"I just wanted to thank you for your advice; it worked so well and so quickly. Titus is a wonderful addition to our family. I'm trying to talk my husband into getting another kitten." Nicostia F.  Jacksonville, FL

Mokave Cats & Litter Boxes

Mokave cats and kittens are trained to use litter boxes just like domestic cats. However, the box must be kept clean or they will stop using it. I use Arm & Hammer Clumping Litter as it does a great job of controling odor and is easy to scoop. However, if you have the patience, you can even teach your kitten to use the toilet! As your kitten grows, it may be necessary to switch from a litter box to a plastic storage container as they are deeper and have more room for a large cat to turn around in. As they grow, Mokave's designer breeds prefer a large, lidless, plastic storage box as it provides more room for them to maneuver.

IMPORTANT:  Mokave Cats should never go outside unsupervised. They have been known to revert back to the wild and disappear for good... or be stolen for their beauty. They have little fear, which means that they can get into dangerous situations without realizing it. When kept indoors, your Mokave kitten will stay friendly and live a long life. (The average life span of an outdoor cat is only 3 to 5 years!)

Introducing Mokave Kittens To Your Children

Make sure your new kitten is completely bonded to you before introducing it to your children. Once bonded, your kitten will look to you as 'pack leader' for guidance in reacting to new experiences. If you're calm, kitty will be, too. Most Mokave kittens take to children right away but some require a more gradual approach. Start out with some petting and a bit of playtime until kitty feels comfortable. (No loud screaming, please!) Please provide a quiet space for your kitten for nap times but don't be surprised if your kitten prefers to sleep with you or your kids.

Introducing Mokave Kittens To Other Pets

Mokave cats and kittens are raised with my huge German Shepherds and usually view other pets as potential playmates. However, these cats will defend themselves if attacked so it is important that your existing pet is never agressive towards your new kitten. If there is tension between your old pet and your new one, keep them in separate rooms and run your hands over both pets several times to exchange scents. By blending your scent with both pets, it makes it easier for them to recognize each other as part of a pack. Gradually introduce one pet to the other. If necessary, place one on either side of a sliding glass door or window, or cage one of them, so that they can see each other without feeling threatened. It should not take long before they are best buddies!

CAUTION:  Never leave an adult dog alone and unsupervised with your new kitten; even friendly dogs have been known to accidentally injure kittens during play or pursuit.

Feeding Your Mokave Kitten

Feed only good-quality, dry kitten food to your Mokave kitten. Adult dry cat food and canned food do not contain enough taurine, protein and fat for growing hybrid kittens. Mokave Cats uses Purina One for Healthy Kittens (in a teal/purple bag or white plastic container) as it is a premium food that is moderately priced and easy to find. However, any high-quality dry food is OK as long as it is made for kittens. When switching pet foods, gradually replace the old food with the new so that your kitten doesn't get an upset tummy.

Keep your new baby on kitten food for at least one year — longer if it does not appear to be getting fat. As a supplement, sprinkle 1/4 tsp. of Nutritional Yeast, found at most health food stores, on the dry food once or twice a week. Your kitten will like the taste and it’s a natural flea repellent.

Feed small amounts of food as often as your kitten wants to eat. Try not to leave dry food out all day because it will go stale and lose its smell. (The stronger the smell, the more cats like it.) Leaving out food at night is OK as Mokave cats and kittens are night eaters. A little canned cat food can be used as a treat or as diluted gravy over the dry food but not every day or your kitten will train you to feed it only canned food. Do NOT feed your kitten table scraps or cow’s milk as it could get diarrhea. NEVER feed chocolate, onions, garlic, tomatoes, raw potatoes, grapes or raisins as these food items can be toxic to cats (some are also toxic to dogs)!

Starting at about 5 months of age, your kitten will go through growth spurts about once a month. At this time, it may appear lean and bony. To give your Mokave kitten the fuel it needs during this time, feed it my Kitten Growth Cocktail (see recipe below) every day until the growth spurt is over:

Blend well and serve each morning while your kitten is going through a growth spurt.

Bathing Your Kitten in 3 Minutes

Mokave cats and kittens are bathed every month or two to keep their fur soft and sweet-smelling. These animals enjoy feeling clean after their bath and will get quite playful afterwards! The normal temperature for a cat is between 101 - 102.2°F; normal human temperature is 98.6°F so bath water that feels warm to you actually feels cool to your cat. This is the main reason people have problems bathing their animals. Would you wash your hair in a cold shower?

Another problem is sticky, soapy fur that has not been properly rinsed. This can cause itchy "hot" spots that your pet will want to lick and scratch. To avoid this, use a quality kitten or human shampoo that has been diluted with water to make it easier to wash out of kitty's fur. Never use dog shampoo as dog fur has a different pH than cat fur. Your kitten's sense of smell is about 14 times stronger than your own so avoid shampoos with strong fragrances.

If you follow the instructions below, bathing your kitten should take about three minutes and be painless for both of you.

Now it's time to trim your kitten's nails and clean its ears!

Trimming Your Kitten's Nails

A cat's claw can grow so long that it actually curves back towards its paw, causing discomfort when walking. A long claw also is more likely to snag on clothing or carpets. Nail trimming should be done once or twice a month, depending upon the growth of the nail. If the claws become too long and sharp, playtime can become painful for both of you!

Please don't twist or pull on kitty's toes. Also, it is better to trim the nail too long than too short as clipping it too short can cut the quick of the nail -- ouch! Once this happens you kitten will be unlikely to cooperate with you. Never use human nail clippers or scissors as they can split the nail.

Cleaning Your Kitten's Ears

There are 32 individual muscles in your kitten's ear, enabling one ear to move independently of the other. Cats can use their ears to communicate emotion. For example, when angry or frightened, your kitten will lay its ears back along the side of its head. It's a good idea to check your kitten's ears every week or so, especially if you have a Mokave cats with curled ears as they often collect dust and dirt. Never put anything sharp into your kitten's ears or press too hard or too deeply as you might damage the ear drum.

If the ears are exceptionally dirty and kitty is scratching or shaking its ears, it may have ear mites, which can easily be treated by your vet.