It's very hard not to resist the charms of a kitten. Small and cute, these kittens become the joy of any place and make the heart much warmer. The point is that to have a kitten cat, it is important to know everything a cat needs to have a good quality of life - especially in this early stage, when they are even more fragile and need several caresThe adaptation of the space, as well as the purchase of the right accessories, makes all the difference in these hours for those who want to learn how to care for a kitten.

If you're thinking of adding to your family and bringing home a new feline member, don't worry: we've got you covered. Find out all about kittens below, from the main care for small cats to how to raise a kitten safely and with everything they need.

Until when is the cat a kitten and what is the right time to separate it from its mother?

A very common question among first-time pet parents is when a cat is a kitten. Understanding the signs that indicate the transition to adulthood is really important to keep track of the age of felines, and to make it easier, we answer: kittens stop being kittens when they turn 1 year old. After that, he is already considered an adult and, therefore, not a cat.As a kitten, cats are still very vulnerable and need attention to avoid injury, but when they reach adulthood, their bodies are stronger and they have all the wits they need to stay out of harm's way.

In addition, when it comes to a new cat, the guardian must know the right time to separate it from the mother. The recommended time is after the kitten is 2 months old. Until then, the kitten is very dependent on the mother, mainly because of breastfeeding. With weaning, which should happen naturally around 45 days of life, it is easier to separate them. BesidesIn addition, socialization with siblings is another important point for kittens (2 months is often enough for this to happen without causing a great dependence on siblings).

How to identify if a cat is male or female?

Everyone knows that when it comes to baby cats, care is important. But do you know how to identify the sex of the kitten? If you have fallen in love with a kitten, but still don't know if it is male or female, it is very easy to identify this. The male kitten has an anus, penis and, between them, the scrotum - which is where the testicle is located - but as it is usually a region of the body, it is very easy to identify.In addition, males have a greater distance between the anus and the genital organ, while in females this distance is very small. The shape of the genitals is also another difference: while the male kitten has a rounded penis, the female kittens have an elongated vagina.

Kitten cat: safety precautions in apartments and houses is key

One of the most important things to do with a kitten is to make sure that it lives in a safe environment that doesn't pose a risk to it. So the first thing that any cat owner - kitten or not - needs to do before taking it home is to put protective screens on all the windows and overhangs. All of them! From the living room, kitchen, bathroom, laundry area and balconies. As most of you already know,felines like to climb on all furniture and windowsills to rest, so one way to take care of a kitten is to screen these spaces. This prevents the kitten from running away and getting lost or even suffering a fall, for example.

In addition to screens, there are also other ways to care for a baby cat that are indispensable for the comfort of the pet. Kittens like to look for corners to hide, and a good strategy is to make these hiding places available to him, such as a cat tent. This way you ensure that he will not get into any place that can hurt him, and you will not have to worry when he"disappear", because you will know exactly where it is.

Another important point is that the baby cat is very curious - very much so! - after all, it is the moment when he is getting to know the world. So the ideal is to remove from the environment any object that represents some danger to him, such as piercing objects (scissors and knives) or that can break easily, such as glass.

Things for kittens: see which accessories are essential for the arrival of the feline

There is no way, if you want to know how to raise a kitten in the best possible way, you will need to buy some accessories that are indispensable for feline well-being. From a litter box for cats, to a bed, drinking fountain and feeder: all of this must be thought out to welcome the new member of the family. See what things for kitten cat the tutor should provide:

• Feeder for cats:

The kitten needs a suitable place to eat, right? So investing in a cat feeder is essential. Prefer the shallower pots and with the concave shape so that the food is always in the center. Felines - kittens or not - do not like when their whiskers touch the side of the accessory and that is why many end up spreading food on the floor. Ensure that the kitten ofcat have room to pick up the food without worrying about the little whiskers.

• Drinking fountain for cats:

Although they are cute, kittens and adult cats have a certain difficulty in ingesting water and end up having a greater propensity to kidney problems because of this. Therefore, choosing a good drinking fountain makes all the difference to encourage the hydration of these pets. The ideal is to invest in water fountains for cats, as these animals love running water. Another tip is to place the drinking fountain away from the pot of water.feed and litter box.

• Cat litter box:

When it comes to a kitten, hygiene care is also part of it - especially when it comes to the pet's physiological needs. Felines have some wild instincts and whenever they pee or poop, they need to bury their waste. That's why the litter box is so important for the kitten's routine! Oh, kittens are super hygienic, sono matter what type of litter you choose, keep the box clean at all times! To learn how to care for cats, the hygiene routine with the accessory is very important.

• Transport box for cats:

It is necessary to think that sooner or later the kitten will need to leave the house for a veterinary appointment. At these times, the cat carrier is an accessory that makes life much easier for the guardian and the kitten. There are different models, just find the one that best suits the pet. Do not forget also to make a training so that the baby cat can adapt to the cat carrier.box without problems.

• Identification collar for cats:

Even with all the security of the home, knowing how to take care of your kitten includes having an identification collar for the kitten. Unforeseen events happen, and sometimes forgetting an open door is enough for the kitten to decide to explore the world outside the home. Therefore, to avoid situations such as "my cat is missing", it is recommended to put on a collar containing some information about the kitten, such asname and contact telephone number.

• Cat bed:

One thing a cat needs, regardless of age, is a good bed to relax and rest in. Everyone knows that felines spend long hours of the day sleeping or napping, and when it comes to a kitten, the sleeping time is even longer. So nothing could be fairer than providing a good bed for cats to sleep comfortably, right? Besides being a matter of good-heartedness, it's also a matter of good health.This also makes the pet feel more at home.

• Brush or glove to remove cat hair:

One of the ways to care for kittens or adult cats is to maintain a routine of brushing their fur. In addition to preventing hairballs on the pets, this also helps to prevent that buildup of dirt around the house. So when opening the doors to a kitten, keep in mind that you will need to purchase a good cat hair brush or glove.

How to take care of a kitten: the pet's diet needs special attention

Proper feeding is super important for the health and development of kittens. What few people know is that this is a process that goes through different stages before reaching the solid food, which is the food. A 2-month-old cat, for example, needs a different diet than a newborn or older cat. So, to better understand how feeding worksof the kitten, it is necessary to follow this chronology:

• Breastfeeding

For the first 30 days of life, kittens should be fed exclusively on breastfeeding, which contains all the nutrients they need to thrive. If this is not possible, there are also so-called artificial milks, which are formulated to replace breast milk in special cases. Cow's milk and dairy products are completely out of the question.cogitation, as well as the ration.

• Weaning with baby food

How to take care of 2-month-old kittens? This is a very common question, mainly because this is the phase when the kitten usually says goodbye to its mother and is ready to meet its family. As the pet is leaving breastfeeding aside, weaning with baby food is the best way to introduce new textures to the feline palate. So if you got a 2-month-old cat, care for the kitten's milk and food.Feeders should monitor the weaning process before introducing feed into their diet.

To do this, just mix a little artificial milk specific for animals with the kitten food, kneading well until it acquires the form of a paste. Another option is to beat these ingredients in a blender and offer it to the pet.

• Kitten food

If your cat is 2 months old and has already been weaned, there is no problem in starting an exclusive kibble diet. In this case, there are two options of kibble for kittens, which is dry or wet. Learn more about the differences between them:

Dry feed: precisely because it is dry, it has greater durability while exposed. Therefore, owners who spend the day out can leave the food in the kitten's pot without worrying that it will spoil. However, the most recommended is to avoid this exposure, as felines have a strict palate and when the food is exposed for a long time, it ends up losing its flavor.

Wet ration: Cats are animals that do not have the habit of drinking a lot of water and wet food - also called sachet for cats - is ideal for increasing the hydration of felines. The care that owners need to take with this type of food is to ensure that they will eat at the time it is placed in the pot. If they do not eat, the food should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

Kitten cat: how to take care of it? Vermifuge is indispensable at this stage!

One of the most important cat care procedures is deworming. This is the most common and safest way to prevent a wormy cat, especially when it is still a kitten. In general, animals are donated with at least the first dose of cat dewormer, which can be applied after 30 days of life, but it is important to make sure of this before getting a kitten. To know how to care for ababy cat and apply the dewormers, the recommendation is as follows:

• 1st dose of dewormer: is indicated after the kitten is 30 days old

• 2nd dose of dewormer: is indicated 15 days after the first dose

• 3rd dose of dewormer: is indicated 15 days after the second dose

• Booster doses: Between the 3rd dose and the 6th month of the feline, the medicine should be given at least once a month. After the 6th month, boosters can take place every 6 months.

Vaccines for kittens are indicated from 2 months onwards

Another important point when it comes to caring for kittens is to pay attention to the vaccination schedule. From the age of 60 days, the antibodies transmitted from mothers to kittens begin to decrease and they need to take the first dose of the vaccine for cats, which can be V4 (quadruple) or V5 (quintuple). V4 includes protection against Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Chlamydiosis andPanleukopenia; and the quintuple is more complete with protection against all of these plus Feline Leukemia/FeLV. In the case of the rabies vaccine, the first dose is given from the 4th month of life. Learn more about the most dangerous kitten diseases:

• Vaccine for panleukopenia: is a viral disease that is highly contagious and can be fatal for a young cat. Animals that are not vaccinated and contract the virus have a sudden drop in immune defense caused by a decrease in white blood cells.

• Rhinotracheitis vaccine: this disease is caused by the herpes virus and can cause conjunctivitis, fever, decreased appetite and in more advanced cases and that have not been treated in time can lead the kitten to death.

• Vaccine for calicivirus: this disease affects the respiratory system and can be confused with rhinotracheitis. The difference is that calicivirus can cause ulcers in the mouth of the kitten. Cases that are not treated in the early stages can cause the death of the animal.

• Chlamydiosis vaccine: Chlamydiosis is caused by a bacterium that affects the front part of the eyeball and, if not treated at an early stage, can reach the respiratory system. The most common symptoms are conjunctivitis, persistent discharge from the eyes, runny nose, difficulty breathing, fever, pneumonia and lack of appetite.

• FeLV vaccine: Infected cats can transmit the disease directly or indirectly to healthy animals. A healthy animal can contract the disease just by sharing a water bowl or kibble with an infected animal. Despite having control, owners who are considering adopting a new kitten need to know if it has the disease. Cats - kittens or not - that have the disease are more vulnerable to illnessesinfectious diseases, malnutrition and reproductive problems.

• Rabies vaccine: Rabies is a disease considered a zoonosis (high fatality and contamination) that has no cure and is transmissible to humans. The main symptoms are: behavioral changes, lack of appetite, photophobia (discomfort with bright light) and self-mutilation. In addition to being transmissible to humans, it can lead your pet to be sacrificed. The first dose is given from 4 months and must bereinforced annually.

Kitten castration: from how many months is it indicated?

Cute kittens are ready to mate by the end of their first year of life. This means that, even if they are young, a cat usually has her first heat between 8 and 10 months of age, which is when they reach sexual maturity. However, to avoid unwanted offspring or even health problems - such as breast cancer - the ideal is to opt for cat neutering as soon as possible.In other words, this turns out to be one of the most important kitten care, since it takes care of the kitten's well-being and health in the long run. The indicated age for castration is between 6 and 8 months of life, just before the first heat.

5 tips for kittens adapting to other animals

It is very common to want a new animal to keep the other one company, but the adaptation period needs some specific care with the older one and the kitten that will arrive. As they are territorial, older cats can take a long time to accept the new kitten. How to take care of it, then? In cases where the cat is already elderly, the arrival of a kitten can make him irritable, as they usuallywant to play all the time. See the tips below for the smoothest adaptation.

1) In the first few weeks, it is ideal that they are not left in the same environment without the supervision of the human responsible;

2) Do not force contact;

3) Reward the older cat whenever it comes close and does not growl at the kitten;

4) Play with both at the same time;

5) If the older cat hides whenever the kitten approaches, call him to stay close to you and don't pay too much attention to the younger one;

Find out which are the best toys for kitten cats

Knowing how to take care of a kitten is very simple, as long as you have the right accessories for it. Toys, even, are part of that list. You have to keep in mind that kittens are very agitated and need to spend energy. As they are not used to walking on the street, playing with their owners - or even alone - are the perfect solutions. See below which ones arethe most appropriate kitten toys for your kitty:

• Wand for cats: as cats have a keen hunting instinct, the right way to play is by making light and delicate movements as if you were prey in the wild.

• Rattle for cats: Kittens often love the noise emitted by the rattle inside the balls. As the ball needs to be in motion to make the noise, kittens often run around a lot while pushing.

• Rope toy for cats: rope toys trigger cats' wild instincts: they see the toy as prey - especially when it's mouse-shaped - and chase after it to catch it.

• Scratcher for cats: one of the must-have toys for cat owners is the scratching post. It is a great de-stressor and can prevent them from scratching the sofas at home.

5 curiosities about kittens

1) It takes about 10 to 15 days for a kitten to open its eyes after birth.

2) The first steps usually happen around 20 days of life for kittens.

3) Kittens sleep more than adults; between naps, they can sleep up to 20 hours a day for the first few months.

4) A female cat can give birth to an average of 9 kittens at a time, meaning that a kitten usually has lots of siblings!

5) Kitten meowing is usually quite mild and can happen for a variety of reasons, from cold and hunger to an indication that the cat is not feeling well. The best way to care for a kitten in these circumstances is to take them to the vet if the meowing doesn't stop.