Bringing a kitten into your home can be a life-changing experience — for both you and your kitten. Understand the needs of your family and your new furry friend to help ensure a smooth transition into your home.
Make a Purr-fect Plan. After all, kittens are just like babies and before you bring babies home you want to make sure that you have all the items they need. Many people actually underestimate and overlook the small, simple but important items that kittens need, to be happy and healthy.
Kitten-Proof your Home:
Securely screen all windows and doors to prevent falls.
Keep your kitten off balconies, upper porches and high decks.
Keep toilet lids closed. Cats may play in or drink the water and the lid could close and trap them. Toilet bowl cleaners are harmful if swallowed.
Keep electrical cords short or secure them against a baseboard so they don’t use them as chew toys.
Shorten Mini Blind cords, kittens love to play with anything hanging down within their reach and can get tangled up in these.
Keep all plants out of kitten’s reach, check out my Links page for a link to the ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant list.
Be sure to check for kitten before you bring your Reclining Chair back to its upright position. Kittens like to play Hide and Seek.
Pick up these kitten essentials:
Carrier crate – be sure to bring this with you when you pick up your kitten. Place a towel or some sort of padding on the bottom, both for comfort and in case of any accidents on the way home.
Food and water bowls - we recommend stainless steel or ceramic, Plastic bowls can harbor bacteria that can cause acne and other health issues.
Kitten food - we use Purina Kitten Chow. Continue to use this brand and gradually add the brand of your choice over several weeks to avoid tummy upsets. Anytime you change your kitten’s food, do so gradually over a 7 – to 10 – day period. Mix the old and new foods, gradually increasing the ration of the new food.
Litter box – this doesn’t have to be too small; by the time they are ready to go home they are already using the larger boxes like Mommy and Daddy. Don’t forget the slotted scoop. It is best to clean them at least once or twice a day as cats are pretty clean animals and they like a clean box.
Scoopable clumping litter – we use BJ’s brand but any brand will work just as good.
Scratch pole - cats like to scratch and if you have one available they will learn to use this instead of your nice leather couch.
Playful toys — feathers, wiggle wands, jingle balls even a simple pom pom.
Grooming tools - brush, comb and nail clippers. If you start combing them right away they will get used to it and actually learn to enjoy the special time with you. Persians tend to get weepy eyes, I keep a supply of baby bath towels for cleaning eyes, just use warm water and wipe. Q-tips work great for cleaning ears too.
Find a veterinarian you trust. With some luck and care, this relationship will last 15 to 20 years, so it pays to seek good care at a quality practice. There is a lot to cover during the first few "well kitten" visits, including vaccinations, deworming, and future plans for spaying or neutering.
Take lots of pictures and start a kitten scrapbook. Your new best friend is going to grow up very quickly! Don’t forget to send us some pictures once in a while; we love to see how they are growing.