INTRODUCING A KITTEN TO A NEW HOME

By selecting a kitten as your new pet, you have chosen an extremely clean pet with legendary skills for hunting and one that usually needs little house training because its mother usually has already taught it to use the litter box.  All these advantages come in one furry package that requires little care but provides excellent companionship.  Cats, however, demand that their love and loyalty be earned.

Cats must have regular meals, clean litter, grooming, and attention in the form of play.  A cat will be quite content to live its entire life indoors provided that its owner offers companionship.

Male or female, kittens and cats are affectionate, intelligent, and playful.  However, unless you plan to breed the cat, NEUTERING is recommended to keep males from spraying and females from producing unwanted litters.  Neutering/spaying should be performed at 6 months of age.

Needed supplies for a new kitten include a proper health record with dates of vaccinations and dewormings, high quality food, bowls for water and food, a litter pan with litter and scoop, kitten shampoo, grooming tools, a pet carrier and, of course, toys.

Prepare your home for the new kitten before letting it loose.  Be sure all doors and windows are closed to prevent escape.  Place the kitten’s bed (crate) in a secluded area and the litter box in another secluded area.  Take the kitten out and let it explore the room where it is to stay.  Kittens and cats will explore endlessly until it feels totally comfortable in the surroundings.

When the kitten becomes totally comfortable, its tail will go straight up.  Once it feels comfortable it will start to groom itself.

Show the kitten the litter box, and place the kitten in it several times.  It’s rare for a kitten to reject the box.  If this does happen, the litter box should be moved to another more secluded area.  If the problem continues, it may be necessary to place several boxes around the home or you may need to experiment with different types of litter.  The kitten will find one that suits its need for privacy within 24 hours.  Remember, cats are EXTREMELY clean pets.

It is surprisingly easy for cats and even dogs to adapt to each other—even if they are introduced gradually and gently.

Note: This article is provided by Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital® for informational purposes only.