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You've heard of 'baby proofing' a home, now let's talk about 'kitten proofing' one

You’re bound to want to make your home as safe as possible for your precious new kitten. Here are a few tips:

• Windows need to be kept closed so your kitten can't fall out or escape.

• If you have open fireplaces where your kitten could gain access to the chimney, block them up.

• Hide all electrical cabling. Your kitten might try to chew through it.

• Make sure you don't have any houseplants that are potentially dangerous to your kitten. Lilies, poinsettias and cyclamens are all poisonous.

Food for thought

Choosing a kitten food is a big responsibility. After all, it’s what will help her grow and develop to her full potential. But, to help her feel secure, it’s best not to change her diet straight away. Remember to find out what your kitten has been eating before you became her new owner, and feed the same food. Then, if you do decide on a new food, mix it with her usual food until the changeover is complete. You should take 5 to 7 days to get your kitten used to her new food. Whatever you're feeding her, remember, little and often is the order of the day to begin with - kittens aged from eight to twelve weeks need four meals a day, three meals from three to six months, and two over six months old.

By far the easiest and most successful way to ensure your growing kitten is getting a healthy; balanced diet is to feed a complete premium food for kittens. There are two types of complete foods available, dry or tinned. With dry food, your kitten can visit her food bowl as often as she likes throughout the day. Wet foods in cans or pouches, on the other hand, are likely to lose their freshness quickly once in the bowl, so need to be given as separate meals throughout the day.

But, just like our food, not all kitten foods offer the same quality and value for money. Make sure you check the ingredients list, or better still, ask your vet for advice. A good food should provide all the nutrients essential for a growing kitten to become a healthy cat. Click here for information on Hill's kitten food

Believe it or not, we wouldn't recommend giving milk to your new kitten; given in large quantities it can cause diarrhea. Instead, clean, fresh water should be available at all times. If you do want to treat your kitten to something else, there are special kitten milks you can buy.