Kitten Care
Information about how to properly care for your new Mystic Melody Siberian Kitten
Welcome to our page about kitten care, be prepared to read things that you never knew or even may have a hard time believing but the information below is carefully put together after years of experience working with animals, placing animals in new homes, and years of experience from fellow breeders and veterinary doctors.
Preparing for Kitty Invasion!:
Picture this: Your kitten is coming home and your whole family is understandably very excited. Your children are jumping up and down and they can't wait to squeeze the little fur ball and drop the kitty under an avalanche of affection. When your kitty arrives, she is not nearly as affectionate as we told you, and she hides in a corner under the couch. She is not eating nor playing, and when you stick your head under the couch to get her, she cowers even further away. This is not the affectionate fur ball Mystic Melody promised us!
Let's do a quick kitten 101
You are being a 12 week old kitten. You have been with your mommy and your siblings all of your life. You eat together, you sleep together and mommy helped you getting used to weird noises like the doorbell and vacuum cleaners. When you hear those noises you still shoot into your favorite cat tree with your siblings so you feel safe. Oh wait, there is that human again that lives in your house. I think I like her though, she puts food on the floor that I like. But I wait with eating until she is gone, because her big feet scare me. You are so little and the world is so big! All of a sudden other humans come in that you have never seen before. They smell different, they sound different, and before you can make it to your safe place in the cat tree you are being picked up and put in a cage. You are put in this big noisy thing with wheels and all kinds of strange faces appear in front of your cage. When the cage door finally opens, you are too scared to come out. A strange pair of hands grab you out of the cage and starts talking to you and hugging you. This is not my human! Where is my mommy? Where are my brothers and sisters?? Where is my safe cat tree???
Maybe this story will give you the idea of the immense change kittens and cats can go through when they go to their new homes. Some handle change better then others, but all cats need time to adjust to their new environment. Some will start exploring your new house right away, some will cower in a corner and need time to get used to their new surroundings. Cats bond to places. Take them out of their environment and put them in a new one, takes time to adjust. To cats, humans are secondary to environment. Your new kitten will not be focused on you when they arrive in your home, but rather on exploring the new environment. This is a completely natural thing in cats, and they should be given ample time to do so. Some kittens take a few hours to adjust and are very curious by nature, others can take up to weeks before completely adjusted. The rule of thumb is, give the kitten as much time as they need to get comfortable.
*** Kittens need time to recover from travel such as time in the car, or even an airplane. It can be quite an experience for them so try to give them the time to deal with all the changes they are going through. They are all of a sudden in a strange place with people they don't know with mommy and siblings nowhere to be found.
*** Use the same cat litter and food we use for a little while. Your kitty will be helped by the scent of familiar things.
*** When your kitty arrives at your home, have a separate room prepared for your kitten with food, water and a litter box. Put the carrier on the ground, open the door, sit down, and do nothing. Wait for the kitten to come out and to start exploring. It's a good thing to talk to the kitten while exploring so they get used to your voice. Once the kitten is used to their surroundings (this may take a few hours or a couple of days), open the door and let them explore the rest of the house.
*** If you have children, talk to them about being quiet and calm around the kitten the first few days. screaming scares a kitten, roughly waving toys close to them does too. Explain that the kitten is just a baby, and that they need to be calm around them.
*** If your kitten is scared and sits in a corner, leave the room. Sometimes they will explore when they are alone, but not when unknown humans are there. Just leave them alone for a few hours and your kitty is guaranteed to start exploring by itself.
*** Don't force affection on your kitten or try to catch them when they are scared. If kittens want affection, they will come and get it. An outgoing kitten is most likely to just walk up to you and say hello. When they do, you have gotten the green light from them to hug and cuddle and play.
*** Don't be alarmed if your kitten doesn't eat or drink right away. Have food and water available for them at all times, and eventually they will start eating and drinking. Sometimes it takes a kitten days to start eating. Don't worry about that, it's very likely caused by stress and nothing abnormal.
*** Relax! We did not send you the wrong kitten or a kitten with a bad character:) Your kitty is going through the normal motions of adjusting to a new environment and just needs time. Your kitty probably will be in your lap purring and playing soon!
Did I get the wrong kitten?!
This is a question I have received a few times now. Reason enough to post an explanation about it...
Whenever people come to my house to either pick up a kitten or for an allergy test, I usually introduce them to my cats and kittens. The most common remark I get is "wow, they look very different on your pictures". I have had it happen that I shipped a kitten to someone and I received a phone call of the very upset kitten buyer telling me this was not their kitten.
There are several factors contributing to these situations:
Pictures are nothing but the capture of just one moment. You don't see the kitten move or play or run. It doesn't always give an accurate sense of what the kitten looks like.
Lighting plays a big role in taking pictures. I have had people telling me they reserved a golden kitten while the kitten in fact was brown. The sun shines and the colors become inaccurate, you have lighting on the take pictures, and the color becomes inaccurate. I am not a professional photographer, I just snap shots here and there which all can be different in color depending on the lighting.
Kittens change ALL THE TIME! I can have a kitten born with a very clear mackerel (striped) pattern, and a few weeks later the pattern is gone and the kitten turns out shaded without any pattern. Coats can get darker or lighter in a matter of days, the shape of the kitten changes all the time. As where they can be an adorable fur ball one week, they look like a lean and awkward lanky teenager the next week.Siberians are a very slowly maturing breed and they go through tons of stages which changes their appearance all the time.
No, you did not get the wrong kitten. Your baby is just going through the normal stages of growing up. In the first 16-20 weeks of the kitten's life they change so much that sometimes I don't even recognize my own kittens 4 weeks after they went to their new homes. This is completely normal, be assured you have the baby you fell in love with!
FOOD:
The most common question we get from people is “what do you feed your cats?”. In the United States, the pet food industry is, just like the human food industry, corrupted in a big way. The majority of foods in pet stores is nothing but junk, even though commercials may lead you to believe it is wonderful. How many times did you see that commercial on tv with that happy healthy cat that eats cat food full of vegetables and grains that is supposedly so good for them? In our human mind we think that cats will do well on greens and extra vitamins and grains, because they are healthy for us as well, so why not for a cat? Well here’s a revelation:
*** Cats are carnivores by nature! ***
You never see a wild cat eating plants, nor do they go into a cornfield to take a bite. Cats are carnivores, they are meat eaters and vegetables and grains are NOT good for them because their digestive system is not built to handle that. Any food that contains soy, grains, wheat or some sort of vegetable is NOT good for them. Unfortunately, in the commercial pet stores, they don’t sell food that is actually good for your cat. Every commercial you see about “premium pet food” is nothing but junk. It can say “natural” or “holistic” on there all it wants to, but it still contains all kinds of things that are bad for your cat. Sure there might be all natural grains in there, or holistic vegetables, the fact remains, neither is good for cats.
We hear all the time about cat or dog food recalls. Why? Because it’s junk! Because they put all kinds of stuff in pet food that is not good for them and is not supposed to be there. However, you never hear about the real good cat food being recalled, simply because it’s natural and doesn’t contain all the junk that regular pet store food does.
So what is it that I should feed my cat?
Canned Food vs Dry Food
Because we understand not everyone has the ability to feed raw food, we also feed our kittens both canned and dry food so they get used to it before they go to their new homes. Dry food is also not preferable for your cat as the sole diet, but they do need dry food to help keep their teeth clean. Cats don’t drink a whole lot, because in nature, they get their fluids out of raw meat. Dry food, and then especially dry food that contains grains, soy, wheat and vegetables, is often the cause of kidney or urinary tract infections in your cat. Dry food should be fed as an addition to a diet, not as the main food. If you feed dry food only, we highly recommend getting a water fountain for your cat which encourages them to drink more water.
When you buy dry food, make sure it is grain free! Don’t go to your regular pet store, but go to your local little pet boutique, who are usually the ones that carry the grain free foods that really don’t endanger your cat’s health. The little pet boutiques don’t buy in bulk, it’s always fresh and that’s where you should buy your food. Yes, this kind of food will costs you more then what you are used to, but trust us when we tell you that you are preventing your cat from having a whole lot of health problems and it will save you in vet bills later on.
At Mystic Melody we feed our cats and kittens only 1 brand of dry food: Blue Buffalo Wilderness. This is completely grain free food and our cats do well on it. However, for our pet kittens, we also mix in Royal Canin Babycat. This contains some grain and the reason we do that is because many of our kitten buyers do not follow our food recommendations. If we were to give you a kitten that is not used to any sort of grains at all, it may result in serious digestive problems if all of a sudden their system has to process grains.
NOTE: Since recently, this food is available at Petsmart and Petco. Always beware of the expiration date on the food that you buy. Small pet stores usually order smaller amounts, which means it is usually fresher. Sometimes when food go commercial in the bigger petstore, it can also mean the quality of the food is declining, which is why we always recommend feeding raw food as your kitten's main menu, and it explains why we sometimes switch brands in dry food. Other great dry food options are: Sold Gold Indigo Moon, Orijen and Evo.
If you buy dry food, make sure it is grain free! Don’t go to your regular pet store, but go to your local little pet boutique, who are the only ones that carry the foods that really don’t endanger your cat’s health. The little pet boutiques don’t buy in bulk, it’s always fresh and that’s where you should buy your food. Yes, this kind of food will costs you more then what you are used to, but trust us when we tell you that you are preventing your cat from having a whole lot of health problems and it will save you in vet bills later on.
Canned food is a much better option then dry, for the simple reason it is wet. That way cats get their fluids in on a daily
basis, and they tend to eat more because they like it better.
At Mystic Melody we only feed Weruva canned food. The Polynesian bbq and Grammie's Pot Pie are favorites!
Is my cat going to have health problems if I don’t feed raw or the brand you recommend?
Our view on this question is this: would you eat junk if you knew there was better and healthier food out there that could prevent health issues and save you on doctor's bills? You’re investing a lot of money into the cat or kitten you are getting, why not invest in their lifelong health? The pet food industry is dangerous, and there is not enough knowledge about it out there. We can not tell you what to feed your cat, but we sure can make recommendations. This is meant to inform you about the truth about pet food, so you can made a well thought out and balanced decision about what you are going to feed your cat. Please be advised that changes in food might cause temporary stomach upset in kittens.
Helpful Tips:
Siberians love water, all cats love moving water. A water fountain keeps the water fresh and circulating, which encourages your cat to drink more water.
*** Never place food or water bowls close to the litter box ***
Do you want to eat and drink right next to where you go to the bathroom? Neither do cats!
*** Always make sure the litter box is clean ***
Cats are very clean animals. If their box is soiled, they won't use it and go elsewhere in the house.
*** Never use scented litter ***
Cats HATE scented litter! It was invented for humans, not for cats.
What kind of toys should I get?
The answer to this is simple: nothing that can hurt them! Pet stores sell many toys that present a serious danger to cats. Anything with sharp points, metal, dyed feathers or things that can rip apart easily are a danger to cats. I highly recommend the following toys: lids of milk jugs, balls of aluminum foil, mylar balls, ping pong balls, handmade crocheted toys and catnip body pillows (eBay!), laser toy, turbo scratcher and a cat tree with solid sisal rope and strong carpet.
Vaccinations and Vet Care:
The AAFP is an organization that, like all organizations, is corrupted by politicians and lobbyists. Their recommendations are not necessarily based on what is best for the animals, but rather on what makes the veterinary industry thrive. Also their recommendations are based on the epidemic problem of cat overpopulation in the USA. By recommending vaccines against all possible diseases, they try to minimize the diseases in stray cats. many cats that ones were a much loved pet, end up on the street as stray cats and this is how they try to prevent the illnesses that run amongst stray cats. However, that has nothing to do with your or your cat! Many vets are money makers and will recommend many vaccines and procedures and protocols that are completely unnecessary for your cat. Let's start with the vaccines:
The Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calicivirus vaccine (also know as the "distemper vaccine) is a vaccine that should be given to any cat or kitten. The vaccine should be given at the age of 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and then once every 3 years. These diseases are airborne, which means you can walk it into your house, have it on your hands or shoes, it can be in your air conditioning system or your cat can catch it during a simple vet visit. It spreads through air. Because of this, every cat should be vaccinated against it. However there is still a big controversy going on about whether it should be an annual vaccination or a 3 yearly vaccination.
Mystic Melody Recommendation for the Distemper Vaccine: 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and after that 3 yearly.
The rabies vaccine is another controversial one. It is recommended and in many states mandatory by law. Rabies only spreads through the saliva of infection animals (this can be a bite from ANY animal). This means that if your cat does not go outside, and you do not have any infected animals in your house, your cat can not get rabies. However, if you have dogs, they can bring the virus in, or, if your cat accidentally escapes, there is a possibility of rabies infection. Therefore it is not a bad idea to give your cat an immunization against rabies. This vaccine can be very hard on cats, so we definitely do not agree with the AAFP recommendation for this vaccine.
Mystic Melody Recommendation for the Rabies Vaccine: 20 weeks, after that once every 3 years.
*** We do NOT recommend ANY of the vaccines below!!! ***
Vaccines that many vets recommend for your cat and that are recommended by the AAFP are:
- feline leukemia vaccine
- feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine (FIV vaccine)
- feline infectious peritonitis vaccine (FIP vaccine)
- Chlamydophila vaccine (formerly known as Chlamydia vaccine)
- Bordetella bronchiseptica vaccine (feline kennel cough vaccine)
- feline Giardia vaccine
Feline Leukemia, Chlamydophila, Giardia, Bordetella and FIV (Feline Aids) is spread through a cats saliva and can only be spread by infected cats. Even if your cat escapes, the odds that is will bump into a cat that carries any of these diseases is very small, and the risk that they share saliva in some way is even smaller. These vaccines are really harsh on a cat's body, and there are many cases known of cats having a severe allergic reaction or even dying of these vaccines. The risk of giving these vaccines to your cat and it causing serious health problems or even death, far outweighs the risk of an indoor cat ever being exposed to any of them. We do NOT recommend these vaccines for any cat or kitten at any age!
The FIP vaccine requires some further explanation. FIP is a lethal disease to cats, and the cause is still unknown. There are many theories and speculations, but the truth of the matter is, we simply do not know. FIP is an illness caused by a virus called the Corona virus. It is still unknown whether this is an airborne virus and where it comes from. The Corona virus in itself is not a big deal. 95% from all cats on this planet have at some point been exposed to the Corona virus. You can compare it to a simple cold in humans. Most cats fight it off and build resistance against the virus, without us ever knowing they had it.However there is a mutation of this Corona virus that causes lethal FIP. It is unknown whether this is a gene that causes this or not. It is unknown if it's a genetic thing that can be passed on for generations or not, It is unknown what exactly causes this mutation but it is believed that kittens and cats with a low resistance or immunity system are more susceptible to this mutation of the Corona virus. Lower immunity can be caused by over vaccinating, by giving cats immunizations they don't need even the very immunization that tries to prevent this disease. There are many known cases of cats dying of FIP that received the FIP vaccine. Especially kittens with a lower resistance are very susceptible to this. Vaccinating cats reduces their resistance temporarily which is why we only recommend the absolutely necessary vaccinations for cats. There are still too many questions about FIP and until they know what causes the mutation and until they know all there is to know about this disease we most definitely do NOT recommend this vaccine for any cat or kitten at any age.
Let's talk about another subject called heart worm preventative. Heart worm disease is spread by female mosquitoes and is a disease that is most common in dogs. cats are much less susceptible to it then dogs. The odds that an outdoor cat gets heart worm disease is already very small, the odds that you have a female mosquito fly into your house that happens to carry the disease and will find your cat to infect it, are close to zero. The simple truth is, cats don't really need heart worm preventative or heart worm tests, even though your vet might tell you otherwise.
We do recommend annual blood work and a fecal test on your cat. The fecal will show if your cat has any intestinal parasites and an annual blood panel is just a yearly wellness check to make sure your cat is healthy.
Let's summarize it all to what Mystic Melody recommends for your cat:
8 weeks: Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus (Distemper) vaccine
12 weeks: Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus (Distemper) vaccine
16 weeks: Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus (Distemper) vaccine
20 weeks: Rabies vaccine
Annual: Fecal test and Blood Panel
3 yearly: Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus (Distemper) vaccine
5 yearly: Rabies vaccine
Declawing
Another very controversial subject and a question that many people ask me, can I declaw my cat? The answer is NO, NO, NO and NO again! Declawing is cruel, inhumane, and extremely painful for a cat or kitten. It is amputation for your convenience, which is not acceptable to us. In most countries in Europe, declawing is illegal, and for very good reason. If you want to declaw, don't get a cat, period. If you want to read up on why we do not condone declawing, please go HERE. There are many great alternatives for declawing, please ask us to inform you about it.
Indoor vs. outdoor
In order to let your cat enjoy the outdoor life, make sure it is confined in a cat run or secured on a screened in porch (use cat proof screens!). I do not recommend a leash, simply because if a cat gets spooked it doesn't react like a dog, it will try to work its way out of the leash or hurt you. They have claws, and they will use them if they get startled by something as that in their instinct to do. Do not think that your cat is "missing out" on something if it can't go outdoors. We have outdoor runs and the cats can go in and out as they please, yet, I usually find them all in front of the window sill, sleeping in the sun, looking at the birds and butterflies outside. What they don't know, they don't miss, your cat is perfectly content living indoors only.
Bathing - Siberian have a naturally somewhat oily skin/coat. These cats originally had to survive in very harsh weather circumstances and the oily coat protected them from the extreme cold. Not only does this coat protect them from the cold, but it also insulates them and keeps the hot temperatures out. Every time you bathe your cat, you are taking this protective layer off of your cat's skin and it may result in a dry and flaky coat. It is natural in a siberian cat to sometimes look a little greasy and of course you sometimes want to give them a bath. That in itself is fine, but bathing every week is unnecessary and will damage the coat and skin. If you have to bathe your cat, then do it at the most once a month so your cat has time to rebuild their protective layer on their coat.
If you have a hard time trimming your cat's nails, then go to your vet and ask if they will demonstrate to you how to do it. We clips our kitten's nails on a regular basis and they are all used it. Practice makes perfect!
Brushing: Because of their oily coat, siberians do not require a whole lot of grooming. Truth of the matter is that I only brush my cats once a week and I rarely ever find any mats on any of them. If you give your siberian a good brushing once a week, then you should have no problems with matting at all. However, brushing can be soothing for a cat and a bonding experience between a cats and their humans. I recommend a slicker brush, a greyhound comb and a soft brush for grooming a siberian cat.
Soft bristle brush, cats love to be brushed with these, and love gentle strokes from head to back.
Slicker brush, good to brush through the coat and get rid of little mats. Don't push too hard using this brush, short somewhat firm strokes are best.
A greyhound comb is a metal comb that has two kinds of teeth, wider spaced and closer spaced ones. This is our main grooming tool. This is especially helpful when you have to groom on the belly, under "armpits" and if they have something stuck under their tail.
Litter:
*** Place the litter box in a quiet, low traffic area on the ground
*** Make sure your kitty knows where the litter box is
*** Litter box has to be accessible at all time
*** Clean your litter box at least once a day, and replace all litter at
least once every 2 weeks
*** Use a covered litter box with open front
*** Place food and drinking water away from the litter box
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If after reading all the information about kitten care you still have questions, please feel free to contact us and ask!
Disclaimer: Everything written on this page is our own personal opinion and in no way the opinion of the food companies, stores, services or products we are talking about.
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