08.07.2022

All you need to know before you bring a Persian kitten home

Before you choose to share your life and home with a Persian, you need to learn more about these gorgeous felines, especially if you are planning to adopt a kitten. These kitties have slightly different care needs due to their long luscious coats and flat faces, which is why many cat parents need detailed instructions on how to keep their new pets happy and healthy..

Untamed has got you covered—we will share all you need to know about Persian kittens, from their development timeline to grooming and feeding needs. Read on and learn how to create a perfect home for your new furry companion from day one.

Persian kitten care from birth

Caring for a Persian kitten begins from the moment they are born.

Source: Shubham Sharma

Whether you have a pregnant queen at home or bring a new kitten from the shelter, you should learn more about your new pet's development phases.

Birth to week four

Persian kittens usually weigh 85–100 grams at birth and gain between 7 and 15 grams per day. You shouldn’t try to handle kittens much during the first two weeks of their life unless absolutely necessary. During this period, they mainly lie still, sleep, and cry to signal they are hungry. 

Around the second week, the kittens should open their eyes. If it doesn't happen and their eyes look a bit swollen, check if there is some liquid retained under the lid. If it is, open the eye gently, drain the fluid, and apply an antibacterial ointment.

Around the third week, Persian kittens learn to sit up, and some of them even begin to climb. They also start showing interest in toys and playing with them. 

At this point, you can also start teaching them to use the litter box. Since Persian kittens have long coats, it is critical to check if there's any faeces stuck to their fur after using the litter tray. It's a pretty common occurrence, which is why it's imperative to clean them before they soil themselves completely. To prevent such incidents, many Persian cat parents trim the hair on their kitties' hind legs and under the tail when they are older. 

Around the fourth week, you can start feeding your Persian babies solid food. 

Five to eight weeks

You must get a Persian kitten used to bathing from early kittenhood.

Source: Dan Wayman

Persian kittens typically start playing with their siblings when they turn five weeks. They can get pretty rough, so you need to monitor them to ensure they don't hurt each other's eyes. 

At six weeks, you should schedule the first vet visit, and the check-up should include:

• General health check
• Eye examination
• Teeth and gum check
• First vaccination (provided the kittens are perfectly healthy)

Around week seven, kittens will nurse a bit less. Don't be alarmed if their stool is loose around this time—it's perfectly normal. If it persists for too long, you should get them checked by a vet. At this point, it’s also recommendable to start getting the kittens used to baths. Because of their luscious fur, Persian cats require regular bath sessions, so it's crucial to introduce them to this routine as early as possible.

When the kittens reach two months, the Persian queen will start teaching them socialisation, and the process will continue until they are three months old and ready to go to their new homes. This is when the first precautionary deworming is done, too. 

Nine to twelve weeks

At three months, a tiny Persian kitten is ready for a new family.

Source: Dan Wayman

The second round of vaccines is due around the ninth week, and the second round of deworming at week ten. At this moment, you can also trim their nails for the first time. 

In week eleven, you should schedule another vet check. It's imperative to confirm that the kittens are in good health before getting their final vaccines. 

What happens when you bring a Persian kitten home?

Persian cats are incredibly affectionate and devoted to their cat parents, but it doesn't happen instantly. You must give your new kitten a few days to recover from the shock of being separated from their mom and siblings and removed from their home. Comfort them any way you can, give them a lot of cuddles, and play with them whenever you can. Due to stress, the Persian kitten will also spend a lot of time sleeping at first—the change is huge, and a tiny kitty can only take so much excitement at a time.

During the first few days in your home, you might want to keep the kitten in a separate area, so they get used to being in a new environment. Let them explore every day for a bit and continually monitor what they are doing. Don't forget to show them where the litter box is, but don't place them in the tray—let them get in on their own. 

How to care for your Persian kitten

Caring for your Persian kittens consists of:

1. Regular grooming
2. Playtime and training
3. Quality nutrition

Grooming a Persian kitten

Persian cats need lots of grooming and attention. 

Source: Reba Spike

Persian cats need a lot of grooming, and it's no different when they are kittens, which is why it's crucial to get them used to the routine early. Grooming these felines involves:

1. Brushing
2. Bathing
3. Taking care of their eyes, ears, and claws 
4. Cleaning their teeth

Brushing your Persian kitten

You need to brush your Persian’s fur with the right comb—ideally a metal one with wide teeth. Comb your Persian kitten every day, preferably at set times and always in the direction of hair growth. Here is how to start:

1. Begin with the ruff
2. Move on under the front legs and onto the tummy
3. Comb the back legs and sides
4. Proceed onto the area behind the ears

You can finish off with the ruff again because this is the part of the brushing that your Persian kitten will enjoy most. If your kitten is giving you a hard time, don't punish them or shout at them. Be gentle and persistent, and they will eventually accept the brushing. To help your kitty associate grooming with a positive experience, always reward them with a tasty treat after grooming. 

Bathing your Persian 

Bathing your Persian once a month is necessary to prevent matting and remove dirt tangled in the hair. 

Long-haired felines can have stomach problems caused by hairballs, usually manifested by dry heaving and vomiting, or even more serious problems in case a hairball gets stuck in the intestines. Regular baths and daily combing will help with these issues and reduce the shedding, too.

Tending to your Persian kitten's eyes, ears, and claws

Persian cats’ eyes are sensitive due to their flat faces, so they need extra care.

Source: Sergey Semin

Besides brushing and bathing, you should include the following three steps into the routine:

1. Ear cleaning—Clean your kitty's ears with a Q-Tip but never go into the ear canal. Your vet will deal with the inside of the ear if needed
2. Nail clipping—Trim your kitty's claws when necessary using special nail clippers, and only cut the very tip of the claw
3. Eye cleaning—Due to their flat face, these felines are prone to eye problems, so cleaning the eyes regularly (even daily) is a must. Other reasons for watery eyes in Persians include: 
1. Pollen
2. Dust
3. Litter
4. Teething phase 

Dental care

The teething phase in kittens lasts from week ten until about eight months. They tend to gnaw on the wires around your home or bite your hand during playtime, which you must discourage. Otherwise, they will keep doing it even when they are all grown up—that’s when it stops being cute and starts being painful. Still, your kitten will need to chew on something when their gums are sore, so you should offer them a cardboard box or something appropriate to bite. 

Besides allowing them to chew on something, you will need to brush your Persian kitten's teeth to prevent gum issues and teeth problems. If possible, you should do it daily using a special brush and vet-approved toothpaste. To get your kitten used to the sensation, you can put a piece of gauze on your finger instead of the brush and clean their teeth with it. 

Tending to your kitten's teeth is critical because poor dental hygiene can weaken their immune system and make them more susceptible to illness. 

Playtime and training

Playtime is a perfect opportunity to bond with your new Persian kitten.

Source: Nihal Karkala

Kittens are full of energy and very playful, and they will need a lot of attention. Playing with them every day will be a perfect bonding opportunity and a way for them to be active. You need to provide various toys for your Persian kitten to play with on their own and for you to play together, including:  

• Lasers
• Feather teasers
• Balls
• Electric mice
• Food puzzles
• Floppy fish

Besides playtime, you can also have some daily training sessions. Although Persian cats aren't the brightest felines, they will enjoy this type of interaction with you. 

Quality nutrition

Diet is the most critical factor in your Persian kitten's health, so ensuring they get suitable amounts of well-balanced food is of paramount importance. 

When it comes to feeding your new Persian kitten, you need to understand how to:

1. Introduce new food
2. Pick the right food

How to introduce new food to your Persian

Ideally, your Persian kitten should eat the same food they ate at the breeder. If you change food suddenly, your kitten may get an upset stomach and suffer from diarrhoea for a while.

Most breeders provide a small quantity of the food the kitten is used to for the transition period. You must switch the food slowly by mixing the old and the new food, gradually increasing the portion of the new food in the meals. 

How to pick the right food

Wet food with high quantities of meat and fish is a perfect option for your Persian kitten.

Image (c) Untamed

Wet cat food is the best option for your Persian kitten, especially during the teething period when they might even refuse kibble. If their gums are painful, dry food may be difficult to chew and swallow. 

High-quality wet meals contain more meat or fish and fewer filler ingredients, such as grains and vegetables. They are also more hydrating, which is vital because felines don't generally drink much water and can suffer from dehydration and other health problems, including:

• Urinary tract infections
• Bladder stones
• Kidney disease
• Cystitis

The food you choose should have the following composition:

Why is Untamed an ideal option for your Persian kitten?

Untamed will make sure your Persian kitten grows healthily and stays happy.

Image (c) Untamed

At Untamed, we create food that will help your feline companion maintain long-term health.

By choosing our dishes for your Persian kitten, you will ensure they get high-protein nutrition free from:

• Grains
• Sugar
• Additives
• Vegetable protein
• Animal derivatives

We cooperate with vets to ensure that our meals are free from known allergens and meet your kitten's dietary needs, after which they’ll have:

• Healthy eating habits
• Neater litter tray
• Easy digestion
• Normal energy levels
• Robust immune system and natural resistance to diseases
• Slower onset of hereditary and age-related illnesses
• Beautiful coat

No kitten has ever turned their nose up at our wet food—order Untamed today and start this new journey on the right foot with top-quality and irresistible meals! 

Want to try Untamed? Here's how!

You can order a trial pack of Untamed cat food online by completing the following steps:

1. Visit our Try Now page
2. Share some details about your Persian kitten
3. Pick the products and place the order

We offer you:

• Regular monthly deliveries of a fresh batch of healthy cat food
• Free shipping
• Option to change or postpone your order easily
• No-questions-asked cancellation

Once your Persian kitten starts eating Untamed jellies and gravies, you will quickly see incredible results—here's what our satisfied customers say you can expect: