Haya-Ji Cattery
Caring For Your New Oriental Kitten
Congratulations on your new kitten! There are a few things
you need to know when you take your new bundle of joy home that will help
keep him or her healthy and happy. Please read this carefully and initial
at the bottom when you are through.
Orientals, like Siamese, have beautifully long and lean bodies.
It is one of their trademarks and the reason why many people love the breed.
However, this also means that they have almost no body fat. As kittens they
are more fragile when ill or stressed. They do not catch illnesses any more
often than other cats, but when they are not feeling good and do not want
to eat they have very little physical reserves to fall back on. This is the
reason that most Oriental and Siamese breeders do not release kittens until
much older than larger breeds. Your new kitten should not be younger than
12 weeks, 14 weeks for inexperienced or young owners. There are a few things
you should know about caring for a young Oriental.
AT HOME
1. Coming Home: All kittens need
certain things at first. When you first bring your new kitten home, put him
in a quiet room with no other animals or human traffic. Leave him a carrier
or box to hide in (if there is a bed to hide under, he will, and you may have
a hard time getting him out…try a bathroom). Leave a little litter box
and some food and water right next to the opening so he doesn’t have
to go far. Let him stay in the room by himself for a while to get used to
it and feel safe in the box, then go visit. Don’t pull him out of the
box, just try to coax him out or pet him inside the box. This is his safe
place, so let him stay in there as long as he needs to. When he is ready,
he will come out. Once he is comfortable in that room, you can leave the door
open or move the box to another room.
2. Behavior: All cats have a need
to sharpen their claws. Keep your kitten’s claws well trimmed and make
sure he has a scratching post. If he scratches the furniture, pinch his paws
and show him where the scratching post is. A water bottle is useful to curb
scratching as well. Kittens are small and not used to large open spaces. Make
sure that the food and litter box are easily accessible from the kitten’s
living space. Do not require the use of stairs or a “doggy door”
right away. You will know if the placement of the litter box is confusing
for your kitten, he will leave you little surprises behind the television.
J Make sure his food is not right next to the litter box, he may avoid the
food. A few feet are adequate.
3. Safety: Remember, your new kitten is a baby.
Like all babies, he wants to put everything in his mouth. There are things
that he may eat that can cause internal blockages or serious illness. Make
sure that when he is alone or unsupervised that he cannot get to things like
rubber bands, aluminum foil, and electrical cords. During the holidays, it
is very important that you do not use tinsel or hang small glass ornaments
near the bottom of your Christmas tree. Your kitten will get into these things;
they are very attractive play toys.
STAYING HEALTHY
4. Dehydration: This is the most dangerous
enemy to your new Oriental kitten. Check for dehydration by pulling up the
skin on the back of the kitten’s neck. If the skin falls down and goes
smooth the kitten is well hydrated. If it stays in a “tent,” you
need to get the kitten some fluids right away. A good way to treat a slightly
dehydrated kitten is with Pedialyte. You can either mix this with a little
of his wet food or into his water bowl. A sure bet is to mix it with some
veal or turkey baby food. Watch him to make sure he takes it, you want him
to drink 1/8 – 1/4 cup. If your kitten keeps showing signs of minor
dehydration, make sure that he has easy access to a water source, that his
food is not near his litter box, and that older household cats are not keeping
him from the food area. It’s not a bad idea to just mix Pedialyte in
the water bowl from the start for a few weeks and right before and after medical
procedures (altering, worming, blood draws). IF YOUR NEW KITTEN IS SEVERLY
DEHYDRATED, REFUSES TO TAKE WATER OR WILL NOT EAT, CALL YOUR VET. IF YOU CANNOT
REACH YOUR VET IMMEDIATELY, CALL THE BREEDER. WE CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO FORCE
FLUIDS IF NECESSARY AND ADVISE YOU ON YOUR KITTEN’S HEALTH.
5. First Vet Visit: When you take
your new kitten to the vet, remember that this is a stressful event. The vet
may not be familiar with the breed or how normal kitten procedures can sometimes
harm a young Oriental. It is not recommended to worm your new Oriental kitten
right after you get him or her, even if a vet tells you to. Worming can make
them feel sick for a day or two, causing vomiting and diarrhea and putting
them off their food. Wait until your new kitten is adjusted to you and your
home. Do not have blood drawn from your new kitten until he is at least 2
½ - 3 pounds, if it is necessary at all. This can also make them weak;
they have very small bodies and not a lot of blood to spare. Wait until your
kitten is at least five pounds before having him or her altered. Most vets
will have this requirement anyway, it just takes Orientals a little longer
to get there than most breeds. You have plenty of time before they become
sexually mature. Remember, vets are essential and valuable partners, but you
are the owner and always know your pet best. Educate yourself on your breed
and make sure your vet knows the breed’s peculiarities. If you do not
already have a trusted family vet, you may want to call around and ask a few
questions.
Please feel free to call with questions at any time. We have
raised lots of Oriental babies and will gladly give any advice that we may
have on behavioral or health issues. We also have a few tricks up our sleeves
for things like stubborn claw-clippers!
