How to care for kittens: First of all, find out how old it is. When buying a kitten, make sure it is 12 weeks old and no younger. By 12 weeks a kitten is fully weaned, litte
…r trained and should have learned all vital social skills. If it doesn't have a mother with it and it is not yet 6-8 weeks old, you want to find another mother cat that can take it in for a few weeks. Failing that, have a water bottle that can be heated up or some sort of heating device that will not set fires and is pet safe. With that, you wrap it in a thin towel or blanket and keep it in its cat kennel or bed. Next, you want it to have a litterbox. It could be a regular litter box or a cardboard lid or a plastic (and not for food or serving) tray. Place the litterbox somewhere quiet. Kittens need to feel safe while using the litterbox and too much household traffic will likely make the kitten avoid the area. I would suggest putting newspaper or a mat under or around litter box. You can buy kitty litter at a place such as Wal-Mart, Target, or just about any leading grocery and more store. Clean litter box at a weekly to every other week time period. Scoop out any waste daily. Then, you need to feed it. I would suggest giving it food in the morning, another meal at dinner, and a snack or two in between. Kittens have small stomachs, so feeding small, frequent meals are ideal. I would suggest using a soft, canned cat food before getting into the crunchy kind, although I personally would stick with the soft one. A grain-free canned food is typically the best food you can give. Do NOT feed your kitten milk, that is just a stereotype. Milk will give your kitten diarrhea and stomach aches. If you buy it specialized kitten milk that is safe for kittens, that is fine. Even if so, make sure your kitten always has fresh water in its bowl. As for space, I would suggest a tile or concrete spot of your home. If not any, find an area away from wires, electrical plugs, or curtains. Put down a mat of a sort that is not easily stained, preferably cheap if you don't have one. Put up a tiny gate of some sort if you do not trust your kitten to wander around your house. Be sure to introduce the kitten to the rest of the house gradually. The kitten should always have a "safe area" it can run to if it needs space to itself. Get the kitten a cat tree, cat bed, scratching post, and some toys to keep it from climbing on furniture and curtains. Be sure to play with the kitten as much as possible - kittens LOVE to play and interacting with it will help form a bond with your kitten. Have a place for it to sleep, although most kittens and cats will find their own preferred spot. Cat carriers are ideal for taking the kitten to the vets in. A good way of getting a kitten used to a carrier is to keep the carrier somewhere easily accessible with the door off. Throw treats in there from time to time, play with the kitten in or around the carrier often and place blankets in there to make it as comfortable and safe as possible. Some kitty restrictions: --Do NOT let it near most plants, especially poinsettias and lillies. You may let your cat play with catnip. --If you want to let your kitten have a collar, buy one specially made for cats, do NOT buy a small dog collar. It will irritate your cat's neck and it may irritate it. --Do NOT ever instantly let your kitten become an outdoor cat. It will likely get lost or run away. Introducing the cat to the outside in a cat harness is a good and safe way for the cat to explore. Also, if inserting a kitty door, put it in AFTER it does not have run away issues. (There is an exception to this rule if you have a fenced yard and it is checked for all possible escapes for a cat) --Do all possible in your power to keep your kitten from becoming pregnant. A cat's sexual maturity age is 4-6 months and its adulthood is after 1 year. Neuter or spay as early as you can. It is always best to keep the kitten indoors until after if has been neutered or spayed. (MORE) 
