🏡 Kitten Care & Maintenance Guide

Bringing home a kitten is exciting, but it also comes with ongoing care and responsibility.

At BritRoyal, we want our families to feel confident, prepared and supported long after collection day.

 

This guide has been created to help new kitten families understand the everyday maintenance involved in keeping their cat healthy, comfortable and well cared for.

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🦷 Dental Care

Dental care is often overlooked in cats, but it plays an important role in their long-term health.

Ideally, kittens should be introduced to gentle tooth brushing while they are young.

This helps them become familiar with having their mouth handled and makes dental maintenance much easier as they grow.

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Use a kitten-safe toothbrush or finger brush with cat-safe toothpaste only. Human toothpaste must never be used, as it is not safe for cats.

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Dental treats and dental diets may assist with maintenance, but they should not replace regular checks or veterinary dental advice.

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Signs of possible dental disease include:

• Bad breath

• Red or swollen gums

• Drooling

• Pawing at the mouth

• Difficulty eating

• Dropping food

• Yellow or brown build-up on teeth

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If you notice any of these signs, your cat should be checked by a veterinarian.

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👂 Ear Cleaning

Ears should be checked regularly as part of your kitten's normal grooming routine.

Regular ear checks are particularly important in British Shorthairs and British Longhairs due to their dense coat, rounded facial structure and tendency to produce wax build-up.

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While many cats may rarely require ear cleaning, British breeds can benefit from routine ear inspections to help identify excess wax, irritation or early signs of infection before they become problematic.

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Stress can also play a role in ear health. Events such as moving to a new home, introducing new pets, illness, travel or changes in routine can temporarily affect a cat's immune system, sometimes making them more susceptible to ear infections or flare-ups of existing conditions.

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For this reason, we recommend checking your cat's ears regularly as part of their normal grooming and maintenance routine.

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A small amount of light-coloured wax can be normal. However, ears should not smell unpleasant or appear red, swollen, wet, crusty or painful.

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Signs of Ear Problems

• Excessive wax build-up

• Dark brown or black debris

• Strong odour

• Redness or inflammation

• Frequent head shaking

• Scratching at the ears

• Sensitivity when touched

• Tilting of the head

• Loss of balance (in severe cases)

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💡 BritRoyal Tip: We recommend making ear checks part of your regular grooming routine. A quick inspection every 1–2 weeks often allows small issues to be identified before they become uncomfortable or require extensive treatment.

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✂️ Nail Trimming

Regular nail trimming helps prevent nails becoming sharp, overgrown or caught in bedding, carpet or furniture.

Most kittens benefit from having their nails checked every 1–2 weeks.

Only trim the clear hooked tip of the nail. Avoid the pink area known as the quick, as this contains blood vessels and nerves.

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To help kittens accept nail care:

• Handle their paws gently while relaxed

• Offer treats and reassurance

• Trim only one or two nails at a time if needed

• Use proper cat nail clippers

• Keep the experience calm and positive​

 

If you are unsure, ask your vet or groomer to demonstrate safe nail trimming.

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🛁 Grooming & Coat Care

Grooming needs will vary depending on whether your kitten is British Shorthair or British Longhair.

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British Shorthair

British Shorthairs have a dense plush coat that benefits from regular brushing.

A weekly brush is usually enough, though extra brushing may be needed during seasonal shedding.

Bathing once every 6 months to help older cats or over-weight cats that struggle to groom themselves is recommended. (More details on washing below).

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British Longhair

British Longhairs require regular coat maintenance to help prevent knots, matting and excessive oil build-up within their dense coat.

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Particular attention should be paid to:

• Behind the ears
• Under the arms
• Chest and neck area
• Belly and sanitary area
• Pants and hindquarters
• Tail base

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These areas are prone to friction and can quickly develop small knots that may become uncomfortable mats if left untreated.

Regular brushing several times per week is recommended, along with routine coat inspections to identify tangles before they become problematic.

At BritRoyal, we also believe that occasional bathing can be beneficial for British Longhairs. A bath approximately every 2–3 months can help remove excess oils, loose coat, dirt and debris while assisting with overall coat condition and maintenance.

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This can be particularly beneficial for:

• Older cats
• Overweight cats that may struggle to groom themselves effectively
• Cats with very dense coats
• Cats prone to greasy coat build-up

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When bathing, always use a quality cat-safe shampoo designed specifically for feline coats. One product we have had positive experiences with is the Dolly-Chiny grooming range, which can assist with coat cleanliness and overall presentation when used appropriately, alternatively a medicated feline safe wash like Malaseb can be used.

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Following a bath, the coat should be thoroughly dried and brushed to prevent tangles from developing as the coat dries.

Regular grooming not only helps maintain coat condition but also provides an opportunity to check your cat for lumps, skin changes, parasites or other health concerns.

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🍗 Nutrition & Feeding

Good nutrition supports healthy growth, digestion, coat condition and immune function.

When your kitten leaves BritRoyal, we recommend keeping them on the same food initially to avoid stomach upset. Any diet change should be done slowly over 7–10 days.

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A gradual transition may look like:

• Days 1–2: 75% current food, 25% new food

• Days 3–4: 50% current food, 50% new food

• Days 5–6: 25% current food, 75% new food

• Day 7 onward: 100% new food

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Kittens should have access to fresh water at all times.

Avoid feeding:

• Chocolate

• Onion or garlic

• Grapes or raisins

• Alcohol

• Caffeine

• Cooked bones

• Dog food as a main diet

• Cow's milk

• Fatty leftovers

• Human foods containing xylitol

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If you are unsure whether a food is safe, do not offer it until you have checked with your veterinarian.

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🚽 Litter Training & Hygiene

BritRoyal kittens are introduced to litter trays before leaving our care.

When your kitten arrives home, keep their litter tray easy to access and avoid moving it around too often while they are settling in.

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Litter tray tips:

• Use a tray that is easy for a kitten to enter

• Keep the tray in a quiet, accessible area

• Scoop daily

• Fully clean regularly

• Avoid strong-smelling cleaners

• Provide more than one tray if needed

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A common recommendation is one litter tray per cat, plus one extra.

If your kitten suddenly stops using the tray, urinates frequently, cries when toileting, or passes blood, please contact your vet promptly.

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🪱 Parasite Prevention

Even indoor cats require parasite prevention.

Parasites may include:

• Fleas

• Worms

• Ear mites

• Ticks

Your kitten will receive age-appropriate parasite prevention while in our care. Once home, ongoing prevention should be continued under veterinary guidance.

Tick prevention is especially important in many areas of Australia. Paralysis ticks can be life-threatening, so please speak with your veterinarian about the safest and most appropriate product for your cat.

Never use dog flea or tick products on cats unless specifically directed by a veterinarian, as some dog products are toxic to cats.

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💉 Vaccinations

Vaccinations help protect kittens from serious infectious diseases.

At BritRoyal, kittens follow a structured vaccination schedule before leaving our care.

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Our general schedule includes:

• 6 weeks: First F3 vaccination

• 10 weeks: Second F3 vaccination

• 14 weeks: Third F3 vaccination​

 

Your veterinarian will advise when your kitten's next booster is due after leaving BritRoyal.

Vaccination needs may vary depending on lifestyle, location, exposure risk and veterinary advice.

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⚠️ Common Illness Awareness

Cats and kittens can hide illness well, so small changes in behaviour can be important.

Please monitor your kitten for:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Sneezing

• Eye discharge

• Loss of appetite

• Lethargy

• Coughing

• Difficulty breathing

• Straining to urinate

• Crying in the litter tray

• Dehydration

• Sudden weight loss

• Hiding more than usual

• Not playing or interacting normally

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A single mild symptom may not always be an emergency, but repeated symptoms, worsening symptoms, or a kitten that seems flat or unwell should always be taken seriously.

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🏥 When To Contact A Vet

Please contact your veterinarian if your kitten shows any concerning change in behaviour, appetite, toileting or energy levels.

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Seek urgent veterinary care if your kitten has:

• Difficulty breathing

• Open-mouth breathing or panting

• Repeated vomiting

• Persistent diarrhoea

• Blood in urine or faeces

• Straining to urinate

• Collapse or extreme weakness

• Pale gums

• Seizures

• Suspected poisoning

• A fall, injury or trauma

• Refusal to eat

• Signs of dehydration

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It is always better to contact a vet early rather than waiting until a kitten becomes seriously unwell.

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🛡️ Pet Insurance

Every BritRoyal kitten leaves for their forever home with 8 weeks of complimentary Knose Pet Insurance, providing additional peace of mind during those important first weeks together.

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We strongly encourage families to consider continuing insurance after the complimentary period ends.

Unexpected veterinary care can be expensive, and insurance may help provide peace of mind in the event of accident, illness or emergency.

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Please read all policy documents carefully, including exclusions, waiting periods and claim conditions.

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❤️ Lifetime Support

Our support does not end when your kitten leaves for their new home.

BritRoyal families are always welcome to reach out with questions about settling in, feeding, grooming, litter training, introductions, behaviour or general care.

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We love receiving updates and watching our kittens grow into treasured family members.

At BritRoyal, our goal is not simply to raise beautiful kittens, but to support families in giving them happy, healthy and loving lives.

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❤️ Coming Soon: We are currently creating a more in depth BritRoyal Health & Maintenance Guide exclusively for our BritRoyal families. This detailed PDF will cover everything from grooming, nutrition, vaccinations, parasite prevention and common illness awareness through to breed-specific care tips, helping owners feel supported long after their kitten arrives home.