Puppy & Kitten Care

Clove, a 3-lb 12-week Omaha kitten, splashes in the toilet at 2:15 a.m. Lid down every time, night light on, fountain in the hall; cleaners are toxic.

Scout, an 11-lb 8-week Brooklyn puppy, vomits on a 12-min ride at 10:20 a.m. Use a crate, empty-ish stomach, short loops; never human motion-sickness pills.

Fig, a 2.8-lb 10-week Portland OR kitten, aims for the drum at 8:10 p.m. Close the door, check the drum every time, gate the laundry; a started load can kill.

Pippin, a 3.1-lb 11-week Cleveland kitten, scratches when scooped by the armpits at 5:40 p.m. Use short supported lifts, treat on the floor; never dangle.

Rover, a 19-lb 14-week Dallas puppy, chews oak legs at 6:45 p.m. while teething. Redirect to chews, supervise, crate when you cannot watch; bitter spray last.

Scout, a 12-lb 11-week Brooklyn puppy, pees on $8 pads then walks onto the rug at 7:20 a.m. Use a bigger pad, a gate, enzymatic cleaner, and a set schedule.

Bodhi's kittens Pippin (3 lb) and Fig (3.2 lb) meet on day 3 in Portland OR at 5:15 p.m. Scent-swap, separate rooms, two boxes. Do not force day-one face-offs.

Clove, a 32-lb 14-week Omaha Lab, jumps an 18-inch sofa at 7:00 p.m. Block the couch, teach wait, add a ramp later. Skip jump-up greetings to protect joints.

Rover, a 21-lb 15-week Cleveland puppy, learns nail trims with $11 clippers at 6:30 p.m. Touch paws 3 seconds daily, clip air, then one nail. Stop before panic.

Thimble, a 2.9-lb 10-week Dallas kitten, bites Willa's toes under the blanket at 1:40 a.m. Play, then food, then sleep. Do not wiggle toes or punish bites.

Ear nursing at 2 a.m. is leftover suckling and comfort, not spite. Redirect to a soft toy, use play-then-food-then-sleep, and skip punishment. Check weaning.

Puppies who gulp kibble and vomit 10 min later ate too fast. Use a slow feeder, 3–4 smaller meals, and no exercise for 30 min. Call the vet if it repeats.

Week-one scratching: vertical sisal beside the sofa they already used, lure with a wand, reward the scratch. Do not punish the sofa without offering a post.

Stop a puppy raiding cat food by feeding the cat on the fridge or behind a gate, picking up bowls each time, and crating the pup. Never make the steal a game.

Stop greeting mouthing: redirect to a toy and freeze 3–5 seconds if teeth hit skin. Guests pay four-on-floor. Do not wrestle hands. Teething hits 12–16 weeks.

At 12 weeks, plan a last potty near 11 p.m. and a quiet 2:40 a.m. yard trip. Use a divider crate, enzyme cleaner after accidents, and leave belly bands unused.

Most kittens switch to adult food around 12 months; large breeds wait longer. Kitten diets are calorie-dense. Transition over 7 days and ask a vet if chubby.

Stop cord chewing with covers, unplugging, and an exercise pen—not hope and bitter spray. Teething runs 3–6 months. A shock from a live cord is an ER risk.

Introduce a kitten to a resident dog with scent swaps, a baby gate, and a leash. Give the kitten up-high exits. Never let them work it out unsupervised.

Socialize a fearful puppy by letting them watch at a distance and paying for calm looks. Skip forced greetings. One quiet adult beats a sidewalk crowd.

Feed several kittens without bowl guarding by using separate plates, extra space, and a timed routine so the shy one eats and the bossy one cannot raid.

Stop a kitten from scratching your face in play by ending hand games, using wand toys, and teaching a clean stop so skin is no longer treated as the toy.

When puppies start heartworm prevention, why many clinics begin at 6 to 8 weeks, and how testing, mosquitoes, and year-round dosing fit a new-puppy plan.

House train a puppy on a full-time schedule with crate timing, a midday helper, and a room plan that does not rely on an 8-hour bladder you do not have.

Stop a weaned kitten from nursing on blankets with timing, fabric swaps, extra feeding comfort, and a plan that skips punishment and protects wool sweaters.

Socialize a puppy to car rides without vomiting using short parked sessions, crate setup, timing of meals, and a step-up plan that beats one long highway trip.

When kittens can eat dry kibble after weaning, how to mix wet food, and a week-by-week plan so tiny jaws and bellies switch without diarrhea or hunger.

Stop a puppy chewing furniture legs with teething timelines, legal chews, and a room-by-room plan that protects table legs without turning you into a guard.

Weigh your puppy at home with a scale, basket method, or vet visits to track healthy growth. Learn frequency, growth charts, and when weight loss needs a vet.

Introduce a new kitten to an older resident cat safely with scent swapping, separated spaces, and gradual visuals. Step-by-step to reduce stress and fights.