A few months ago, you brought home your new kitten. Like any of us, you probably find yourself turning to good old Google to learn more about what to expect and how to take care of your new kitten.
Also Read: What To Expect – Your Cat At 5 Months Old
Physical and Mental Expectations
Another fact that might shock you is that cats are able to start reproducing when they’re even 6 months old, so if you’ve been considering getting your cat spayed (or neutered), now is the right time to do that. Timing is really important, since male cats, if not neutered on time might go through a rough phase filled with undesirable behavior.
Regular Playing and Exercising is Crucial
Cat’s senses fully develop pretty fast – by the time they are 5 weeks old, but it takes some time for them to learn how to properly coordinate their paws. This is why regularly playing with your cat is really important – it provides your cat with some nice exercise (which is much needed at this phase) and will also strengthen your relationship.
Also, remember that what looks like a toy to your cat, might not seem like a toy to you (toilet paper rolls, socks…). This is exactly why you should be extra cautious when it comes to choosing toys for your cat in order to avoid any injuries.
Look for toys that don’t come with (sewed on) small parts that your cat might choke on, and always supervise her during playing with string toys. On the other hand, in order to keep your cat interested, make sure you change her toys from time to time for new ones.
As cats get more friendly and in need of relationships with other people and pets, this might be a great time they will start accepting other pets, like dogs.
But make sure you’re cautious and careful, monitor their play and relationships closely.
Staying Healthy and Nutrition
By the time she turns 7 months old, your cat will start slowly transition from kitten food to adult cat food. And although you probably already know, the best cat food is the one made by premium brands that usually has better quality ingredients. Lower quality cat food tends to be less consistent in quality.
There’s no better choice when it comes to dry or wet food, they’re both equally great. They both have their pros and cons – dry food is good for your cat’s teeth (it helps slow down tartar buildup), while wet food has a higher water content. But it basically comes down your cat’s taste and what they really enjoy the most.
One thing worth mentioning is that dry food can be a bit more practical since it can be left around the whole day for your cat to snack on it (which is good if you spend a lot of time out of the house), and it’s less expensive than wet food. So remember, if you decide on wet food, this type can only be left out for no longer than 20 minutes, so make sure you remove it if your cat hasn’t eaten it completely.
If your cat’s appetite changes at this point, when you change her food type, do not panic – it’s completely normal. Sometimes cats just like us, decide to skip on a meal. But if you’ve noticed that your cat has been skipping on too many meals, or hasn’t eaten for the last 24 hours – you better consult a vet as soon as possible. Sometimes this can be a sign of illness and things can get out of hand if you don’t start treating it on time.
All in all, this is an interesting time (much like the teenage years, I guess!) so do enjoy it! Don’t get overly paranoid that you worry yourself sick. Just be sure to pamper your cat with lots of love, meet its basic needs, feed it a healthy diet and you’ll be all good!
