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.