Bringing Your Kitten Home
Congratulations!
It's spring and kittens are everywhere!
Here are a few helpul tips to bringing home a new baby.
You are now the proud adoptive parent of a brand new ball of fluff and you can’t wait to welcome your new kitten as a member of the family.
Just as bringing a new baby home involves a lot of preparation, so does the welcoming of a new kitten.
Your young kitten will be making a transition from our nursery where he or she is comfortable, to a new and even a little scary (but loving) environment. There are many steps that you can take to make this transition as smooth as possible for your kitten.
Pre-Kitten Arrival Shopping List
Before bringing your kitten home, you’ll want to stock up on some necessities. Check with us at Doll Face Cattery to find out what kind of food we feed our kittens and adults. It is recommended that you continue to feed your kitten this brand for several weeks after adoption, before very gradually switching to a new food, if you choose. This will avoid any unnecessary tummy troubles or loose stools to bother your kitten as he or she adjusts.
Buying the same brand of kitty litter that we use at Doll Face Cattery is a good idea as well, as the sight and texture will be what your kitten is accustomed to, and this familiarity could possibly prevent a few accidents.
Here’s a list of some other recommended kitten gear that you may want to have on hand before the big day:
Cat Carrier
Please bring your cat carrier with you, Make sure to pad the bottom of the carrier for both comfort, and as a precaution towards accidents.
Dishes, Food and Water
Be sure to monitor the kitten closely to make sure that it is eating and drinking, though they might do neither for a few hours after you first bring them home. We recommend both food and water dishes be emptied and washed daily to prevent bacteria and germs from accumulating.
Litter Tray/Scoop
You’ll want to have a litter tray ready and waiting and introduce your new kitty to it immediately. I like the covered variety, as it prevents litter from scattering to the four corners of the room at the first scratch of a paw. If your kitten does have an accident, wipe it up with a paper towel and then place the paper towel in the litter tray. After a little repetition, this will show your kitten that the correct place to use the potty is in the litter box. Don’t punish your kitten, as this will only cause him or her to not go in front of you. Kittens are very sensitive to odors so scooping twice a day will encourage regular use of the litter pan.
Grooming Set
A brush, a comb, and nail clippers will come in handy. You won’t be using them during the first week, but after your kitten is all settled in, you’ll want to establish a grooming routine.
Cat Tree
A good, sturdy sisal rope or carpet-covered cat tree can be a huge asset to any cat lover’s home, as the scratching post will stand up much better to needle-sharp little claws than your nice sofa or curtains. Make sure to get one that is at least 2 and a half-feet tall with a heavy base that won’t tip if your kitten gets a little enthusiastic. I also use natural slabs of wood for shelving, it still has bark on it and the cats love to scratch it.
Make Sure Your Home is “Kitten proof”
Since your kitten is still technically a baby, you’ll want to make sure that your home is kitten-proofed before he or she gets there. Keep all dangerous cleaning chemicals, pesticides, or antifreeze up and out of the way, or behind child-locked cupboard doors. Child locks can be picked up cheaply at any grocery store and you would be surprised at how dexterous kittens can be when it comes to opening cupboard doors.
In addition, any plants that may be harmful to kittens, such as those listed below should be kept out of reach.
One way to know for sure that your home is kitten-proofed is to stoop to their level, so to speak.
Get down on the floor and check out your home from their point of view.
Your Kitten’s Safe Room
When you bring your kitten home, have his or her own special place (ideally a separate room) set up and ready for them.
First Vet Check
Once you get your kitten home, you should schedule a checkup with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Scheduling a well visit for within the first few days of having your kitten at home will give your vet an opportunity to meet your kitten and record the health information to date that you will receive upon your kitten's arrival. At this time, you will also be able to schedule your kitten’s spay or neuter appointment and administer or schedule the last of your kitten's series of vaccinations. Any other questions about the care of your new kitten can also be answered at this time.
Introducing Your Kitten to Other Pets, Take your time!
If introducing your kitten to the rest of the family includes him or her making the acquaintance of your dog Fred and two elderly cats named Togo and Yoni, proceed with caution. Your other pets have staked a claim on your home and need to be reassured that the newcomer isn’t there to oust them. This process can take a few days to a week to be successful, be patient.
By quarantining your new kitten, your other pets will already have been aware that he or she is there, and had an opportunity to get used to their scent. When the first meeting takes place, keep it short. Let them all get the chance to see what that odd scent in the guest bedroom was, but don’t let your kitten become too frightened or your other pets too aggressive.
From then on, allow the pets to be in the same room together, with supervision, until they’ve all become used to each other. They will work out their issues, given time. This could take a week or more, but exercise patience and be sure to lavish attention and reassurance on your established pets, to stop any jealousy in its tracks.
By following these outlined steps, you will be able to welcome your kitten into your home with a minimum of fuss and stress on you, your new pet, and your established pets. Before long, your kitten will be settled in nicely, and so much a part of your family, it will seem like they’ve been their forever.
I hope you enjoyed this newsletter.
From my heart to yours, Pat and the critters.
Have you hugged your pet today?
You may print this newsletter for future reference.
"IF YOU'VE BENEFITED FROM THIS ARTICLE IN ANY WAY
OR SIMPLY ENJOYED READING IT AND HAVE QUESTIONS
I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
I will always try to answer your questions.
FORWARD YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO:
Newsletter from the Heart July 2010
This page was last updated: July 20, 2010
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Hi Pat I really enjoyed reading your newsletter. There was a lot of information and it was great.
Iris is doing good. She is the greatest cat and very funny. She has some of the cutest ways about her. I have never had a cat like her. I call her my little shadow. When I am home she never leaves my side. She is more like a little dog in her actions.
If I am talking about something and my voice gets loud or excited, Iris comes running and jumps up in my lap and then puts her paws on my chest and looks me right in the eye with such a concerned look on her face as if to say--what's wrong-are you all right-what's the matter-what's the matter!! So I have to tell her everything is ok and then she will get down and sit beside me. She is sooooooo cute. I love her to death. Thank you again for letting me have her.
I'll send you another picture of her. I take them all of the time..
Talk to you later
Priscilla Iris La Flur's mom.
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Lexi and Carlos dressed the kittens in doll clothes, both kittens look a little surprised at their new look.
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I'm the boss and mommy knows it!
Mary Rose
Animal abandonment and rescue part 2.
If only I could talk I would ask you why would you want to kill me?
My newsletter this month is the second letter that I have felt a real need to write.
One of my friends has been very gracious again in helping me foster a rescued dog.
My friend Faith rescued a pit bull; her name is Jade and is a really great dog.
I went to her home to meet her and photograph her. What a beautiful dog she is! Jade has been given a flea bath and frontline was applied to prevent future fleas and ticks.
Here is what makes this story really awful!
We actually know the person that had her and he was moving and was going to shoot Jade in the head because he couldn't take her with him.
How selfish, cruel, and irresponsible an act that would have been!
Jade is a healthy 2 year old dog.
Hattie her daughter already knew the dog and has a great relationship with her, the two kittens Faith and I rescued from the farm were brought out to meet Jade. Jade likes the kittens and tries to wash them all the time like a mother. Jade walks with out a leash around the yard with her foster family, rides well in the car once you help her get in, (car is high off the ground, so a boost is needed) she responds well to voice commands.
Jade is getting some great training, she will sit on command, stay, walk with Faith and Hattie, and comes when called.
This is a temporary home as she isn’t in the position of keeping a dog at her home.
We are looking for a good home for Jade, one that will love and take care of her.
Jade will be Spayed next week so “you” the new owner will not have to worry about the cost of spaying or puppies in the future. She will receive her rabbi shot and any other shots needed and be wormed again.
She will be given a certificate of health from Dr. Blake stating just what was done, (this is for your convince to show your vet).
She will make an excellent pet for your home!
To all my friends and anyone that has adopted a kitten from me know that I'm just a phone call away. You are always welcome to call me if you find yourself in a situation where you can't take care of a pet, then call me. I don’t go far from home and I'm always willing to help. I can call around to help you place your babies.
To any one that has a beautiful cat or dog that isn’t fixed, now would be a good time to do it. It's matting season for dogs and cats.
You will probably have a litter by this fall.
I personally can't take in a stray because I'm a closed Cattery.
However and I stress the however,
I have so many friends that help me out all the time.
All I have to do is make a call and one of them will try to take a foster placement till a family can be found.
Here are a few suggestions to help get your kitten fixed:
Help Fix Me Program. 1800-367-1317 cost $10.00 cat $20.00 dog. This also comes with a Rabies shot for your pets protection.
www.pets911.com lists every humane society in the USA.
WCHS = Waldo County Humane Society 525-7723 they only charge $50.00 female $30.00 male and they get a rabies shot with the visit.
HSUS= Humane Society of the United States. www.HSUS.com They have a lot of great information and different places you can go to get help.
If this newsletter has touched your heart then please pass it on to someone that needs help.
Get involved, start a rescue group in your area, donate an extra bag of pet food to the local food bank, have a bake sale and donate the proceeds to a local shelter.
Some of the people that go to the food pantry also have pets. This will take a great burden off them and you will be blessed.
Love and hugs to all, Pat and the critters
Have you loved your pet today?
