I see may stories on the Internet of kitten buyers unhappy after purchasing a kitten who race to social media for love and support from people they have never meet looking for advice to fix a problem after the point of purchase. But ask yourself this question, what research have I done or need to do before purchasing my Kitten. You need to research what you are about to buy and know the basic facts before buying. So here are some questions that may help in your search for a breeder thats right for you.
Q: At what age should kittens go to the forever family. A: Usually anywhere from 11-13 weeks onwards depending on the kittens sex. Males can leave a little sooner then Females due to the Desexing recovery rate. Q: Can I buy a Kitten at 6-8 weeks of age. A: No good breeder will sell a kitten that young, 6-8 weeks is far to young to leave the mother, the kitten needs to be eating and litter trained before going to its new home. Q: Does my kitten come with a real Certified Registered Pedigree. A: Yes kittens from Wyninebah Russians come with a Cats NSW Registered Pedigree. Q: Is my Kitten Vaccinated. A: It should be & a Vaccination Certificate should be supplied at point of sale. Q: Is my Kitten Microchipped. A: It should be & change of ownership Microchip Paperwork should be supplied at point of sale Q: Is my Kitten Desexed. A: Yes it should be & a Desexing Certificate should be supplied at point of sale. Q: Has my Kitten been Wormed. A: Yes it should be and a record of worming should be supplied at point of sale. Q: Has my Kitten been Vet checked. A: Yes they should be before point of sale & a copy of the vets report should be supplied to you. Q: Do you have any sort of health guarantee that comes with the Kitten. A: Yes we do. Q: What should I feed my Kitten. A: A diet/care sheet should be supplied at point of sale. Q: Why should I buy from a Registered breeder & not buy from Back Yard Breeders ?. A: Because buying from a BYB keeps Cats and Kitten being reared in less then satisfactory conditions & usually none of the above Q&A will apply to what you are purchasing. Q; Are the parents blood group tested. A: Yes they should be to avoid Feline Neonatal Isoerythrolysis & other issues that can come from mixed blood groups. Q: Are you available for any questions I may have when I take my Kitten home. A: Yes we are 24/7. Q: The kitten I went to visit had runny nose/runny pussy eyes/sticky fur and looked sick. A: Find another breeder, a good breeder would not sell sick Kittens. Remember if you buy a sick Kitten you will have vet bills to fix it. Q: I really want a Kitten now, why don't you have any ?, why do I have to wait for one?. A: Because Russian Blue breeders are not Kmart we do not have Kittens sitting on shelves just waiting for someone to ring up. Cats are members of our family not kitten factories. If you want a Russian Blue be prepared to be patience. It will be worth the wait. Q: Can house plants make my Kitten sick if they eat them ? A: Yes they can so put the plants outside and get fake ones. Q: Where can I find a list of Russian Breeders. A: Go to the Russian Cat Council Of Australia Web Site for a current list of breeders, and be prepared you may have to wait. https://www.russiancatcouncilofaustralia.com/ Q: Are there kitten adds placed by scammers?. A: Yes there are people in the world who sadly place false advertisements. Thats why I suggest you do your research before rushing into buying from the 1st advertisement you see. Ring the breeders, request a visit to meet the Kittys before handing over any money. And ask for the breeders club affiliation details. Q: Im not happy with my kitten because of this issue or that problem. A: If you are having an issue/problem with your kitten the 1st person you should call is the breeder of the kitten and ask for help or advice, calling another breeder you didn't buy the kitten from is pointless as they didn't sell you the kitten so there is little they can do for you. Always contact the breeder 1st to sort out a issue you may have. Q: My kitten is sick what do I do. A: Take it to a vet, the Internet / Facebook is not a place to seek medical advice from, you will get a variety of answers from people and most answers will probably be incorrect because you can not health check an animal via the Internet. So sick cat = SEE VET.
ON ARRIVAL HOME When your kitten arrives home: Its a big day for them they have traveled to a new home leaving their brother & sisters behind for the 1st time. Don't give your kitten free range of the whole house at once, close all bedroom doors and keep the kitten in the laundry or bathroom to start with, let them use the travel box as a kennel, cover it with a towel to make a cave for them so they feel secure, then allow them in the main living area. Play with them groom them make them feel welcome and safe. Cat trees are excellent accessories to encourage this activity and support your cat's health and wellbeing. Where should my kitten sleep ? A secure room like the laundry or bathroom is ideal, or you may want to consider a pen or large crate so you can control your kitten’s movements at night. Kittens love to be nice and cozy so make sure there is soft bedding. Make sure your kitten has access to water & food & litter box near their sleeping area. This room is your kitten’s space and they need to feel comfortable in order to adapt to your home. What should I do when my kitten starts crying at night ? Kittens will cry for at least the first couple of nights when you bring them home. The best thing you can do is keep your kitten feeling as safe and warm as possible. A great tip is to put a warm water bottle in their bed, as the warmth will help your kitten to settle. Lights on or Off ? Cats can see in the dark a lot better than you or I can, so your kitten will have no problem finding what they need. However, you can leave the light on or provide a night light on the first night while they adjust to their surroundings. Cats are most active at both dusk and dawn. Turning out the light when you go to bed can help to establish the sleep patterns with your home. How long does it take for a new kitten to adjust ? Every kitten is different, this settling in period might be over within hours, while for others it could take days or even weeks. For very timid cats, the process could even take 4 to 6 weeks. Just rest assured that this is normal be patient. Why you should brush your kitten: It will help you bond with your kitten it also reduces the problem with furballs as cats groom to keep themselves clean & it will reduce fur on the lounge. Kittens will often lick their owners to return grooming favours. What do kittens drink: Kittens need access to cool clean drinking water at all times. Please do not give your kitten dairy milk, as this can cause stomach problems. Prepping for kitten’s arrival: You must poison-proof your house Lillies are one of the most toxic plants: can be fatal, with the potential to cause imminent kidney failure. Make sure all Lillies are removed from any floral arrangements, pot plants or flower beds before kitten’s arrival so there’s no temptation for them to eat the flower. In addition please steer clear of the following foods and drinks, which are poisonous to cats: Chocolate - Nuts - Onions - Garlic - Grapes - Raisins - Avocado - Citrus - Coffee - Alcohol Other poisonous items are: Batteries - Vaseline - All your medications - Detergents and fabric softeners - Bleach and other household cleaners. Tea tree oil (yes, this includes oil diffusing): If you’re big on burning essential oils, stick to pure, diluted oils and steer clear of tea tree oil at all costs .
LITTER BOX MAINTENANCE TIPS
*Clean your cat’s litter box every day: The simplest and most effective way to manage the odor from your cat’s litter box is to clean the box at least once a day. Regular scooping and cleaning will drastically reduce the odor. *Wash the litter box every week: In addition to regularly cleaning your cat’s litter box, you should wash the entire box thoroughly with soap and water every week. (I DO MINE DAILY BUT THE CHOICE IS YOURS) *Be sure to protect yourself from any bacteria by wearing gloves and avoid cleaning the litter box in the sink with your kitchenware. After you wash the litter box, replace with fresh litter. *Keep your cat’s litter box in an area with ventilation: A great way to manage the smell of the litter box is to place the box near a window or exhaust fan. Avoid placing the litter box in a confined area or the odor can linger. *Add baking soda to the litter: Surprisingly, baking soda is a great all-natural deodorizer that is both safe for cats and can help manage the litter box smell. By mixing a little bit of baking soda with the litter, you can help absorb any urine odors also.