Welcome to Raising Happy Kittens! Our goal is to help you build a happy and healthy relationship with your kitten. Whether you recently adopted one or are caring for an orphaned kitten, we are here to help you care for your new fur baby as best as you possibly can, and to live a fulfilling, happy and long life together.
Take a look through our archives to find advice and tips on every aspect of owning, training, caring for and providing for your new kitten.
Are you a new kitty parent? Congratulations! Raising happy kittens is a lot of fun, but there is a lot to learn!
Don’t worry-as long as you have the know-how, raising a baby kitten into a happy adult will be a very rewarding experience.
We are Experts at Caring for Kittens and Cats
The first year in a cat’s life is a short phase compared to the many years of adulthood, but what happens during this first year as a kitten is extremely important for his physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Cats are very intelligent animals and need to be given love, attention, and a stimulating environment.
If your kitten is not properly cared for and socialized, he will not make a good pet, and then his future may not be a happy one.
Fortunately, you’ve found us!
At Raising Happy Kittens, we are committed to helping new kitten owners learn the ropes to raising a kitten (or two or three or four!) and handling all the new responsibilities that come with this task. We help put the “happy” in raising happy kittens!
To get started, you may want to read up on growth and development stages.
If you are just starting to think about adopting, you may want to find out what kind of health care she will need or you might need to learn how to select a good kitten food.
Taking Care of Kittens is Hard, But We Can Help!
There is a lot that goes into adopting a pet, and if you are reading this, you may be finding yourself in the midst of this huge responsibility.
Of course, you are a caring person and want to provide the best future for this little ball of fur…you just want to know how.
You may be the consummate feline lover, but you just realized raising kittens is a whole new ballgame!
All of the tips, guidance, and resources available on this site will guide you in raising those little bundles of furry joy into loving, happy family pets.
Maintaining good kitten health care is one of the most important responsibilities all new owners face.
Some things are obvious… protect your furball from danger, get her vaccinations done on time, learn to recognize the symptoms of kitten illnesses, etc.
Add in other things to think about like having a first-aid kit handy, or making the right food choice, or deciding about pet insurance and you may feel a little intimidated about having this new pet.
Kitten healthcare isn’t always difficult but it can be tricky to know when your kitty is really sick, what type of preventative veterinary care is needed, or what to do about common problems.
For a quick Tip Sheet on taking care of your kitten, take a look at these top kitten care tips to get you started.
For specific kitten care information click on any image or link to read more kitten health and care advice…..
Preparing Your Home for a New Kitten
Top 10 Kitten Health Care Tips
Adopting a Kitten or an Adult Cat?
Low Cost Pet Insurance Options
Best Pet Health Insurance Options
Symptoms Of Illness In Kittens
Common symptoms of illness in cats and kittens include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy or extreme tiredness
- Discharge from nose or eyes (or both)
- A fever – anything over 102.5F
Many common symptoms and behaviors can have more than one cause, so this sometimes makes it difficult to know if your kitten is sick, or how sick he is.
For instance, your kitten might have a bout of diarrhea, or vomiting as a result of eating something he shouldn’t…. but these symptoms could signal the beginning of some serious illnesses such as:
- Diet-related causes (diet change, food intolerance)
- Gastric or intestinal foreign bodies (toys, hairballs)
- Intestinal parasite
- Acute kidney failure
- Acute liver failure or gall bladder inflammation
- Pancreatitis
- Toxins or chemicals
- Viral infections
- Certain medications
A good rule of thumb is to pay attention to how your kitten is behaving.
If she is having some vomiting or diarrhea, but she is…
- eating and drinking okay and running around happily, the chances are good you don’t have to rush to the vet (but do take her if it doesn’t clear up within 24 hours).
- seeming listless and tired, and won’t eat or drink as normal then it’s important to have a vet check her out to make sure all is well.
It can sometimes be tricky to know when a symptom could mean serious trouble for your kitten. In an urgent situation your pet’s life depends on getting veterinary immediately!
Caring For Premature Kittens, Newborn Kittens and Pregnant Cats
We have an entire resource for newborn kitten healthcare and cat pregnancy. Check out some of these helpful articles:
About Cat Pregnancy
Cat Gestation Period
Cats in Heat
Cat Mating Rituals
About Newborns
Newborn Care
Hand-Feeding Newborns
Homemade Kitten Formula
KMR Milk Replacer
Bottle Feeding Kittens
Preparing for Birth
The Best Kitten Food Choices
Nutrition is also a very important consideration when it comes to the health of your kitten. Here are some articles to get you started on giving your kitten the best food for your budget:
Selecting the Best Kitten Food
Grain Free Kitten and Cat Foods
