The Kitten Checklist is a new resource created by twenty
animal and veterinary organisations that we thought would be ideal to share
with you. The checklist is designed to provide professional advice and
information for anyone considering buying or adopting a kitten.
The Kitten Checklist was launched on September 24th
by The Cat Group. The main purpose of the checklist is to help avoid heartbreak
and potential costs that are often endured when bringing a new kitten into the
home. The information provides new kitten owners with the tools needed to recognise
if a kitten is happy and healthy before adopting. Knowing the signs of ill
health and social skills give you and the kitten in question the best start.
Over one third of new kitten owners fail to do research
before bringing a non-pedigree kitten home, according to the PDSA Animal
Wellbeing report, 2018. 15% of pedigree kitten adopters also fail to research
appropriately, with men less likely to read up on kitten care than women. You
can help to reduce this number by sharing the information in the checklist and
starting conversations with friends and family who are discussing adopting or
buying a kitten.
The Kitten Checklist
You can read the entire Kitten Checklist by following
this link. You can read it online or print it out and share it on your
social media accounts. The questions have a blank section that can be completed
to help you through the adoption or buying process to ensure you make an educated
and best possible decision. There are separate sections available for pedigree
and non-pedigree cats.
Here are a few of the points that are covered in the
document:
- The first weeks of life. The points covered in
this section include whether you can see the kitten’s mother, the date of birth
and the life the kitten has had in the first few weeks of life.
- First contact. What to look for when visiting
the buyers or adoption centre for the first time. There is also a helpful checklist
that will help you determine if the kitten is healthy and what treatments they
have had, such as flea and worm prevention and vaccinations.
We hope you find this information to be invaluable when
adopting or buying your next kitten. Please remember to share this excellent
resource with friends and family.
