Sonu's Blog on Cat and Kitten Care

This post is meant for foster parents and rescuers who have kittens that need to be adopted out. I'm outlining the process I and some of my fellow rescuers have been following. Please note that depending on the situation, this process can be modified. A good time to start the process would be when the kitten is about 35 days old, and has started eating independently and uses the litter box consistently - this process takes time and should not be rushed. The actual adoption will take more time, and should be done only after the kitten is more than 45 days of age. Step 1: Pictures Take good quality, clear pictures. Individual pictures of the cat/kitten looking into the camera. Pictures in natural light with a sober, non-cluttered background work best, the focus will stay on the cat. Get close up pictures of the face, and also full profile pictures. Take a video too, if possible - a short one of the kitten playing. I personally prefer to not put bows and "decorating...

Neonatal kittens are those that range from 0-4 weeks in age. Their care differs significantly from independent kittens (those that can eat food and go to the bathroom on their own). The following is a preliminary guide to caring for neonatal kittens. Should you happen to find a kitten/ litter of kittens by themselves, the first thing to do would be to look for signs of a mother. There is no better person to care for the kittens than their mother. Do not dislocate the kittens or change their position unless their current area is obviously unsafe. Leave them where they are and watch for a mother. If you must change their position to make it safer for them, put them in an open, newspaper lined cardboard box with minimal handling, close to the place where you found them. In case the mother fails to turn up, only then must you take them in and begin caring for them. Even then, keep watching for the mother for a couple of days in case she happens to return to the area, so that ...

Cats are quite low maintenance creatures. They keep themselves compulsively clean, which makes their upkeep easier for us. Cats are famed for their cleanliness. They have a coarse tongue, which helps them get rid of loose hair and dead skin cells. Despite this, most cats will benefit from regular brushing. This will help remove loose hair and dead skin cells, and distribute the skin’s natural oils evenly along the coat. My cats also love and enjoy a good brushing session, as they get a free massage! Cats primarily have two layers of coats. The undercoat is the soft fur that keeps the cat warm. The external, outer coat comprises of coarse, long, straight hair. They keep the cat dry.  Cats and Baths Typically, an Indian domestic short hair cat doesn't need a bath. They groom and lick themselves clean every single day. You will rarely find an indoor cat be smelly or dirty. They also hate baths, with a vengeance, so it will be quite the challenge to bathe them  T...

Till about five years back, I used to be someone who thought cats NEED to be outdoors, they're not creatures who can or should be restricted indoors. I stand humbly corrected now, after seeing my flatmate's happy and healthy indoor cat, and then having my own indoor cats for the last five years. Cats can be and are happy enough to be indoors all the time. It's a question of how they are brought up, and how enriching you can make their indoor life. All my rescues now get adopted as indoor cats, and I'm happy to report that they're all thriving. Indoor cats have a much longer life - up to 17 years, as compared to their outdoor counterparts - an average lifespan of 3-6 years! How's that for an endorsement? The arguments for keeping a cat indoors revolve around two important aspects: safety and health. An outdoor cat faces many dangers. Talking specifically about India, the sheer number of street dogs (who I love, for the record) is the biggest danger....

First things first, the best thing would be to try and prevent such a situation by spaying your cat once she is six months old. However, if you have a stray cat trying to nest in your home, or you rescued an already pregnant cat, here is what to expect. A cat's gestation period is around 65-67 days, so she will give birth a little more than two months after she conceives. Try and estimate this date, so you can be prepared for the birth. Interestingly, cats can give birth to a litter which has kittens fathered by different males! Once she is pregnant, you will notice your cat putting on weight, and wanting to eat more and rest more. Her nipples will become more prominent and pink. A few weeks into the pregnancy, your cat may experience nausea and throw up. Unless the vomiting is excessive, it is not to be worried about. It is recommended that you give your cat some kitten food as well during this time, as it has more calories, and she is eating for more than one now...