Diet

Two meals daily, morning and night, consisting of chopped beef, cooked chicken or fish alternating with kitten food should be given.  The size of the meals should be increased as the kitten grows.   Dry food may be given as well as grated cheese and hard boiled eggs.   When giving raw eggs, only give the yolk.   Hard-boiled eggs may be sprinkled over the meat at night.   Cooked rice may also be mixed with cooked meat eggs or tinned food.   Cats should have one meal of raw meat per day.   A raw chicken wing is also good to encourage chewing which helps keep the teeth healthy.   Mince from the butcher is not suitable because it contains preservatives.   Although cats need 13% fat in their diets, pet mince is nearly all fat and is not suitable.   Fresh beef or roo already chopped can be bought from a specialist pet supplier or supermarkets in 1kg packages or smaller individual serves.  At about six months feeds can be reduced to once daily, usually at night. Fresh water should always be available for your cat.

Diet Supplements

It is advisable for kittens and cats to have diet supplements. You can mix your own by purchasing the following items from a health food store:

1/2 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup bonemeal or 3 tblsp dicalcium phosphate
1/4 cup kelp powder

Combine the above quantities and mix well, store in an airtight jar out of direct sunlight. 1/4 teaspoon sprinkled over the food.

Worming

Your kitten has been wormed three times already.   Routine worming every three months is a good precaution.   Drontal or Ambex tablets or Antoban syrup can be used.   If unsure, it is best to get the routine worming medication from your Vet.

Immunization

Birali kittens are immunized with a F3 vaccine.   The certificate supplied shows when the kitten is due for its next vaccination, and boosters must be given each year.  You should also check with your preferred boarding cattery regarding their immunization requirements.

Toilet Training

Birali kittens have been toilet trained to use a litter tray.   When it arrives at your home you should show it where its litter tray is located and make sure it has free access to it at all times.   Accidents do happen if the kitten is disorientated or frightened.   If an accident does occur, take the kitten and place it in its litter tray.   Cats are fastidious animals which do not like to use a soiled litter tray, so make sure the litter is changed when necessary.   A cat may soil elsewhere in the house if the litter tray is too dirty.

Grooming

Your kitten should be groomed regularly from an early age to get it used to being combed and brushed.   Best time to do this is in the evening after it has had its play and meal, while it is sleeping in your lap.   To absorb the small greasy areas near the ears, neck and under the legs, sprinkle a little baby powder onto the fur, rub lightly into coat and brush out.   Cats can also be bathed, but make sure the water is not too hot, towel dry thoroughly and comb. Make sure the cat is thoroughly dry particularly in the winter.   If using flea powder on your kitten, make sure the brand is recommended for cats, some flea powders designed for dogs are poisonous to cats.

Care of the Eyes and Ears

Check your cat/kitten's ears regularly. Clean them carefully with cotton buds. If you repeatedly find small bits of dark matter and if the cat scratches and shakes its' head a lot, consult a veterinarian, as the cat may have ear mites. If your cat has continually runny or weeping eyes, consult a veterinarian.

Trimming Claws

You should trim the tips of the claws on the front feet once a month with special clippers available at pet stores. Ask your vet to show you how to do this.

Checking the Teeth

If you feed your cat a complete diet it should have perfect teeth. Unfortunately, however, some cats develop tartar and inflamed gums. You should therefore check your pet's mouth regularly. Consult your veterinarian if you see something you suspect requires treatment, the cats' breath is offensive or the cat dribbles continuously.

Boarding/Holidays

It is advisable to book early for School holidays/Easter/Christmas periods.   Keep your Immunization certificate because reputable boarding catteries will insist on written proof of your cat’s immunization before they accept it as a boarder.

Desexing

All Birali kittens are desexed before they go to their pet homes. Early desexing is widely supported by animal welfare organisations and prevents unwanted litters of kittens.

Microchipping

Birali kittens are microchipped with their new owner's details before they go to their new homes. It is the owner's responsibility to keep those details up to date.

Inside or Outside

We suggest that you only allow your cat outside under supervision.  This is because unsupervised cats are likely to wander and perhaps be run over or get into fights with other cats as well as catching native animals and birds.  If you cat wanders and becomes lost, the microchip may assist you to identify you cat if it is found and handed in to the RSPCA or similar organisation. However, you should not rely upon the microchip if someone decides to take your cat home. Vets do not check microchips each time they see a patient.

An acceptable alternative is to construct an outdoor run for your cat where it can experience the great outdoors in comfort and safety. Commercial products are available or you might wish to construct something yourself. Of course you need to make sure the cat has access to clean water and shelter from the sun, rain, heat or cold in its enclosure. This can be achieved by allowing access to the house via a pet door or putting up a small shed or aviary within the run.