Play time with kitty is regarded by many kitten owners as an absolute joy. This active time is used by your kitten to "hone" its instinctive hunting behaviors. This play time is as important as feedings and sleeping to your kitten. The kitten with all its jumping, running, and rolling is building strong muscles and bones. Also, this time together builds trust and socializes your kitten to the human members of its household. All the products used on this page are available through PetsMart: use any of the links provided here at Ragdoll.net and have them delivered directly to your home! We find this service a safe and time-saving way to shop and save money at the same time.
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Every home with a kitten should have a
post, of some sort, for the kitten to scratch and climb.
Scratching posts come in a great variety of styles and
colors, these provide a great climbing environment for
your kitten to build a healthy body. If you live in small
quarters such as a boat or condo there are models that
hang off a door knob and they are true space-savers. If the kitten scratches on the sofa or climbs the drapes, place them on a suitable replacement such as their cat tree or post and pet them. If they return to the other item, say "NO!" and place them back on their own furniture. Scratching is a instinctive behavior, only by supplying a suitable alternative will you be able to train your kitten to leave valued furnishings alone. Declawing a cat that does not have a scratching post is a waste of your money. Our Ragdoll kittens, for the most part, prefer their scratching posts to the furniture. I've heard people say: "Well the cat is indoors so it does not need its claws to defend itself." This may be true, but I have seen the front claws of a kitten prevent many falls as they use them as "emergency" Velcro® to prevent falls from high places. Before putting your cat through the pain, and you the expense, of declawing; try the scratching post in conjunction with a weekly clip of its claws. Many people worry about "cutting the quick" and their cat bleeding to death. Nail care is a simple and painless procedure, refer to the "Nail Care" page at this site for kitten/cat nail care tips. |
Cats are famous for their agility and cunning, kittens however need lots of practice in the agility department. So, consider carefully where to place the cat post, keep the area underneath it clear of hazards that could injure the kitten during an unintentional fall. Start training your kitten from a very early age to stay off food preparation areas. Stoves are particularly
dangerous and your kitten, and
you, could be seriously injured if a pan of boiling
liquid is knocked off a burner. Cats and kittens dislike
surprises. So saying "NO!" firmly, and then
gently placing them back on the floor is usually adequate
to stop this behavior. One toy that is especially
entertaining to cats is a circular device that has a ping
pong ball in a track. T his type of toy will provide
your kittens and cats hours of enjoyment. Another fun
toy, is a device that incorporates a scratching post with
a hanging puff ball. Two kittens will see this device as
a whole amusement park. Also lightweight balls are quite
entertaining for kittens. The slightest touch sends these
balls rolling with kittens tumbling soon after!!
Toys should be large enough that they don't pose a
choking hazard to the kitten or small children living in
the home. NEVER use your hand to play with your
kitten. What is a cute biting behavior at 10 weeks, is
downright painful at 6 months of age. |
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Make sure that the handle is made of
flexible material that will not injure your kitten.When
playtime is over, put this type of toy away to
prevent your kitten from tearing off the strands and
ingesting them. If your home is above street level be careful about open windows. A window screen may not prevent your kitten from having a serious fall if they run "full steam ahead" into it. Window screens can "pop out" and in spite of the legend that a cat has 9 lives, your kitten has just one. If there is a need for ventilation where your kitten is romping, just open the window a crack, keep the opening to less than two inches. |
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If your cat has an outside play area;
keep in mind that other cats in your neighborhood--whose
owners allow to run rampant--may expose your kitten to
disease by scent-marking your kitten's play area as
"its territory". Be sure other wild animals do
not have access to any outside patios or decks to which
you kitten has access. Do not allow your kitten to play in open areas like second story (or more) decks. Anyone who has seen a kitten run open-eyed into a wall knows that you have to be fifty steps ahead of a playful kitten. Once your kitten settles down at about 9 to 14 months, you can allow them in such areas for supervised visits--if they behave themselves. |
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