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Basic Care
 A quick guide to the basic care and needs of kittens
Kittens should be handled with care and avoid squeezing them too hard.
You must also never pick them up by the neck, support the rear end as well.
Weaning can take a little time and is a gradual process and by twelve weeks of age, most kittens are weaned or nearly fully weaned. The kittens mother will eventually stop allowing kittens to nurse at around this age.
If your kitten appears listless, loses appetite or he develops a tickly cough or a runny nose also any vomiting or diarrhea, ask a vet to have a look at him.
Leave food to warm to room temperature before feeding and discard left over food to protect from bugs. Wash your kittens bowl after each meal.
When your cat has been neutered or spayed, they are more at risk of becoming overweight
so don't over feed and make sure they get enough exercise.
For cats the risk of becoming overweight increases after three, but decreases after the age of six.
If your kitten seems to be scratching excessively, check his coat for any sign of flea dirt, (dark specks against his skin). Fleas are very fast and may not always be on the cat, and both fleas and eggs can survive away from your cat for some time, so his bedding and possibly the carpet, will have to be treated.
Worms are very common, and roundworms can be caught from other cats, and even be ingested through mothers milk. Symptoms in kittens include a poor coat, diarrhea and a swollen stomach.
Tapeworms can be begin life in cat fleas which your kitten could eat.
If you notice your continually shaking his head and scratching his ears, he could have ear mites. Kittens ears are very delicate so it is best to take him to see a vet for a closer examination.
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