- Feed soaked Iams twice daily, soak in hot water for at least 15 minutes. Feed on a paper plate or a flat ceramic dish. Persians with flat faces can't reach into a deep bowl to eat. Dry kitten Iams or Bil-Jac can be left out during the day for a snack.
- Don't use plastic or metal feeding bowls, some cats are allergic to these materials.
- Use bottled drinking water in a ceramic bowl. Tap water can discolor the hair around the face and neck and also cause a upset stomach. It doesn't need to be distilled or spring, just the plain drinking water.
- No cows milk! This can cause a upset stomach.If you want to give a treat, give strained baby meat. Lamb and veal are the best. But be careful they love it and won't want to eat anything else. Only give a teaspoon once a day.
- To control a mild case of upset stomach, withhold all food and water for at least twelve hours. Then offer 1/2 the normal meal and gradually increase the amount. A kitten can dehydrate very quickly if vomiting is severe, call the vet.
- Comb at least once a week with a wide tooth metal comb, brushing doesn't get all the way down to the skin to remove the dead hair that mats. Wait until the kitten has eaten and is sleepy, a tired baby is less likely to put up a big fuss about being combed.
- Use Tidy Cat MC litter or some other type of clay litter. Don't use scoopable. It clumps in their hair and they can get sick from eating it.
- Try not to use heavily perfumed litter also, kittens noses are very sensitive and if it's to strong they will go somewhere else, usually in your carpet.
- Bathe once a month and blow dry completely to keep them from chilling. Make sure to swab out the ears, water left in the ear canal can cause an infection.
- Persians eyes will tear. If they are playing and eating, they are fine. Don't worry about runny eyes or an occasional sneeze. If the eyes are swollen or have a discharge then see your vet.
- Electric cords can be deadly to kittens, they love to chew on them. Hang the cord as high behind the furniture as you can. If you can't do that then rub a bar of soap on the cord to make it taste bad.
- Be very careful of household cleaning products. Cleaners like Pinesol and Lysol are toxic. And cats will drink Tilex. The safest thing to clean with is diluted bleach. Be sure it dries completely before the kitten walks on it.
- Spay or Neuter at 6 to 8 months. Altered cats make much happier pets. And they shed less too!
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