She'll bring you many years of amusement and companionship. All she'll expect in return is a little effort from you to keep her safe, healthy, and content.
Although cats make few demands on their owners, they still need lots of attention, particularly during their early months.
We know that first-time cat owners have many questions about their new pets. In these pages, we've included advice on how to handle your kitten's first days at home and on such basic needs as house-training, health care, and feeding.
Although we've tried to cover most of the essentials, you'll almost certainly have some questions we haven't answered. We've included a list of recommended books at the end of this article.
Remember, though, that the most knowledgeable source of information about your kitten is your veterinarian or rescue organization. They know your kitten and help you learn what's best for her.
Before you bring your kitten home, you should also select a veterinarian and set up a program of preventive health care for your kitten. Your rescue organization or other cat owners can make recommendations, but it's important to find someone you can be comfortable with. Take the time to get acquainted with a veterinarian before you make an appointment for your kitten's first visit.
Also keep in mind that many commonly-used cat toys (such as yarn, string, rubber bands, aluminum foil and cellophane) can be dangerous if they are accidentally swallowed. Your kitten should play with such objects only with your supervision.
Your kitten can't judge what's safe and what isn't. She needs your help.
It will also help to have certain basic supplies already waiting when your kitten comes home. All of these are readily available and relatively inexpensive; some may even be improvised from household odds and ends.
The most important thing you can do to make your new kitten feel at home is to have a corner already furnished with a basket and cushion.
Cat beds come in many varieties, from elaborate cat beds sold at pet stores to a homemade box. The size of your cat's bed should be in proportion to her adult size. Bear in mind, though, that cats prefer to sleep curled up rather than stretched out in a large space.
For your kitten's first bed, a corrugated cardboard box with sides about twelve inches high will suffice. The high sides will help her feel more secure and will also help to keep out drafts. Cut out a doorway in the front and line the box with a pillow or cushion covered in washable fabric. Place the bed in a warm, quiet corner of your house or apartment.
The most useful cat carriers are made of lightweight plastic or fiberglass. Wicker carriers may be more attractive, but they are drafty and hard to clean.
You'll need two heavy ceramic or stainless steel bowls: one for dry food and one for water. If you have more than one kitten, make the bowls WIDE enough for them to share. A separate platter should be used for the canned food - wide enough for them to share. Fresh water should be available to your kitten at all times and dishes should be washed after every meal, especially from canned food.
Commercial litter doesn't have to changed every day - just use the scoop to remove the wet places and feces and replace them with fresh litter. You should, however, wash the litter box once or twice a week with hot water. BE CAREFUL; some disinfectants - such as Lysol - can be toxic, and your kitten may be repelled by their scent.
Although shredded newspaper may appear to be a cost-effective alternative to commercial cat litter, it absorbs soil and odor less effectively and is harder to clean up. Moreover, it can encourage your kitten to use newspaper not intended for the purpose. Using a high-quality cat food available at specialty pet stores will help to reduce litter box odors. It will also help to minimize your kitten's trips to the litter box, sparing you both litter costs and clean-up time.
Kittens less than eight weeks old may be too small to use an adult-size litter box. An inexpensive aluminum or plastic pan with a two-inch rim will suffice until the kitten is able to graduate to a regular box. Smaller, shorter litter boxes are also available at specialty pet stores. These will also fit into some cat carriers, making a trip with your kitten a cleaner experience in many cases!
Pregnant women need to be aware of toxoplasmosis, a disease carried by cats that can cause birth defects. Toxoplasmosis is a common disease that afflicts people as well as pets. However, the cat is the only animal known to expel the parasite in its feces. If pregnant, you should use gloves while handling the litter box and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Your cat can be kept free of infection by feeding it only commercial food and keeping her indoors.
All scratching posts should have a base wide enough so that it will not tip over and scare the kitten aware from using it again.
The collar should be elastic or have a breakaway section so that the kitten can escape if the collar catches on some object. The collar should carry identification (your name, phone number, rescue organization's phone number). Implanting a microchip is an excellent way to identify your kitten should it end up at the animal shelter or a veterinarian's office. They have scanners to identify the microchip number and can call you.
A small kitten may be lifted by the scruff of the neck, as long as her hindquarters are supported. An older cat should only be lifted in this way, however, if she is behaving aggressively.
Children under the age of eight years should not be allowed to pick up a kitten. It is better if the child sits on the floor and the kitten crawls onto her lap, thus avoiding any spinal injuries to the kitten.
If you already have another pet, you should take special care in introducing it to your new kitten. If the two pets meet unplanned, they could become lifelong enemies. It is probably best to confine your other pet while your kitten explores her new surroundings. Once she's learned to find her way around the house, the best time for her to meet an existing pet is at meal time. Each animal should be given its own dish, well apart from the other. Chances are your older pet will not even notice the newcomer until after he has finished feeding, and the encounter is likely to be more relaxed all around.
You should be prepared to break up a fight, however, if one develops. Pick up the aggressor and cuddle her and allow the weaker one time to get her breath. This is a situation involving the establishment of the "pecking order." Ask your rescue organization for more information if you are concerned - BEFORE something happens that cannot be undone.
If your resident pet is an adult dog, you should keep him on a leash or confine the kitten in a wire cage. A dog can seriously injure a small kitten with one snap of his jaws or swipe of the paw.
If you have birds or fish, the situation will be the reverse, and appropriate precautions should be taken to protect them from harm by your kitten.
