Cuddly Kitten Day

There’s an adorable kitty holiday around the corner. March 23rd is Cuddly Kitten Day! Cats are adorable at any age, but they’re almost impossibly cute when they are little. Read on as a Thorold, ON vet discusses cuddling little Fluffy.

If you have a kitten, by all means, cuddle her often. Cuddling is a great way to socialize your tiny furball. It’s important for little Fluffy to get used to being petted and handled while she’s still young. This will help her grow into a friendly adult cat.

You’ll know that you are cuddling your cat correctly if that little motor starts going! Fluffy may also start kneading you. This is one of kitties’ more painful ways of showing affection, but it’s actually quite significant. Kittens knead their mothers to stimulate milk flow while they’re nursing. Therefore, this is a pretty good sign that your furry friend sees you as her parent. (Tip: put a towel or sweatshirt on your lap before settling in.)

Pets can be very beneficial for children. Our animal friends can teach kids about friendship, love, and compassion. Cuddling an adorable kitten can also be a huge comfort on bad days. Just be sure to supervise interactions between your young ones and little Fluffy. Little children can be a bit clumsy. They are also sometimes unintentionally rough. You don’t want your child finding out the hard way that little Fluffy hates having her tail pulled! (Tip: have kids sit or kneel to cuddle kittens. That way, if your feline pal jumps or falls, she won’t have far to drop.)

Although it’s important for you to cuddle your kitten, you don’t want to force her to submit to being held. If your feline buddy decides that she has had enough snuggling, just let her go.

Don’t be surprised if your kitten falls asleep on your lap or in your arms. While all of our feline friends are rather drowsy in general, baby cats are extra sleepy. In fact, little Fluffy can spend up to 20 hours a day snoozing. This is actually a good thing, as the growth hormones that help little furballs grow into big furballs are released during sleep cycles.

Please reach out to us, your Thorold, ON vet clinic, anytime. We are dedicated to offering great veterinary care.