Scratching is normal cat behavior. Kittens begin to retract their claws at about 28 days of age and to scratch things by day 35. Scratching: conditions their claws by removing old nail sheaths; displays dominance and proclaims territory by scent marking with the glands on their front paws and visually marking with shredded matter […]
Have you ever heard an animal shelter or rescue organization state, “Two kittens are better than one?” You might initially think this is just a way to get more kittens adopted, but adopters as well as kittens benefit from welcoming pairs as family members.
Many shelters and rescue organizations encourage or require pair adoptions of […]
Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are very common in kittens, especially in kittens living in high-density populations in animal shelters, community cat colonies or breeding catteries.
URIs may be caused by infections that are: viral, such as calicivirus or herpesvirus; bacterial, such as chlamydia or bordetella; and even fungal. Infections can be mild or severe and […]
Valentine’s Day typically celebrates love between humans. Images commonly associated with Valentine’s Day include: Cupid, the Roman god of love; hearts, traditionally the seat of emotion; and birds, because it was thought that mid-February was the beginning of the avian mating season.
In many parts of the world, February is also […]
If you’re lucky enough to foster a mom cat and kittens, she will hopefully take charge of keeping them clean. If you’re caring for orphaned bottle baby kittens, you’re in charge.
When you get kittens, with or without a mom, use a flea comb to detect fleas. They suck blood, which […]
Intestinal parasites can be wormlike (roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms) or one-celled protozoan organisms (coccidia, giardia, toxoplasmosis). In kittens, they are a common cause of diarrhea.
Fecal exams are very important for kittens with diarrhea, which can be life threatening. Fecal exams are also important when kittens strain to defecate, lack appetite, vomit […]
Ringworm is the most common infectious skin disease in cats and gets its name from its circular appearance of hair loss and scaling of the skin. Ringworm isn’t a worm at all, and it’s not just an inconvenience. In a shelter, it can spread havoc.
Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by dermatophytes, microscopic fungal […]
Poop, poo, stool, feces and bowel movement are some of the words that describe what kittens deposit, hopefully, in the litter box: solid bodily waste discharged from the large intestine through the anus during defecation.
Kitten stool is a highly useful indicator of an individual’s health. However, kittens can’t defecate (poop) or urinate (pee) before […]
All I really want for the holidays is my very own home….but here are some other things that will keep me happy, safe and comfortable till my real family finds me.
To keep me feeling safe and loved:
For many of us, the question of whether to give a pet (usually a puppy or a kitten) as a gift is a mix of conflicting feelings. Will the recipient love and cherish this pet? Will this […]
