Kittens for adoption

You will be supplied with the food that they are used to.  Don’t feel worried if it takes a day or two for your kitten to start eating properly.  Just monitor hydration and ensure everything is fresh and accessible.

Your kitten has been eating:

• Raw beef (equivalent to Jimbos at supermarket)
• Royal Canin Mother & Baby Cat biscuits (pet.co.nz or pet stores)

You don’t have to continue this, but if you find your kitten is off their food, try and go back to what they are used to and phase out slowly.

If you make changes to his diet please do it GRADUALLY to prevent an upset tummy.

Your kitten has had access to a fresh water bowl.

Rexes tend to drink quite a bit of water, more than you’d think.

Placement of water should be separate to food, as instinctually cats do not drink from water where their prey is located.

Keep in mind that water fountains need regular cleaning and filters changed.

Your kitten has been using two type of litter:

Nature’s Flame Wood Fire Pellets

Found at Mitre10, Bunnings, and The Warehouse, this crumbles when wet, is very odour friendly and the most economical litter.

Used with the Cat Litter Tray High Sides from Kmart, you can simply shake the pan to remove the spent litter, and then scoop the poop, works very well.

Can be found here.

Trouble & Trix Natural Pellet Cat Litter

Some kittens don’t like the wood pellets.  If you find your kitten is going to the toilet outside of the litter box, I would recommend switching to the tofu litter type pellets and/or improving litter box hygiene (clean twice a day).

Your kitten uses his/her litter tray enthusiastically!

Keep it in the same place and change the litter REGULARLY.

It is preferable to have two litter trays to make sure there is always a clean one to use.

Our cats are easy sleepers, preferring the bed and/or any other soft fluffy enticing nooks.  They will often find the only sun spot in the house and sleep there.  If your kitten is light coloured or white especially on the ears and nose, you will need to monitor their sun time as they can get sunburnt.  Use pet sunscreen (horse powder is the best) if they will tolerate it.

Some houseplants are poisonous to cats.  If you have a houseplant which is accessible to your new kitten, google whether it is cat safe.  Flowers like Christmas lilies are deadly if ingested by cats. My cats love cat grass, which is essentially any wheat/oat/grain grass grown especially so they can chew on it, lay on it and puke it up on occasion!  Enjoy the fun.

Take your time introducing other pets.  It is always good practice to quarantine your new animal for at least 72 hours.  This will help in many ways, but even so the new smells are absorbed by each pet and they can prepare themselves for newness!

Most importantly, disease is spread when animals are stressed.  It is common for cats to be carriers of previous respiratory viruses, regardless if pedigree or rescue.  These ‘outbreaks’ can arise following a stressful event, like a new pet introduced to the home.

Go slowly and keep everyone happy to reduce the likelihood of a downturn.

If you have small children please ask them to stroke the kitten gently along his back NOT directly on his face until they know them.

Vaccinations: Your kitten has been vaccinated twice with Felocell 4.

Worming: Your kitten has been wormed regularly. I use Wormaway then Drontal or Milbemax when older. The dates are at the back of his vaccination card.

Claws: I have also clipped his nails and can show you how to do this
I suggest you have a scratching post to protect your furniture.

Flea Treatment: Your kitten is flea free when he leaves here however in the warmer parts of NZ if you have a problem with fleas use a recommended flea treatment like small cat Advantage.

Grooming: The fine short coat of the Cornish Rex will stay neat and wavy. Hand grooming is all that is required.

The most important thing is consistency. A young Cornish Rex is very active and very intelligent. They learn to walk on a harness, travel with you retrieve a ball or other games very quickly.

They can also be naughty and I have found that a quick squirt with a water pistol or clap of your hands is a good remedy if they zoom up the curtains or go where they are not supposed to. If you have a lot of ornaments I recommend using Blu Tack to protect them if your kitten is exploring

Believe it or not, stress can trigger sneezing in cats. This is why your cat/Kitten should have a calm peaceful safe place to live. You can help by reducing sources of tension, which might include loud noises, new place sudden changes in environment. Also you can create routine and give them regular affection and play time so they feel happy and safe.

Cornish Rex do feel the cold so a warm sleeping place is essential. I use electric heat pads or Snugglesafe pads in the colder weather (or your bed – perfect).

Even if it is warm I find that for the first night away from their siblings something warm to cuddle up to helps settle them (e.g. hot water bottle or heat sack).