Aftercare Of Kittens

The mother cat will take care of all the kittens need for the first few weeks. She will feed them, wash them and keep them warm. When the kittens are 10 days old they will open their eyes and want to start exploring. When they are 3 weeks old they will start exploring further. At this age you should warn your family to watch where they step. A kitten pen can come in very handy at this age.

The kittens will become more inquisitive and by the time they are four or five weeks old they will be ready to eat food. The best weaning foods are the ones for human babies, but minced chicken or fish is usually fine; pilchards are excellent as the strong smell encourages the kittens to eat; but only give them a little as it's very rich.

When your kittens reach six weeks old, they should be able to eat normal cat food. It is important that you get your kittens used to a varied diet of different brands so they don't become faddy eaters.

At ten weeks old your kittens are ready for their first two inoculations. This is a simple procedure, but sometimes a kitten can have a bad reaction. The kitten will probably be unwell for a few days with sneezes. Therefore it is best to keep the kittens for a few days to recover, before letting them go to their new homes.