat it for parasites and get vaccinated.

To begin, rid your pet of fleas:

1. After a visit to the veterinarian, the kitten is washed with a special zoo shampoo, the fur is combed and dried. Fleas practically do not move when the fur gets wet and are easy to remove from your pet.
2. After this, use drops on the withers against fleas (depending on the age of the animal).
3. If the kitten is older than 6 months, he can wear a flea collar. It’s better to take it, it has a high price, but the quality is corresponding.

The baby will definitely be wormed. There are tablets designed specifically for kittens from 8 weeks of age. The drug is sold in a veterinary pharmacy or clinic; it should be selected based on the veterinarian’s recommendations.

Important! The tablet is given according to the instructions, which states how much of the drug is needed per 1 kg of the kitten’s weight.

After the first dose of the tablet, after the time specified in the instructions, the pet is given the second part of the drug.

3-5 days after deworming, the baby is vaccinated. The Nobivac vaccine for kittens is now popular, but the vaccination must be done at a veterinary clinic. The owner cannot always inject the pet so that the vaccine gets into the animal and does not spill on its fur. In addition, at the veterinary clinic, a passport will be issued for the pet, a vaccination record will be made there, and it will be certified with a seal.

Vaccinations are given only after deworming

Food for kittens - where is the best place to buy?

First of all, you need to decide what you plan to feed the kitten in the future. Natural food can be healthy only when the balance of vitamins, minerals and other essential components is maintained. Special foods contain everything a growing body needs; it is enough to follow the dosage and age recommendations. In addition, it is much simpler; you will not need to cook and create a menu.

Usually special foods contain all the vitamins, so there is no need to give them additionally. To make sure of this, read the composition on the package, or better yet, consult with the breeder or veterinarian. If the kitten is small, then up to two months it needs a special mixture, similar in composition to mother’s milk.

It is advisable to buy food in pet stores, as counterfeit products are possible on the market. It would be good to require a quality certificate - reinsurance in this matter will not hurt, not only the health, but also the life of a small pet may depend on it.

How to help your pet settle in a new place

Each kitten has its own character. Some kids are people-oriented, while others are indecently independent. But any of them needs socialization.

Stray kittens don't know that humans are good. The pet needs to be shown that the owner is not scary at all and will not offend him. While the kitten is quarantined in a box, they talk to him in a gentle voice. If the baby responds willingly, the pet is stroked and caressed.

Note! If the kitten presses its ears, hisses and shows its hostility, this indicates fear. The pet is simply afraid of a person, in such a case you need to choose a time and talk to the baby for a long time, sitting near the cage.

When the quarantine is over, the baby can be released into the apartment from the box. Many owners usually move the litter tray out of the box in an unknown direction for the kitten. The baby wants to go to the toilet, but cannot find the tray. Owner actions:

1. Pick up the pet and take it to the location of the tray.
2. Plant it in it.
3. Allow the kitten to independently leave the room in which the tray is located. This way the pet will learn to follow the desired route without the help of its owner.

No matter how it sounds, stray kittens often do their chores in the litter box the first time. If this does not happen, the pet does not see the necessary object point-blank, it must be taught:

1. When the kitten begins to squeak and fuss, circling in one place, he is picked up and placed in the tray.
2. After the baby has done his business, the kitten is praised and allowed to dig into the litter.

Important! At first, the tray must be kept in a place so that the kitten can immediately find it.

It is believed that a fluffy ball will get used to the tray more quickly if it is poked with its nose in feces or urine, and then placed in the right place. This is a misconception; the pet will simply be scared and will not understand what they want from him.

Games are a necessary subject in the development of a pet. The game serves not only as entertainment, but also to establish contact between the owner and the kitten. The baby learns to trust the person, understands that the owner is fun, he will not offend.

You don't have to buy expensive toys for your pet. It is enough to make a bow out of paper and tie it to a thick thread or rope. The owner pulls the thread, the bow slides across the floor, and the kitten catches up and catches the toy.

Alternatively, you can buy your pet a small ball or a toy mouse. The baby will be happy to play with them.

You don't need to buy a lot of toys

Feeding your pet

The baby's first treat should be food with a wet consistency.
With the appearance of a pet, the problem of proper nutrition will arise. For the first few days, it is better to try feeding your pet wet food. In addition, you can give the cat a little kefir, low-fat cream, cottage cheese or fermented baked milk. Near the plate of food there should be a bowl filled with water. Small suckling kittens will have to be fed using a syringe without a needle. It should be filled with warm store-bought milk, previously diluted with water. After drinking the milk, the baby needs a light tummy massage. When the cat defecates, you will need to wipe the butt with a cotton swab. This should be done after each feeding, since there is no mother to monitor the baby’s condition, and he still cannot lick himself.

If you have chosen a five-month-old kitten whose body is stronger, you can feed him both dry and wet food. The main thing is that the cat receives all the necessary vitamins and minerals. It is permissible to feed an adult cat with purchased food, as well as food that is prepared independently. The diet should include veal and chicken, various offal, and low-fat fish. Cereals and fermented milk products will be beneficial.

Children, animals and street kitten

A street cat is usually afraid of dogs of all breeds. Having brought home a kitten from the street, if it already has a dog, you cannot immediately introduce them. The newly adopted pet will get scared, hiss and release its claws, and may hit the dog with them in a fit of self-defense.

In the first few days while the kitten lives in the cage, it is necessary to limit its contact with the dog to a minimum. Then you can gradually begin to get to know the dog. The kitten is picked up and stroked; one of the family members holds the dog, allowing it to sniff the baby. Over time, the kitten will stop hissing and acting wild at the sight of his dog.

Note! It is necessary to explain to young children that a kitten is a living creature. He needs his own space; the pet does not like being grabbed sharply, or having his tail or whiskers pulled. You should not allow a kitten to be tortured; the animal must be treated with love and respect.

The child needs to be explained that the new pet is not a toy.

Toilet training

The baby should be placed in the litter tray as soon as he begins to wander around and look for somewhere to relieve himself.
Having found a suitable place for the tray, you need to pour filler or sand. Next you should monitor your pet. If kittens run around screaming, lift their tails and try to dig for something, they need to be taken to the litter box. It is possible that the work will be done on the floor or carpet. In this case, the baby should be scolded and taken to the tray. The kitten needs to remember the way to the toilet.

Black kitten - what to call a black kitten?

The black kitten was luckier than anyone in terms of choosing a name, unless of course you call him Ryzhik or Snezhka. Although some joke this way too.

The most popular names for black kittens:

• Night
• Black
• Chernysh
• Aza
• Ember
• Batman

Black is a noble color, which means the names Lord, Earl, King, Richard, Tsar will sound beautiful.

How to distinguish a boy's kitten from a girl's?

It often happens that Pushinka turns into Pushka by the age of one year, when the characteristic external signs of a boy begin to appear. To avoid making mistakes from the very beginning, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. A cat's genitals are shaped like a small dot; a cat's genitals are a short vertical line.
2. The distance between the anus and genitals of a cat is slightly greater than that of a cat
3. By the age of three months, you can feel small balls on the cat - these are the testicles beginning to develop

Experienced cat lovers distinguish gender even by the shape of the face. But this method is not available to everyone, and is often deceptive. If in doubt, show the baby to the veterinarian, he will determine exactly who you got.

There is an opinion that only cats are tricolor, but there are exceptions.

Do not believe that the cat gets used to the house, and not to the owner. The environment is important to her, but much more important is a loving and caring family. Having bought a kitten, we take on a huge responsibility for many years, so this step must be balanced and deliberate. Will you have enough strength, patience, and most importantly love? But all doubts will go away when you fall asleep and wake up to the measured purring of a wonderful, cheerful and intelligent creature - a cat.

Treatment against worms

It can be assumed with 100% probability that a kitten taken from the street will definitely have worms. You shouldn’t give your cat pills right away. It needs to be fed for a couple of days so that at least something appears in the intestines, and then given one of the following remedies:

• Drontal.
• Profender.
• Prosit.
• Stronghold.
• Milbemax.

Exactly ten days later the treatment is repeated. It is highly advisable to combine anti-worm measures with washing the kitten. This is due to fleas, which are mechanical carriers of parasitic worms.

Common nicknames for kittens

For many cat owners, the name is not at all important; they often call the next pet by the name of the previous one. Yes, he doesn’t mind.

The most common names:

• Murka
• Murzik
• Barsik
• Musya

The cat doesn't care what it's called. This is just a distinctive combination of sounds for her hearing, which she perceives as a call for dinner, a game or other pleasant pastime. If the name contains the letter “m”, the kitten will remember it faster.

Kind kittens - how to raise a good cat?

The character of a cat partly depends on the breed, but to a greater extent on upbringing and living conditions. From the first second you meet, surround your baby with affection, do not get tired of stroking him or carrying him in your arms. If this is acceptable for you, then sleep with him. Cats are clean, there's nothing wrong with that.

Play more often, talk to the kitten, treat it with treats, pamper it. Never punish physically; anger comes from fear in cats. Allow strangers to hold the kitten so that it does not grow up wild.

Animals subtly sense their mood and attitude towards themselves. And of course, they reciprocate. If you want a kind, affectionate cat, don’t skimp on your feelings - in return you will receive the kindest creature that will give you a sea of ​​positive emotions and pleasant moments.