Basic Supplies
Here's a list of items that will help you and your new kitten get off to a great start:
1. Bed or sleeping area
2. Water and food bowls
3. Toys
4. Litter box and litter *
5. Cat carrier
6. Cat tree
7. Scratching post
8. Kitten Food **
Beds
Provide a comfortable sleeping area, cats like a place to curl up in sometimes to get away. Check pet stores or make a bed:
Feeding bowls
- Each pet in your house should have his or her own food and water bowl.
- Choose bowls designed especially for cats - shallow, broad-based metal or ceramic bowls.
Safe Toys
Cat toys, like toys for small children, are wonderful amusements and should be chosen carefully.
Use these tips:
Avoid toys that have sharp edges or parts that your kitten might swallow.
Choose soft toys that bounce erratically (the more bounce, the better).
Beware of yarn and toys with strings. Yarn or string is dangerous if ingested. Supervise all play with these toys.
- cat nip mice, the feather on a string on a stick and the toy that is round plastic like a donut and has a ball in a track that they can spin around but can't get out are favorites at our house.
Easing The Transition
Introduce your cat to your home gradually by following these helpful hints:
- For the first day or two, make sure your kitten knows where it's litter box, food and water are. I suggest picking them up and putting them in the litter box several times a day until you see them going in by themselves, this is just to be sure they know were it is in the new house. It is very important to make sure your kitten is eating and drinking enough, keep the food in an area where you and the kitten are going to spend the most time and make sure you observe the kitten eating/drinking several times a day.
- Children in the household
Show your children how to properly pick up a kitten and how to play with their new pet. Teach them that cats don't like to be teased or have their ears or tail pulled. Always supervise your children's interaction with your new kitten, especially when they have friends over to play.
Other pets
Tips for successful pet introductions
- If one cat shows hostility toward another during the initial introductions, don't punish him; that action could backfire. Instead, start the whole process over again after separating the animals for a while, don't force it.
- Respect each pet's territorial rights. If your older cat has claimed the living-room sofa as her favorite spot, allow her to keep that space as her own domain. Help your new kitten find a different spot she can call her own.
- Establish separate but equal relationships with each pet to prevent jealousy.
- If you have a dog, keep him on a leash at first, and monitor him closely. In the beginning, don't let him chase or bother your new kitten.
- Buy separate food and water bowls.
- Give each cat a separate litter box; this will help them resist the temptation to find a private privy in an inappropriate place.
- I use "Scoop Away" kitty litter, but any good quality litter can be used, I think the crystal litter is too hard on their feet.
Cat Proofing Your Home
Your cat's inquisitive nature can be dangerous. Follow these recommendations:
- Keep all medicines and household cleaning agents locked up.
- Shut the bathroom door when you run water in a bathtub.
- Keep stringy material away from your kitten, except under your supervision. Items like string, yarn, fishing line and thread attached to a needle can be lethal if swallowed.
- Close toilet lids, and make sure the fireplace is tightly screened.
- Secure unscreened windows. Cats may jump out of open windows. Cats often lean into screens as they nap, so secure the screens on all windows. Contrary to popular belief, cats don't always land on their feet when they fall and can be seriously injured.
- Close all garage and appliance doors. A warm dryer or a car engine may entice cats in search of a warm place to nap.
- Immediately place opened tin or aluminum cans behind closed doors or in containers with secure lids. The edges of these cans are extremely sharp and can cut or sever your cat's tongue.
- If possible, replace the antifreeze in your car with a nontoxic brand. Antifreeze tastes sweet to pets and is the most common feline poison. Ingesting just a teaspoon of antifreeze can cause kidney failure. Keep all other chemicals in the garage out of reach.
- Set rodent traps out of a cat's reach.
- Keep easily swallowed small items such as balls, string and bits of fabric away from your kitten.
- And most important to your cats care is lots of love and kisses daily!!!
*(worlds best kitty litter) litter
** We are now back to feeding our cats Iams dry food, adult and kitten, we tried feeding Evo "grain free" dry food but it did NOT agree with them, terrible tummy trouble, they are fine now back on Iams.
** and any good quality canned food
