By Savannah Admire
Melanie DeFazio / Stocksy
A playful, cuddly kitten could be the proper addition to your loved ones, whether or not you have already got different pets or are simply beginning out as a pet guardian. However earlier than you select a kitten at your native shelter or rescue, be sure to have all of the cat necessities for a kitten to make your new pet really feel at dwelling.
Contemplate Your Adoption Choices
When you’ve determined you need a kitten, you could be questioning about one of the best ways to carry one into your private home. There are a couple of choices you’ll be able to pursue for making the transition to being a pet guardian to a kitten.
Adoption From a Shelter or Breeder
Adopting a kitten from a neighborhood rescue or shelter will help save a cat in want and supply them with a house. Should you select to buy from a breeder, be sure to analysis and select an moral breeder who treats their animals effectively. Observe that almost all shelters and rescues gained’t undertake out kittens till they’re at the very least eight weeks outdated, at which level they need to be weaned from their moms’ and vaccinated.
Fostering
Should you haven’t been a cat guardian earlier than, you could wish to check out fostering a kitten by means of your native shelter. This expertise offers you perception into what being a pet guardian to a kitten is like earlier than you absolutely decide to doing so.
Senior Adoption
If kittens are too high-energy for you, take into account adopting an grownup or senior cat. Senior cats include their very own challenges, however with persistence and love, you’ll be able to find yourself with an affectionate companion.
What do you have to pay attention to earlier than adopting a kitten?
Kittens are typically much less high-maintenance than puppies, however they nonetheless require a variety of time and a spotlight, and there are a couple of important issues to learn about kittens earlier than making this dedication.
Kitten Age and Well being
Cats are referred to as kittens from start to 1 yr. Throughout this time, they require a particular weight-reduction plan, common playtime, and psychological stimulation to remain completely satisfied and wholesome. You should definitely take your kitten to the veterinarian inside their first week of their new dwelling.
Kitten Character and Temperament
Kittens are playful, curious, and wanting to discover. In contrast to grownup cats, who typically get pleasure from their alone time, kittens require extra consideration, so be ready to dedicate at the very least an hour every day to grooming, playtime, or cozy snuggles.
Kitten Meals and Vitamin
Kittens require a weight-reduction plan that features additional protein, nutritional vitamins, fat, and minerals, so select a dry or moist cat meals (or one in every of every) designed for kittens.
Kitten Litter Field and Litter
Whereas puppies require house-training, kittens instinctively wish to use a litter field and naturally perceive the idea. Be certain that to maintain the litter field clear and select a non-clumping litter till your kitten is older.
Kitten Toys and Playtime
Spending time enjoying together with your kitten will help the 2 of you bond and supply a approach for them to burn off some power. Buy a wide range of toys to maintain your kitten entertained.
Kitten Grooming
One other approach to bond together with your kitten is to groom them frequently. Lengthy-haired kittens want each day, quick grooming classes, whereas short-haired kittens could solely want grooming as soon as per week.
Kitten Veterinary Care
Your kitten’s first yr ought to embrace vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventatives, and spaying or neutering. Even indoor cats require common vaccinations to forestall illness. At round 4 to 5 months, kittens could be spayed or neutered. Whereas some pet dad and mom could really feel hesitant about this surgical procedure, doing so will help your cat reside longer, cut back the dangers of reproductive cancers, and preserve your cat from wandering away from dwelling.
What are the important gadgets I want for adopting a brand new cat?
Now that you simply’re conscious of what to know earlier than adopting a cat, it’s time to plan your purchasing checklist of provides for a cat. So, what do kittens want?
Meals and Water Bowls
Chrome steel or ceramic bowls are finest and will help your kitten keep away from an allergic response to plastic bowls that may trigger chin pimples (sure, kittens can get pimples). Be certain that to scrub out your kitten’s meals bowls each day, even when they lick the dish clear at every meal.
Litter Field and Scoop
Search for a shallow pan so your kitten doesn’t need to battle over a excessive rim to make use of the toilet. You’ll be able to improve to a bigger litter field as your kitten grows. Select a litter scoop that’s sturdy and unlikely to interrupt when cleansing the litter.
Kitten Mattress
Your cat necessities checklist ought to embrace a comfy place to nap. You can begin with a small, kitten-sized mattress or put money into a bigger one designed for grownup cats. Should you select a big mattress, use blankets to assist the house really feel extra enclosed.
Toys
Cats want psychological stimulation to maintain them energetic and completely satisfied. Buy a wide range of toys, from easy kick toys to transferring toys and puzzles, to maintain your kitten entertained.
Scratching Submit
Scratching has many advantages for cats, from relieving stress to serving to them shed nail layers for more healthy claws. However you don’t need your furnishings to undergo, so scratching posts are cat requirements to maintain them wholesome and entertained.
Provider
Many shelters and rescues don’t present a provider, so that you’ll have to buy one to carry your kitten dwelling. A provider additionally is useful when it’s time to take your kitten to the vet.
Collar and ID Tag
A collar with a bell will help you retain monitor of your kitten as they discover their new dwelling. Simply guarantee that any collar you buy has a breakaway snap to maintain your cat secure if their collar turns into caught on one thing.
When you ought to have your cat microchipped, you also needs to add an ID tag to their collar to make it straightforward for others to know the place your kitten belongs in the event that they get misplaced. An ID tag ought to embrace your kitten’s identify, your identify, your mobile phone quantity, and your tackle.
How can I introduce my new kitten to current pets?
If you have already got pets in your house, introducing them to a brand new kitten ought to be performed rigorously and slowly. With all introductions, be sure to oversee and look ahead to any indicators of aggression.
With regards to different cats, introduce the kitten by permitting every animal to satisfy the opposite by means of a closed door the place they will odor the opposite’s scent. After a couple of days, you’ll be able to introduce the cat and kitten face-to-face by putting the kitten in a provider. As soon as each animals seem snug and don’t present any indicators of aggression, you’ll be able to let the cat and kitten meet one another at their very own tempo by leaving the door to the kitten’s room open.
Lots of the similar guidelines apply to introducing a kitten to a canine. Begin with smells, comparable to switching the canine and kitten’s blankets, so that they’re conscious of one another’s presence. Then you’ll be able to introduce the 2 by means of a child gate earlier than finally letting your canine and kitten meet.
New Kitten Guidelines
This new pet guardian’s guidelines is a good useful resource for ensuring you’re offering every part your kitten must develop right into a well-adjusted cat, however there are some things you need to be conscious of immediately.
How do I create a secure and stimulating setting for my kitten?
Begin by making a “secure room” on your kitten in a toilet, dwelling workplace, or visitor room the place you’ll be able to shut the door. This house ought to be absolutely kitten-proof, which implies eradicating any breakable or dangling gadgets and putting in child-proof latches on cupboards and drawers.
What are some widespread kitten behaviors and the way do I tackle them?
Kittens need and have to scratch, so be sure to supply them with acceptable scratching posts to guard your furnishings and different gadgets in your home. In case your kitten exhibits any indicators of aggression towards different pets within the dwelling, separate the animals instantly.
What vaccinations and veterinary care does a kitten want?
Kittens want a number of vaccinations of their first yr, together with a rabies vaccine, which is required by legislation. You also needs to put money into heartworm and flea preventatives in addition to spaying or neutering.
Conclusion
Earlier than you undertake a kitten, take the time to study precisely what you’ll want to know earlier than adopting a kitten and guarantee that you’ve got every part you want for a cat. There are many kittens in shelters who want loving houses and would make wonderful companions.
FAQ
What ought to I pay attention to earlier than adopting a kitten?
Whereas cats are largely unbiased, kittens require extra consideration and time. Do your analysis about belongings you want earlier than getting a cat and make a brand new cat guidelines.
What are the important gadgets I want for a brand new kitten?
Your kitten necessities guidelines ought to embrace a litter field and scoop, a provider, a kitten mattress, meals and water bowls, a scratching submit, and toys.
How do I put together my dwelling for a brand new kitten?
Take time to kitten-proof your private home by placing away breakable gadgets and buying all of the gadgets on this new cat proprietor guidelines.
What ought to I learn about kitten vitamin and feeding?
Present your kitten with some moist meals as a result of kittens can have hassle chewing dry meals. Overview labels for the right amount to feed your kitten.
What vaccinations and veterinary care does a kitten want?
Kittens want annual vaccinations to guard them from widespread diseases like rabies and distemper, in addition to common heartworm and flea preventatives.
Savannah Admire is a author, editor, and pet guardian to 2 canine and a cat. When she’s not writing, you could find her studying, enjoying Animal Crossing, or being an obnoxious nerd about her favourite motion pictures and TV exhibits. She lives in Maryland, the place she consistently debates whether or not or to not get a 3rd canine.
