What To Think About Before Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home
This is a re-post: If you’ve got a new kitten or plan to adopt one, check out this informative post on What To Think About Before Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home! This post not only applies to kittens but cats as well. The shelters and charities are full of these precious souls just waiting for a good home. I follow many cat accounts on Instagram and love the adoption stories of stray cats finding wonderful, forever homes.
Happy Thursday everyone! We are day 15 into The 24 Days Before Christmas and we are talking about Welcoming A New Kitten Into Your Home! I think this post is so appropriate for this time of year plus I have first hand knowledge. No, we didn’t adopt a kitten but my sister did! His name is Finn and he is the most precious, most beautiful, most perfect kitten I have ever met!
Create a safe space for your new kitten to hide and decompress. If not, he might find one himself that is not safe or you can’t reach him.
Plan for him to have access to one room in the house that will have everything he needs to acclimate himself. Kittens will seek out dark, covered spaces, so set up something that will fit these criteria:
• a kennel or carrier
• a cave bed
Get creative, but make it comfortable. Make sure you have soft and warm blankets or towels for him to curl up in.
It’s also good to block off areas you don’t want him burrowing into. Underneath beds and dressers, closets, cupboards, etc.
Stock up on supplies before you get your kitten. Having the right tools can help prevent messes, injury, and stress. Having the correct gear can also facilitate the early stages of training before bad habits can be learned.
4. Kitten Proofing
For cats, plants are one of the biggest concerns.
Other concerns include cords, rope or string, candles, decorations, and loose food from people or other pets. Also, put aside any valuable knick nacks that can be easily knocked off shelves and tables once your kitten is feeling brave enough to explore.
5. Educate Yourself
If you do know your new kitties’ breed, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research so that you can get an idea of what to expect. Check out Cattime.com to help learn more about cat breeds.
6. Assess Your Situation
Consider your current living situation and routine before you get a kitten. If you have a hectic schedule or have a lot of traffic coming in and out of your home, then it might be too stressful of an environment to welcome a kitten.
You’ll want to spend at least a few days with your new kitten helping them adjust before returning to your usual routine, like work. It’s also a good idea to allow your kitten to get comfortable for a few weeks before bringing friends or family to meet him.
Too much change all in a row can overwhelm a baby cat, leading to destructive, dangerous, or aggressive behaviours.
7. Plan Your Trip Home
Make sure you are prepared for your trip home with your new kitten. Driving with a new kitten or any pet for that matter can be stressful. Make life easier and be prepared!
Cats are carnivores, so a meat-rich diet with minimal and low-glycemic carbohydrates will help support their energy needs and help them build the muscle mass their bodies need.
Glass, metal, and ceramic cat bowls are better options as they are less likely to collect bacteria and are easy to keep sanitized in between feedings.
The second factor you should consider is the shape of the bowl. Whisker fatigue is when your kitten’s sensitive whiskers are overstimulated. This can be very frustrating, and disorienting and lead to anxious behaviours and poor eating habits. Look for a wide, shallow, saucer-style bowl, like Ore’ Pet Bamboo Bowl, to prevent whisker fatigue.
Fountains are often preferred by cats because the constant movement and filtration of the water help keep the water a degree or two cooler and much cleaner than stagnant water.
Choosing a litter box will depend on the size and ability of your kitten. You may think it’s cost-effective to pick up a litter box that is large enough to suit them when they are full-grown, but it may simply be too big or tall for your baby cat to get in and out of.
It’s best to start with a shallower open litter box until your kitten is big enough to use a larger or hooded box, like the Catit Jumbo Hooded Litter Box.
Choosing a good litter involves considering how the litter affects your kitten and how it affects you. A great starter litter kittens that are still learning good litter habits is Dr. Elsey’s Kitten Attract Litter. The natural scent-based attractant in this litter helps to encourage your kitten to use the litter box.
Gravel litters are often very dusty and some pet owners are concerned about the harm caused by a cat breathing in that dust.
For a more natural option, you can try a non-gravel-based litter. Some are very similar in texture to gravel, while others are meant to be super absorbent. Here are a few of our faves:
• World’s Best Cat Litter
Litter accessories aren’t required but can make litter maintenance much easier. Litter scoops, mats, and filters can help reduce the mess and smell of your kitten’s litter box area.
The Litter Locker Disposal System is one of our favorite accessories. The large bags can last up to 2 months and save you daily trips to the garbage. They lock in odors too, so you don’t have to hold your breath when you walk by the litter box.
I’m Bobbi Jo, a lab-lover who took my passion for animals and dogs and turned it into something bigger. When I adopted Jake and Maggie, my love for them became the driving force behind Two Adorable Labs, and my blog was born. My hope is to not only share them with the world, but to help educate others on the importance of animal health and well-being.
I love hearing from all of you and do my best to respond to each and every one of you. I always enjoy your comments, feedback, and suggestions so keep them coming! If I’ve posted a recipe (for our human and our furry friends) and you try it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @twoadorablelabs and use #twoadorablelabs.
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Thank you so much for the wonderful information and making our little Finny a star in your blog post! ❤
Awh you are welcome! Thank you for saving him and giving him a good home! He’s the best :-).
Such great information if anyone is thinking about getting a kitten. Little Finn is soooo cute! I love their little houses. I’m attached to your Moms cat Boo Boo..I just love her..very interesting read…
Thank you! I know…Finn is the cutest! Boo Boo is a sweetheart.
WHAT AN “ADORABLE” CAT ????! I ENJOYED ALL THE PHOTOS. FINN IS ABSOLUTELY “PURR-FECT”!!!!
Awh thank you! Yes, he is Purr-fect! :-).