How to Introducing a New Kitten to Your Cat and Practical Tips For Kitten Care {Guest Post by Amy Davis}

In most households, cats and kittens can become best friends. In order to make sure your new kitten and your established cat will get along you need to properly introduce them to each other.

Most cats are quite territorial by nature. If a cat thinks that a particular part of the room is his or hers, then your cat will quickly show his or her displeasure if your new kitten should dare to walk anywhere near it.  Though sometimes the new kitten might just want to grab the attention of the older cat by walking over the older cat’s presumed territory.

When you do bring your new kitten home, leave it in its carrier for a few minutes and allow your older cat to sniff at the carrier. This will allow your cat to become accustomed to your new kitten’s smell, but be sure to monitor the situation so that your cat does not try to attack your new kitten through the bars of the carrier.

As soon as your cat stops pacing around the carrier, it will be time to let your kitten out.  However, you should keep a firm but gentle hold of your new kitten while overly-praising your cat.

After this first initial introduction, you should not leave your kitten alone with your older cat, at least until your kitten is big enough and strong enough to defend itself if needed.

Do not be discouraged if your kitten and your older cat do not hit it off immediately. 

Have patience and understand that by introducing your new kitten and your older cat to each other slowly and by not forcing them together, you will allow them to observe the other, which is the best way of ensuring that every encounter with each other will be positive!

Grooming Your Kitten

Most cats are clean animals and do not like being dirty, the same is true about kittens.  However, there will be times during your kitten’s life when he or she will be unable to groom itself, or it could be that the kind of cat you choose has high maintenance fur and will then need extra help to keep its fur in good condition. 

There are special tools that you can pick up from your local pet store, like grooming kits or a pet nail grinder that make the job much easier. 

Keep in mind though that some cats do not like being groomed and it’s best to start grooming and bathing your cat when he or she is still a kitten.  

If you and your kitten get into a habit of combing and brushing a few times a week, then if the day comes when he’s just in too much mess, or too sick to manage himself, then he will not mind your intervention to get him clean. 

While your kitten is still quite young, you should try to get him or her used to having a bath. 

First, start by introducing the concept of water and bathing to your kitten by using a damp face cloth and wiping your kitten’ paws and face with it. Eventually, your kitten will become more and more used to the water and may even tell you when they want to have a bath!   

There are some breeds of cats, such as the Turkish Van, that loves the water and will happily jump into the bathtub with you! 

Brushing your kitten should be done on a daily basis if possible.  The perfect time for this is at night when you are watching the TV and your kitten crawls up onto your lap.  

Make sure to have a brush handy and gently brush your kitten in the direction that his or her fur grows.  Your kitten will quickly get used to how this feels and love it.   

If your kitten has long fur then try to set aside half an hour at least twice a week to thoroughly comb through his or her coat, as this helps to ensure that tangles do not build up and that your kittens’ coat remains in a healthy state.  

Remember that the time you invest in grooming your kitten now will pay off once your kitten becomes a cat that needs help with cleaning his or her fur.  A cat that is used to being groomed is far easier to maintain than one who turns every grooming session into a battle of wills!

Hey, I’m Amy and I’m in love with my Pets! I have a diverse variety, including 2 cats, 1 dog, 3 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, a rat, and a beautiful macaw. I love writing about everything pet-related and spend as much time as I can sharing my personal experiences on my blog. UltimatePetHub.com

Thank you for sharing these great tips, Amy!

~Mandy

Do you want a professional capturing your pet(s) and their people?

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!

Tips for Getting Your Dog to Sit & Stay for Photos! {Guest Post by Abi Pennavaria}

Getting Your Dog to Sit & Stay For Photos

There is almost nothing more heartwarming than a dog posing for a picture. Which is why doggie photos are such a viral phenomenon. But when most dog owners look at these pictures the first thing that comes to mind, after the preliminary admiration, is how on earth did they get that dog to sit still long enough to capture this moment? It’s a valid question; and it's the one we are prepared to help answer. You just need a little patience and maybe a hand full of treats. 

Train, Train, Train

The easiest way to fail in a DIY doggie photoshoot is to not prepare. There aren’t enough treats in the world to get your pup to pose perfectly on the first attempt. So if you are planning to photograph your pup plan ahead and start training in the weeks and even months beforehand. 

Training for a photo isn’t exactly training for a photo. You won’t be telling your pet to “smile”, or “go stand in front of that sunset”. You will be training your pup to sit still and be patient. Use treats or other incentives and train your pet to sit and wait. Both are essential commands to know if you want them to be camera ready. 

If you have already done this training with you pup you likely won’t need much time to prepare just perhaps take them outside and try the same patience training to get them used to responding to the commands in different locations. 

Start Small

If you have never done any training with your pet, or if your pet is a puppy, it is good to keep your expectations in check. You won’t likely be able to get them to do advanced poses or cooperate for extended periods of time. Instead start with a simple “sit” command and master that. 

As time goes by and you continue to practice with your dog they will be able to sit longer, focus better and anticipate what you need them to do more. Nobody is perfect at anything when they are just beginning. This is no exception. 

Pick your Backdrop Wisely

When planning to take a photo of your dog consider the location. If you are going to be venturing into new surroundings it is important to think about what it will be like for your pet. Dogs can be easily distracted or frightened by loud noises or other animals. If your dog is new to recall it is not a great idea to try and take a posed photo at a busy park. Start instead in your quiet backyard or an unpopular walking trail. 

Of course, sometimes the perfect photo isn’t planned you just walk into a beautiful opportunity. If this is the case go for it; but don’t set your expectations too high or push it if it isn’t working. 

Helpful noise

What works for babies and kids can sometimes work for pups as well. If your dog is sitting fine but is distracted try calling out, snapping your fingers or jingling your keys to pull their focus. You will want to avoid anything too jarring as to not upset your pet but a little noise may be all the incentive they need to look at the camera. 

Remember to Have Fun

Social media can put a lot of pressure on us to be perfect. You may really want your dog to sit and “smile” in front of a lake at sunset but they may be too tired, too playful or uninterested in humoring you. It’s important to keep perspective. 

It is fine to train and prepare and hope for good shots and many times that is all it takes to make it happen. But other times you will get a silly photo of them turning their head with their mouth wide, tongue out and drool flying. Sometimes those candid, off-script photos end up being your favorite shots. 

Abi Pennavaria is a dog mom, avid vet volunteer, and co-author of Saved By The Bark blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for dog owners of all breeds.

Thanks Abi for all your great tips and insight!

Mandy

Did you just get a new pet? Capture all the puppy cuteness!

Mandy Whitley Photography is Nashville's premiere pet photographer. Mandy Whitley creates fun and playful photographs with pets and their people. She photographs portrait sessions, family sessions, couple portraits, and weddings - as well as just pets! To inquire about booking a photo session, contact Mandy!