Kitten Preparation List
Here is a list of many things you will want/ need for your new Sphynx or Bambino. The MAIN thing which I absolutely require everyone to get for their new kitty is L-lysine and Forti Flora.
Ø L-lysine: daily supplemental amino acid used to help prevent colds. Give new kitty 1000mg daily (1/2 tsp.) for first week, then give 500 mg (1/4 tsp.) thereafter to prevent colds. Best to mix right into wet food once per day at feedings. Increase dosage to 1000 mg daily during any times of stress as in antibiotic treatment, traveling, visitors, or vets visits, and if your kitty is to become sick.
Ø Forti Flora: (made by Purina) helps to maintain normal digestive functions. Use daily for the first week of bringing your baby home, then once weekly thereafter to promote healthy digestive function. Also should be used in conjunction with any antibiotic treatment and any times of stress like travel, visitors, or vet visits.
Ø We strictly feed Nature’s Variety Raw food. This is a SUPERIOR quality food and the best food you can feed to your sphynx or bambino cat. They like and thrive on all varieties but we typically feed the chicken or beef as it is the lesser cost. Lamb tends to be a crowd please though and we feed it about once a week to treat them. This food will help in reducing digestive upset, skin allergies, and much more. It is a bit of a higher cost but well worth it as your kitty will be healthier and happier for it and save you money at the vets office down the road. We feed all of the cats three times daily, but your baby can be fed just twice a day once 6 months or older. We do not feed ANY dry food except a minimal amount of nature’s variety raw boost dry as the occasional treat every couple of days. You must be careful as if you feed your baby too many treats too frequently they will not want to eat their raw food. We also add their daily supplements in the morning feeding by mixing right into the raw food. You can purchase at places like Pet Supermarket or your local pet store. You will need to locate a store in your area that carries the nature’s variety. You can log on to http://www.naturesvariety.com/locator
IF you have any questions or reservations about feeding this raw diet please contact us for help or to help choose a high quality alternative diet.
Ø CET Dental Treats: We like the CET dental treats to help maintain you kitties beautiful healthy white teeth. We also will feed INSTINCT® RAW BOOST MINIS™ FREEZE DRIED TREATS FOR CATS.
Ø CET Cat Toothpaste + Brush: Early tooth-brushing is encouraged to get kittens used to the routine, start with just a wet brush at first then introduce the toothpaste. Be sure to use ONLY veterinarian approved toothbrush and Cat toothpaste, human toothpaste with fluoride can make cats sick or even cause death! We recommend CET brand.
Ø OraVet: Oral health is of upmost importance. We recommend gel which is a topical antibacterial gel which is applied with a cotton tip applicator to the gum line. It works to control bacteria and plaque build-up preventing periodontal disease which affects up to 80% of felines, and can lead to serious health consequences. http://www.oravet.us.merial.com/
Koala Baby USDA Certified Organic Baby Shampoo and Body Wash. This cleans your baby without drying out their skin which can lead to an over production of oil, free of harmful dyes and chemicals which harm your baby. It is very important for the health of your kitties skin to avoid unnatural chemicals and dyes which can cause skin irritation, rash, unbalances PH, and excess oil production.
Ø VET Solutions Universal Medicated Shampoo: used to prevent and control bacterial + fungal skin infections. Use the shampoo once every few of months as prevention, or EVERY time after the cat had been to a cat show, boarded, or been in general contact with other animals for any reason. I also recommend getting the medicated wipes if your kitty is prone to rashes, or acne, they are great to clear up little rashes or any other skin irritations. http://www.1800petmeds.com/Vet+Solutions+Universal+Medicated+Shampoo-prod248144.html
Ø Exfoliating Gloves: we recommended using exfoliating bath gloves during bath time, the slightly rough textured surface will not hurt your kitty but be very effective in removing oils and debris.
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Ø Nail trimmers: be sure to only cut the white of the nail not into the vein! Also Small Nail Brush: used to clean build-up off nails. If the gunk is Very tenacious I use Coconut Oil on a cotton ball – works great and safe for kitty to lick!
Ø Sterile Saline Solution: Use on a cotton ball or as irrigation for the eyes at least once a week.
Ø Zymox Ear cleaner: this is great to not only clean out waxy build-up but to reduce the over-all amount of wax build-up. Use small amount on small baby-size Q-tips to clean out waxy build-up from ear canals. Be VERY gentle there are a lot of little bones which can be broken. Only clean as far as you can easily see into the ear. http://zymox.net/
Ø World’s Best Litter: Your kitty is used to using all natural environmentally friendly clumping wheat litter. This litter is not only safer for the environment, but also safer for you and your kitty as the clay litters all contain potentially harmful chemicals to cover odor which is inhaled through the dust produced when in use. This litter is good with odor control and also clumps well for easy scooping. We also just recently have tried a new type of litter which we really like called “Blue Naturally Fresh” we like the multi-cat product. You can find more information about both @ http://www.bluebuffalo.com/healthy-home/blue-naturally-fresh-cat-litter AND http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/
Ø Clevercat Litter Box: These litter boxes are just like the homemade ones your kitty is used to using here, except they have improved on the design with the litter trapping textured lid. This is the best design for a mess free litter box for your kitty.
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Ø SnuggleSafe : They NEED to keep WARM!!! We use two products to keep our babies warm and happy! One thing I have found which I love is these little micro wave safe discs, which hold heat for up to 12 hours, these are great for traveling or for kitty beds at home. We are now offering these for pre-purchase to use for your kitties flight home in the cold winter months. Let us know if you would like your kitty to have the extra pleasure of a heated crate for their flight home! Here is the link for more info: http://www.snugglesafe.co.uk/heatpad.htm
Ø Flucker’s: The other thing I use is the reptile heat lamps. These are a FIRE HAZARD however, and should only be used while you are at home and installed in a secure place away from anything flammable. They get VERY warm. We purchase from our local pet store and hang them above the kitties’ beds so they can bask in their warmth under them.
Ø Clothing - Keep your kitty warm and Stylish! For Awesome kitty clothing- Check out our friends @ www.poshpunksphynxline.com AND https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSpoiledSphynx?ref=hdr_shop_menu
Ø Cat climber: This is a must in my book! Sphynx and Bambino are highly energetic cats and need lots of play – they love to run up + jump on their climber and scratch on it. This is your best line of defense in protecting your furniture. I recommend using washable baby blankets and or old pillow cases over the baskets your kitten will be sleeping on so they can be cleaned easily. We are now making our own line of kitty Swing Sets! We have taken our years of experience and constructed the best of what these cats love into them. To purchase please visit our site @ https://www.etsy.com/listing/151057620/fun-solid-wood-cat-climber-scratcher?ref=pr_shop
Ø FroliCat: Here is a toy both you and the cats will LOVE. The frolicat is an interactive laser toy which has different speeds and settings to keep you kitty entertained. Please buy one for your new sphynx it will give you both hours of fun!
http://www.frolicat.com/
Ø Card Board Scratchers: These are also a must! The cats love both chasing the ball in the circular track and scratching on the card board inserts – the cardboard inserts are replaceable too when the get worn out. It is very important to provide your kitty with both horizontal and vertical scratching surface to satisfy their needs.
Ø Cat Dancer: This simple piece of steel wire with a few pieces of cardboard is highly entertaining and interactive and will give your kitty hours of play and fun! It is also very safe free of risk of getting entangled into in and 100% recyclable.
Ø Straws: I have discovered that straws make for great cheap toys; your kitten will love to play with them, and chew on them which help while you baby is teething.