Kitten Sprout

Litter Training Your New Kitten

If you are staring at your new kitten and thinking, "Please just know what the litter box is," take a breath. Most kittens learn quickly with the right setup and timing, without punishment. In foster homes, I have litter-trained tiny chaos goblins who arrived with no clue what sand is for. The...

Get Your Kitten to Sleep Through the Night

If your kitten is treating 3 AM like a social hour and 5 AM like an emergency meeting, you are not failing. You are living with a tiny predator who is still learning your household rhythms. The good news is that “sleeping through the night” is teachable, and it usually comes down to two things:...

How to Trim Your Kitten’s Nails Safely

Kitten claws are tiny, sharp, and very good at finding your ankles, curtains, and the soft parts of your face at 5 a.m. The good news is that nail trims do not have to be a wrestling match. With the right setup and a slow, reward-heavy approach, most kittens can learn to tolerate (and sometimes...

Microchipping Your Kitten

If you are raising a kitten, microchipping is one of those small, quick choices that can make a life-changing difference later. I have fostered plenty of “totally indoor” kittens who still managed to bolt through a door during a grocery run or slip out when a guest arrived. A collar can fall off. A...

DIY Kitten First Aid Kit Essentials

If you have a kitten, you will eventually have a “tiny chaos” moment. A missed jump, a nail snag, an unexpected hair tie, a curious lick of something gross on the floor. A good first aid kit will not replace your veterinarian, but it will help you stay calm, protect your kitten from further harm,...

Fleas, Ticks, and Worms in Young Kittens: Safe Treatment and Prevention

If you just spotted a flea sprinting across your kitten’s belly, take a breath. Parasites are common in young kittens, especially rescues, and most cases are very fixable. The key is using age-appropriate products and not reaching for whatever flea treatment you used on an adult cat. Kittens are...

7 Common Kitten Illnesses and Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore

Nothing spikes your heart rate like a kitten who suddenly seems “off.” I have fostered plenty of wiggly, snack-obsessed babies who turned quiet overnight, and I have learned this the hard way: kittens can go from fine to fragile fast. This guide walks you through seven common kitten illnesses, the...

Kitten Eye and Ear Care

If you have a kitten, you are going to see some eye discharge (“gunk”) and a little ear wax now and then. Most of the time it is normal. The goal is not to scrub your kitten squeaky clean every day. It is to keep them comfortable, protect those delicate tissues, and notice early when something is...

Track Your Kitten’s Growth and Weight

The fastest way to feel confident you are raising a healthy kitten is to track two things: weight and body condition (how your kitten looks and feels, not just the number on the scale). Kittens grow so quickly that small changes matter. Small week-to-week fluctuations can happen. What you want to...

When to Spay or Neuter Your Kitten

If you are staring at your tiny kitten and thinking, “How is this little puffball already old enough for surgery?” you are not alone. In foster care, spay and neuter was one of the biggest milestones because it is equal parts practical and emotional. The good news is that for most healthy kittens,...

Kitten Teething: Soothe Gums and Start Brushing

If your kitten suddenly turns into a tiny, purring woodchipper, welcome to teething. One week they are politely nibbling toys, the next they are trying to chomp phone chargers, chair legs, and your unsuspecting fingers. The good news is that teething is normal, temporary, and a perfect time to...

Kitten Treats 101

Treats are one of the fastest ways to win a kitten’s trust. They are also one of the easiest ways to accidentally upset a tiny stomach or unbalance a growing kitten’s diet. I have fostered lots of enthusiastic little snack goblins, and if there is one rule I lean on again and again, it is this:...

Kitten Vaccination Schedule

If you have ever found yourself staring at your kitten’s tiny face and thinking, “How is something so small supposed to keep up with a whole medical schedule?” you are not alone. Vaccines can feel like a lot during the first few months, especially when you are also juggling food transitions ,...

Do Kittens Need Nutritional Supplements or Vitamins?

When you bring home a kitten, it is completely normal to want to do the absolute most. I still remember my first solo foster litter and my 2 AM spiral of: “Do they need vitamins? Is kitten food enough? What about taurine?” Here is the comforting truth: if your kitten is eating a complete and...

Feeding Kittens With Sensitive Stomachs

If you are reading this while staring at a too-soft litter box surprise and a kitten who smells like a tiny whoopee cushion, take a breath. Upset stomachs are a frequent bump in the road for kittens, especially in the first few weeks after adoption or fostering. Their digestive system is still...

Kitten Hydration: How to Get Your Cat Drinking More Water

If you have ever watched a kitten sprint across the house like a tiny tornado, then take exactly two polite sips of water all day, you are not alone. Many cats are naturally low drinkers, and kittens get distracted easily. The good news is that hydration is one of the easiest health wins you can...

Your Kitten’s First Vet Visit Checklist

Your kitten’s first vet visit can feel like a lot. New place, new smells, a tiny patient who may or may not be thrilled about strangers checking their ears. I have walked dozens of foster kittens through that first appointment, and the good news is this: a little prep turns the whole experience...

How to Get a Picky Kitten to Eat: 9 Tips That Help

A picky kitten can make even the calmest pet parent spiral. I have been there, crouched on the kitchen floor at an unreasonable hour, bargaining with a tiny creature who weighs less than a loaf of bread. The good news: most fussiness is fixable with a few smart tweaks. The important part is...

15 Toxic Human Foods Your Kitten Should Never Eat

Kittens are tiny, bold, and constantly auditioning for "best food thief." If you have ever looked down and realized your kitten has a nose in your bowl, you are not alone. I have fostered plenty of chaotic litters at Kitten Sprout, and the fastest way to turn a normal evening into an emergency is...

How to Bottle-Feed an Orphaned Newborn Kitten

When you find a newborn kitten without mom, feeding becomes urgent fast. I remember my first orphan litter like it was yesterday: tiny squeaks, wobbly bodies, and me googling at 2 AM with a bottle in one hand and a heating pad in the other. The good news is that bottle-feeding is absolutely...