Care of Himalayan Kittens
Himalayan cats were first bred in 1930 by Dr. Clyde Keller of Harvard Medical School and Virginia Cobb of Newton Cattery. A Himalayan is a crossbreed of Siamese and Persian cats. Early care of Himalayan newborn kittens is best left to the mother, who should be provided with a warm, comfortable, draft-free and secluded spot for birth and aftercare. Human intervention with newborns in the first three or four weeks of life should be kept to a minimum, simply caring for the mother with fresh food, water and litter box access and intervening if a kitten appears undernourished or abused. Kittens can be introduced to wet kitten food at four or five weeks of age, supplemented by mother's milk until weaning at eight to nine weeks of age.
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Things You'll Need
- Bedding
- Litter box and litter
- Kitten food
- Food and water bowls
- Kitten brush
- Kitten toys
Instructions
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Accept the adoption or purchase of a Himalayan kitten at no earlier than 12 weeks of age, preferably 16 weeks. Himalayan kittens do not mature as quickly as other breeds and need the additional time with their mother, when possible. This extra time will help kittens become more sociable and often, litter-box trained.
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Provide your Himalayan kitten with appropriate medical care, a warm, draft-free home, clean litter box, soft bedding, fresh water and a diet of kitten food suitable to the kitten's age and development. Soft foods should be used during the first five or six weeks of life, and then a dry-food diet becomes more suitable. Care of Himalayan kittens also includes regular hands-on interaction and play.
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Brush your Himalayan kitten with a soft brush at least every other day. This breed is characterized by its long, soft fur, which can easily become dirty and matted. While cats are "self-cleaning" animals that devote a good deal of time to personal grooming, they will need human assistance to keep their long fur in good condition. Brushing also promotes trust and bonding.
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Introduce your Himalayan kitten to a scratching post at an early age to discourage scratching on furniture.
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Ensure care of your Himalayan kitten by keeping it indoors. Indoor cats have a much longer lifespan than those allowed to roam free.
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Tips & Warnings
Be aware that Himalayan kittens do not develop their trademark dark brown or gray-tipped features until they are several weeks old. Kittens are typically white or cream-colored at birth and continue to darken as they mature.
Himalayan kittens are prone to watery eyes. The kitten's eyes will need to be wiped regularly.
Himalayan kittens are prone to breathing problems, which can lead to snoring.
Himalayan kittens' long fur puts them at risk for developing hairballs. This condition can be addressed by a vet.
References
- Photo Credit Martin Poole/Digital Vision/Getty Images
