Load Up On Supplies
Just like any pet, kittens require some basic necessities. These include:
Food (wet and dry)
Water and food bowls
Cat carrier for veterinary care
Litter
Litter box and litter tray
Litter scoop
Bed
Toys (select a variety)
Scratching post or other scratcher
Nail clippers
Brush
Collar and tag
Pet insurance
You can purchase these items from your local pet store or from the retail area at CAT’s shelter. Additionally, you can shop through AmazonSmile to benefit CAT with your purchase.
Source: thesprucepets.com
Create a Safe Room
When bringing home a new kitten, it is important to create a safe space for them to decompress and adjust to their new environment. This space should be in one room of the house that has everything they need to feel comfortable… most importantly a quiet location. A kitten needs quiet time every day. This will help them establish ground rules for inappropriate behavior and aggressive behavior. Kittens often seek out dark, covered spaces, so it’s important to provide something like this for them. A cardboard box with a blanket or towel draped over it can provide the perfect hiding spot for your kitten. You can also put some of their toys and food in there so they have everything they need, including ample bedding for their naps while they are adjusting.
It’s also important to make sure that the safe space you create is easily accessible and not too far away from where you will be spending most of your time. This way, if your kitten needs help or reassurance, you can easily get to her and provide comfort. Additionally, make sure that the area is free from any potential hazards such as electrical cords or other items that could cause harm. With these steps taken, your new kitten will have a safe place to go when feeling scared or overwhelmed in their new home.
Kitten-Proof Your Home
By providing kittens with a secure environment for a week, they can become more comfortable in their new home when they get full access. You’ll also be able to use the time to make your home ready for the upcoming arrival of a wild, crazy, and cute new family member. Decide on a permanent spot for your kitten’s litter box and food once they transition from the secure room.
Use child-proof locks to secure cabinets containing hazardous materials or hazardous items. Hide away electrical wires and window blind cords, and locate new, safe locations for plants or prized possessions.
Source: catadoptionteam.org
Your Kitten’s First Day
On the day of your kitten’s first day in its new home, there is a lot of excitement and anticipation. You have prepared everything for your new furry friend, from food and water bowls to toys and a cozy bed. As you open the door to let your kitten explore its new home, it cautiously steps out and begins to explore its surroundings. It sniffs around the furniture, climbs up on the windowsill, and curiously inspects every nook and cranny of the house.
Your kitten is full of energy as it plays with its toys, chasing after them as they roll across the floor. You watch in delight as it jumps onto the couch and curls up in a ball for a nap. As time passes, you can see that your kitten is beginning to feel more comfortable and have positive experiences and positive associations in its new home. It follows you around as you move about the house, purring contentedly when you pet it or pick it up for cuddles. Your kitten has settled into its new home perfectly!
Things to Do in Your First Week with Your Kitten
Introducing a kitten to your home can be thrilling, exciting experience but also challenging. To give your little furball a seamless transition, it’s smart to take certain steps during the first week after adoption.
First and foremost, make sure you have all the necessary supplies for your kitten such as everything listed above. You should also set up a safe space for them to explore and get used to their new environment. This could be a room or area of the house with no other pets or children present. Make sure to provide plenty of scratching posts and toys so they can play and exercise.
It is also important to establish a routine for your kitten right away. Feed them at the same time every day and create designated areas for sleeping and playing. Spend quality time with them each day by playing games or brushing their fur. This will help build trust between you and your pet while also providing mental stimulation. Lastly, make sure you schedule an appointment with your vet within the first week so they can receive any necessary vaccinations or treatments. Following these steps will help ensure that your kitten has a happy and healthy introduction process in their new home!
Your Kitten’s Daytime Routine
The first step in establishing a routine for your kitten is to ensure they have a safe, comfortable place to sleep. This could be a cat bed or even an old t-shirt that smells like you. Make sure their sleeping area is away from any loud noises or other pets, as this will help them feel secure and relaxed.
During the day, it’s important to give your kitten plenty of playtime and interaction with you. This will help them get used to being around people and build trust between you and your pet. You can use interactive toys such as feather wands or laser pointers to keep them entertained, as well as providing scratching posts and other items for them to explore. Additionally, make sure they have access to fresh water throughout the day and feed them at regular times so they know when meals are coming. Finally, provide plenty of cuddles and affection – cats love attention!
Your Kitten’s Nighttime Routine
One of the most important things to consider when caring for a kitten is their nighttime routine. A good nighttime routine will help your kitten get the rest they need to stay healthy and happy. A good nighttime routine should start with some playtime before bed. This can help tire out your kitten so they are ready for sleep. After playtime, it’s important to provide your kitten with a comfortable place to sleep, such as a cat bed or blanket.
You may also want to provide them with toys or treats that they can enjoy while sleeping. Once your kitten is settled in their sleeping area, it’s time for lights out! Make sure all lights are off and the room is dark and quiet so your kitten can get some quality rest. It’s also important to keep the temperature of the room comfortable for your kitten as well. By establishing a regular nighttime routine for your kitten, you can ensure that they get enough rest each night and stay healthy and happy!
Preventing problems before they start
To avoid unwanted behaviors in kittens, it is essential to meet all their needs in an appropriate way. This is especially crucial for cats that stay indoors because they must have other ways to play, explore, scratch, or socialize that are suitable inside the house.
Ensuring that your cat engages in safe and appropriate play from the start of its arrival at home will be beneficial for both of you. Outdoor cats typically expend energy searching for food, whereas indoor cats do not need to hunt for their meals. To give kitties the opportunity to satisfy their natural instinct to hunt and pounce, interactive playtime should be done moderately as these activities enhance their physical Stalking and pouncing are natural behaviors for kittens, which encourages healthy muscular development, so it’s good to let them do it in moderation.
Engage in predatory play with your cat by playing together with rods, mobile toys, or small lights. Simulating a hunting feel for your cat by having them chase a toy securely attached to a rod or batting around a gentle ball can provide needed physical activity. The ideal toys are lightweight and agile. Make sure that toys that can fit into the cat’s mouth and swallow are avoided and any string or ribbon is away from their reach. If these objects end up being ingested, then it could potentially lead to grave intestinal issues.
Having another social and playful cat in the home could be beneficial for your highly social and playful kitty, given that one of them has been identified as the “top cat” and a safe hierarchy is established.
Cats have an instinct to climb and lounge in trees, so provide comfortable bedding in a quiet area for them. They also love sunbathing, so offer them a spot on the best chair in the home.
Placing climbing and scratching posts your cat likes in the environment can help protect your furniture. Selecting the best toys for your cat requires an understanding of their individual preferences. Try different types of cat trees, scratching posts, and toys to figure out what interests them most. Establish an approved surface for scratching to help direct their natural behaviour outwards.
Source: vcahospitals.com
What should I do if I own more than one pet?
Certain kittens not only have to adjust to a new home, but must also become familiar with a family that contains both other animals and humans. While some kittens might appear afraid and display protective postures when it comes to the other creatures in the house, most young furballs are inquisitive and love to play. In truth, current pets which already have an established protective instinct for their home can often be more aggressive towards the newcomer than the kitten itself. If you know that your pooch or pussycat may act up with the fresh feline around, exert caution when introducing them for your safety.
For a smooth introduction to the new kitten, planning in advance is essential. Go over commands with your dog and ask him to sit and stay if he or the feline becomes uneasy during the introduction. Keep him leashed just in case it’s necessary to quickly retreat. Resident cats probably won’t obey voice commands, but can be tethered/fitted with a harness for fast evacuation if any hazardous behavior arises.
It is especially critical to confine the kitten to a limited area if there are other pets in the house due to two primary reasons. Firstly, the kitten needs its own space where it can feel secure. Secondly, the new kitten must not breach the individual areas already taken by other household pets. Mealtime and sleeping should be done apart from one another for a period of time. With time, both the kitten and existing animals will become familiar with one another’s signals and behaviors while forming loyalty and confidence in one another. When this happens, stress levels lower for all involved. Until then, the new kitten needs somewhere to go in times of altercation by either hiding or climbing up high to distance itself from any potential confrontations.
If a feline, rather than a canine, is already living in the home, then bringing in the new kitten may not be as complex. Generally speaking, adult cats are accepting of kittens if their domain is respected and they don’t believe they have been disregarded. Spend quality time with both cats, particularly during the transition phase when more time should be allotted to the senior one. Furthermore, set up separate eating areas for the two felines to kick off competition for food; although, watch the bowl of the older one just in case there’s any minor interference from the new one.
Generally, the introductory period lasts one to two weeks and has three possible outcomes:
If food and affection are given to both cats equally during the initial introduction period, hostility between the existing cat and the kitten is unlikely to occur.
Often, the existing cat won’t warm up to the new kitten and act as if it isn’t even there. This is more likely if the existing cat is quite independent and has been an only cat for a while. However, this usually doesn’t cause any harm even if it becomes permanent.
If the current resident cat is alone and there’s no competition, they’ll be more likely to become close with a new kitten. Playing, sleeping, and grooming each other will follow thereafter.
Source: vcahospitals.com
