Your Kitten's New Home

There are several considerations you must make before bringing your kitten home. Just as with any new addition to the family there are several areas that need attention before the kitten's arrival.

The first thing you should do is check around the home for safety concerns. Go room to room and carefully look for potential hazards such as:

  • Broken screens
  • Medicines
  • Exposed Solvents/Cleaners--garage
  • Small wires
  • Choking hazards (cords, small toys)
  • Poisonous Plants
  • Open containers of water
  • Open toilets
  • High open areas like lofts
  • Miscellaneous kitten brainstorms

 The next thing is setting up the "kitchen" and "bathroom". While more detailed information is available on the "Kitten Feeding Instructions" and "Litter Box Training" pages; you should consider setting up two litter boxes if your home has two levels or the sleeping area is far removed from the litter box location you picked out. Remember it is OK to remove a box when human company is expected as long as the kitten has an established alternate location. The feeding station should be in an area that is cool, fly-proof, and away from the litter pan. The basic equipment you will need:

  • Ceramic or glass water dish;
  • Ceramic or metal feed bowl;
  • Ceramic or glass feed plate (if wet feed is used);
  • Small bag of kitten dry food;
  • Airtight container to store opened dry food (popcorn tins are perfect);
  • Plastic lids to store opened refrigerated wet food
  • cat carrier if your kitten does not arrive in one.
  • 2 High-walled plastic litter pans;
  • Big scooper for litter;
  • Large bag of litter, (start with whatever your breeder uses);
  • Rubber gloves for litter pan cleaning (dedicated use);
  • Household bleach or other disinfectant;
  • Scrub brush for pans;
  • Small disposible bags to store collected waste (they must be airtight).

The last items are the fun stuff and many are optional but highly recommended within a few weeks of your kitten's arrival:

  • Scratching post;
  • bed or blanket;
  • small ball;
  • hand-held toy (could be wand or just a piece of yarn;
  • kitten condo or cat tree;
  • grooming brush;
  • nail clippers;
  • toothbrush;
  • cat shampoo;
  • flea control (if necessary in your climate);
  • collar/harness;
  • ID collar tag.

Some other details for you to attend to are selecting a good and close veterinarian and "house sitter". You should plan to take your kitten to the vet as soon as possible after arriving at home for a full exam. At this time you can also set up a schedule of routine vet appointments for shots and check ups. Your vet can advise you about developing a preventative care plan that will keep your kitten healthy for many years to come.

You should have a "plan b" for how to arrange for kitten care while away on trips of greater than 24 hours duration. Litter boxes need cleaning and food must be replaced and water bowls cleaned and freshened daily. Your cat/kitten also needs Tender Loving Care and big bowls of food and water don't cut it.

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