When your kitten is roughly a year old, you’ll find he’s at a stage that’s somewhat equivalent to that of a human teenager. You might notice some sass and personality as your pet tests the waters of adult cathood. You may also feel like he’s trying to dominate you the way he would another household pet. Be patient and give him space. Just like human teen years, this too shall pass.
Here’s what you should be thinking about with a 7-12-month-old kitten:
┬╗ A Guide to your Kitten’s Senses: Smell
Most people think of dogs as the masters of the scent world, but a cat’s nose knows just as much as a dog’s nose knows! This powerful sense of smell causes “scent memories” to leave a very strong impression on your kitten, for better or for worse. Here are some fast facts about your pet’s nose »
┬╗ Six Subtle Signs of Illness to Look for in Your Kitten
Don’t let it show: That’s the cardinal rule for sick cats. A cat’s instinct drives her to hide any signs of illness and injury until she simply can’t do so any longer. By that point, your cat may be in a life-or-death battle. As an observant cat caretaker, you can detect the signs of sickness. Here’s what to look for »
┬╗ Nutrition 101: Tips for Feeding Your Kitten a Healthy Diet
Feeding a kitten is simple, right? You just open the bag and scoop some kibble into a bowl. Oh, and change out the water once in a while. Well, yes, those are the basics, but in order to really understand how to feed your kitten a healthy diet, you need to look a little bit deeper. Check out our tips on kitten nutrition »
┬╗ Five Great Toys for You and Your Kitten
Your kitten needs to play, and if she’s the only cat in the house, she needs to play with you. As strange as it may sound, play is a crucial part of your kitten’s development. It enhances her coordination, gives her the exercise she needs to stay fit, and strengthens the bond she has with you. Here are five of our favorite interactive toys »
┬╗ Parasites 101: Flea and Tick Control
The best way to control fleas and ticks is to prevent them from infesting your kitten in the first place, and the most effective prevention available today comes in the form of monthly “spot on” treatments. Here is a list of common topically-applied flea and tick treatments »
┬╗ Cat-speak Dictionary: Vocalization and Purring
Cats have an amazing array of sounds they can make in order to communicate their feelings. Some cats are more talkative than others – Oriental breeds such as the Siamese are known to be the bigmouths of the feline world – but even your shelter-rescue moggie could end up being an expert conversationalist. But what is your kitten saying with all those sounds? Here’s a quick checklist »
┬╗ How to Administer Medications to Your Kitten Aside from litter box duties, medicating a cat is probably one of the things high on the list of “Least Favorite Things Cat Owners Must Do.” We get nervous about the idea of giving our cat a pill or other medications because we know just how sharp those teeth and claws can be and we have an idea in our heads that this task is always a struggle. But it doesn’t have to be if you follow these steps »
┬╗ A Guide to Your Kitten’s Senses: Touch
How can your kitten exercise such grace in manipulating her toys and walking through narrow and dark areas, but at the same time sit so close to a heater for so long that her fur starts smoking? It all has to do with your kitten’s sense of touch. Learn more about that here »
┬╗ How to Keep Your Cat Free of Internal Parasites
You’ll never forget the first time you see little wriggling rice grains on your kitten’s behind, probably because you’ll be so grossed out by the sight. It may be the first time, but it probably won’t be the last…unless you take the following tips to heart »
┬╗ How to Change Kitty Litter Brands
There are two reasons why you might want to change the brand or type of litter you’re currently using: because you don’t like it, or because your kitten doesn’t like it. But how do you know if your kitten dislikes her litter? Here are some things to look for »
┬╗ Sharing Space: The Social Lives of Cats
Many people mistakenly believe that cats are loners who don’t need or want any kind of social interaction with other felines. One look at a feral cat colony or a cat room in an animal shelter will reveal the truth, which is that cats can and do band together like tribes. That having been said, though, cats do like to spend time alone as well. Learn more about the social lives of cats »
┬╗ Five Tips for Cleaning up Smelly Stains
No matter how awesome your kitten is, it’s inevitable that at some point in his life you’re going to have to clean up some inappropriately-placed messes. We’ve rounded up some tips to help you do the job effectively and make your home a better place for both you and your kitten. Check them out over here »
┬╗ How to Stop Your Kitten from Begging at the Table
Begging at the table is not a dogs-only habit. Your kitten can be just as big a pest as a puppy as he meows and pulls at your pants leg, rubs you, climbs in your chair or your lap, stalks your food from behind the centerpiece, and jumps on the table. Follow these rules to prevent begging at the table »
┬╗ How to Find the Perfect Cat Tree
Cats love to have vertical space, and your kitten is no exception. Not only do cat trees give your kitten an appropriate place to climb, they also provide her with the exercise she needs and a natural opportunity to groom her own claws. However, in order to make your kitten’s cat tree experience a good one, you need to take a few very important things into account. See our cat tree shortlist »
┬╗ Nine Signs You need to Take Your Kitten to the Vet Immediately
“My cat is having X, Y, and Z symptoms, but I can’t decide if I should take him to the vet.” Most experienced cat caretakers have heard hundreds, if not thousands, of variations on this question. Here are nine indications of a medical emergency »
┬╗ Cat-speak Dictionary: Tail Talk and Body Language
The vast majority of inter-cat communication is done by subtle changes in body language and varying the position of the tail, ears, and whiskers. Most of these gestures are pretty standard, but each cat is an individual and your own kitten may have other specific “tells” for how he’s feeling. Here are basic descriptions of the various attitudes your cat displays with his body language »
┬╗ Tips for Traveling with Your Kitten
You can spare yourself a lot of trauma by getting your kitten comfortable with traveling at a young age. This doesn’t mean she’ll never hide from you when you pull out the carrier, but it does mean you both will be much less stressed and anxious on your way to your next destination. Read our tips for traveling with your kitten »
┬╗ How to Make a ‘Kitty Garden’ for Your Feline Friend
Although cats are obligate carnivores, they do like to munch on plants from time to time. It’s generally believed that eating plants provides cats with the fiber they need to move hairballs through their digestive systems. In their natural diet of small rodents, they get the plant matter they need by eating their prey, but in domesticated life they need your help. If you want to keep your kitten from eating your house plants, here’s how to give her a garden all her own »
┬╗ A Guide to Your Kitten’s Senses: Taste
Does your kitten taste what she smells? Do cats have a sweet tooth? Are cats naturally finicky eaters? And why do their tongues feel like sandpaper? Read on and find out »
┬╗ Three Reference Books Every Cat Owner Should Have
There are hundreds of books on the market about every aspect of cat health, behavior, and training. When you add to that the innumerable novels with feline protagonists, memoirs of feline lives, and other cat-related fiction, a new cat owner would be hard pressed to know where to even begin looking. Here are the three reference books we think every cat owner should have »
┬╗ How to Make an Emergency Evacuation Plan for Your Cat
You may need to evacuate your home quickly for any number of reasons: natural disasters, a house fire, or in a worst case scenario, even terrorist attacks or warfare. Very few cat caretakers think about disaster plans for themselves, let alone for their cats. But you need to make a plan now, because if you ever need evacuate quickly without one, it’ll be too late. Read about the basics »
┬╗ Cat-speak Dictionary: Ears and Eyes
Your kitten communicates volumes with her ears and eyes. A calm and alert cat’s ears face forward and are held high. This is the normal position for a cat’s ears. A cat whose ears are laid back flat against her head is either very scared or very angry. Don’t go near a cat whose ears are in this position. Read this quick guide and learn more »
┬╗ Three Options for Caring for Your Cat While You’re Out Of Town
Cats are pretty self-sufficient creatures, but that doesn’t mean you can leave your kitten alone while you go out of town. Even an overnight trip can be traumatic for a young kitten or a cat that is very closely bonded to you. You wouldn’t leave a five-year-old child alone to fend for herself for days, leaving a couple of boxes of cookies out so she doesn’t go hungry, so why would you leave your cat alone? Here are some suggestions »
┬╗ Cat Sitter Checklist: What to Do Before You Leave Town
Once you’ve chosen a cat sitter, there are a few very important things you should do before you leave. As long as the sitter has all the information he or she needs to take proper care of your cat, you will be able to have a worry-free trip knowing that he’s in good hands. Here are some things to consider before you leave »
┬╗ Four Reasons Why Your Cat Should Have an Annual Checkup
According to recent statistics, there are 81 million cats and 72 million dogs in American households. But the average cat visits the vet less than half as often as the average dog. There’s plenty of speculation on the causes for this disparity, but the truth is that yearly checkups are just as important for cats as they are for dogs. Here’s why »
Featured Image Credit: Joy Baldassarre, Shutterstock                          what to expect in the months 13 through 18 ┬╗
