Spring is in the air and it is at this time of year we traditionally see an increase in the number of kittens being born.
Many of our clients will be looking to purchase or adopt a kitten, but do they know what to look for?
According to the PDSA Animal Wellbeing Report 2018, more than a third of people who take on a non-pedigree kitten do no research before getting their cat (for pedigree cats this comes down to 15%), with men less likely to do research (35% do no research compared to 29% of women).
Knowing what to look for
Unfortunately, there can be serious pitfalls of poor health or fearfulness when choosing a kitten without knowing what to look for. Most people looking to get a kitten want one that will develop into a healthy, confident cat that will fit into family life.
It is important to see kittens with their mother in the place where the kittens were bred, and to find out about the kitten’s history and health.
To become a good pet cat, kittens need positive interactions with people, and need to get used to the human environment and lifestyle before they are about eight weeks old.
This responsibility lies with the person who has bred the cat because these important things happen before the new owner even gets the kitten.
Being happy around people is something that has to be developed in a kitten and will not happen naturally if that positive interaction has not occurred at the right time. If this opportunity is missed, kittens may be fearful or nervous and never become confident, interactive pets.
A prospective owner can get a rough overview of the kitten’s health by checking eyes, ears, nose, agility and general demeanour, which also gives an indication of how well the kitten has been cared for.
An upset stomach, weepy eyes or problems with movement may be more serious, and may prompt him or her to decline to buy, or to take more advice. Looking at the health of the other kittens may flag signs of problems, too.
Checklist
To help your clients, you can recommend The Kitten Checklist. Published by The Cat Group, a collection of professional organisations dedicated to feline welfare, The Kitten Checklist is designed to help prospective owners choose the right kitten for them and is freely available via https://bit.ly/3eMT8Ee
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