Things I Need to Do for Getting a Kitten

Bringing home a new kitten is a positive experience, but only if you are ready for the new arrival. Being unprepared for the new pet adds unnecessary stress to the experience and can lead to furniture being clawed up, accidents being left on the carpet and an unhappy pet in unsafe living conditions.

  1. Make Your House Kitten-Proof

    • Before a new kitten arrives you should take time to free your home of any dangerous obstacles that can harm a curious kitten. Keep electrical wires up high or hide them so that the kitten cannot chew on them. Other cords, such as a pull string for curtains, can be a choking hazard for a kitten, so keep them out of reach. Make sure any harmful chemicals are stored away and check your household plants to make sure they are not toxic.

    Necessities

    • Keep the kitten's dish clean to prevent bacterial build up.

      You will need to buy a few supplies before the new kitten comes home. The new kitten will need a separate food bowl, water bowl and litter box, even if you have other cats. For best results, find out what brand of cat litter the breeder uses so that the kitten will already be comfortable with it. Your veterinarian can recommend the best food formula and diet for your new kitten. The kitten will also need a cat bed to stay warm. Purchase a bed that is washable to keep the kitten's personal space neat and clean.

    Setting Up a Room for Kitten

    • The new kitten should be isolated in its own room for the first few days as it becomes acclimated to its new environment. The kitten's room should be completely blocked off from the rest of the house or any other pets you may have. The room should be comfortable, well-lit, warm and free of any hazards. Place the kitten's food and water bowls and litter box in the room, but keep them separated as the kitten will not want to go to the bathroom where it eats.

    Stimulation

    • A new kitten requires toys and other items to keep it stimulated and happy. Your kitten will feel the urge to scratch furniture and other items so find a scratching post big and sturdy enough to accommodate your cat. Finding the right toys for your kitten may be a trial-and-error process as each cat has its own tastes. Catnip is a healthy stimulant for a cat and rubbing some catnip on a toy or scratching post can get your kitten to interact with it. Household items like paper bags, cardboard boxes and small balls are safe alternatives to purchasing cat toys.