I'm getting a kitten monday...what should I expect? ?

Question

Probably from the local pound. I'm really excited but I know there's probably a few things I'll need to prepare for,any help would be great! =)

Answer 1

I'm personally fond of automatic litter boxes, so I don't have to scoop it. they can be a little expensive.  Every kitten is different.  a pound is a great place to get a kitten, because of all the choices.  

Pick what food you think is best for her, and start her on is right away.  Science diet is horrible food.  Just read the ingredients.  the main on is corn, what wild cats have you heard of eating corn?  My personal favorite is Blue Buffalo food.  Cats are carnivores they like meat.  The only reason vets and shelters recommend Science Diet is because they are paid too.

Some kittens like to chew electrical cords.  Make sure they are covered so the the kitten won't be able to chew through them.  kittens are like babies, they can get into everything.  

Make sure you have something for the kitty to scratch, so she doesn't ruin your furniture.

Start bathing your kitten right away.  Also if you are going to trim her nails do that right away too.  it will be easier to get a kitten used to grooming then it will be a cat.  My kitten still doesn't like water, but she doesn't fight me too much anymore.

Remember the kitty is scared and in a new environment.  Pound kitties often get colds when they come home.  Do everything you can to make it as stress free as possible.  Try to find out your kittens history from the pound, was it feral?  was it a stray?  It may be more difficult to bond with a feral cat.  

Good luck with the kitten.

  

Answer 2

Here are a few things from my years of experience.

1.) Start small. If you live in a big place try confining the kitten to one room with all the essentials in there as kittens are often easily scared in a new enviorment.

2.) Make sure you get a good quality food. It must be kitten food not cat there is a difference, kittens need higher amounts of fat as well as higher levels of certain amino acids. Also by good quality I mean try to stay away from grocery store brands like Kitten Chow. I personally like Hill's Science Diets.

3.) Find a good vet and see him/her right away. Your new pet should be vet checked within the first 72 hrs. If your adopting from a shelter they normally offer free exams at local vets. Make sure your cat is felv/fiv tested and routinely vaccinated.

4.) Use your cats name often. Cats are particular creatures and the sooner you establish familiar things the better. Use their name often and handle them a lot. I have seen tons of cats that freak out at the vet and mine never have. I think this is mainly because I handle my kittens a lot. Opening their mouth. Turning them over on their back, grooming them.

5.) And last but not least HAVE FUN. You will be getting little sleep and claws will be attacking any moving parts of your body but all cat owners have fond memories of their cats as kittens.

Answer 3

Kittens are a great addition to any family! However, you'll want to be prepared for them; they can be quite a handful!

First, you'll need to get some basic supplies. Buy a litter box that will be easy for a small kitten to get into. Then buy some plastic liners to go in it, several bags of cat litter (non-clumping is the best kind for a kitten), and a litter box scooper. You will also need two food/water bowls- I suggest ceramic or heavy plastic. Buy some kitten food to go in them Wet and dry food are acceptable, but slowly wean them off of wet food after a year. I suggest the Science Diet brand. Make sure that you buy a scratching pad, too. The kinds that come with cat nip are great!

While you are at the store, I'd pick up a few small toys and a kitten brush.

Also make sure that you get a traveling, lined cardboard box at a pet store for traveling to the vet.

Preparing the house won't take long. For a good few weeks, I would keep the kitten in one room, preferably the kitchen or a room with few safety hazards and a non-carpet floor. Put all the kitten's things in that room. Try to make the litter box as private as possible, but still in plain view (so it is easy to find). Place the scratching pad near any furniture that may be tempting for the cat to mess with. Scatter the toys through-out the room.

I would take a cardboard box and cut of the top, as well as a chunk in the side (to make it easy to get into). Place some fleece blankets, soft sheets, or comfortable scraps into the box. Old clothes work great! Your kitten will love this sleeping box (but will soon outgrow it!)

Kittens also love boxes stacked up ontop of eachother. I would use a large box on the bottom and cut holes out of it; make it like a cave! Tape other boxes ontop of it. Of the top, overhanging, box, I added a string and a foam ball dangling from it. My kitten spent hours batting at it!

I would also create a spot where the kitten can look out a window. We put a dining chair in front of the window. My cat likes to sit on it and watch the hummingbird feeder outside!

The first few days will be quite strange for your kitten. When picking it up from the pound, you will want a couple soft blankets in the traveling box. In the car, talk quitely with the kitten and comfort it. When releasing it in the house, be calm and gentle. Let it roam around and make sure that they know where the litter box and food bowls are! When I released my kitten, she hid inside the litter box because she was nervous! Allow the kitten to approach you when it is ready- it may not be until the next day until it sniffs you!

Simply let them explore for awhile and then go on with your usual activities, but try to stay in the room. It is best to only allow your kitten into one or two rooms the first few weeks.

Try to keep on a pretty regular feeding schedule. It is best to look at the package for the suggested ammounts of food.

Also, scoop the litter box every day, or every other day. Change the pan every week.

If the kitten is naughty, tell the kitten no! and distract it with a toy or scratching pad. If it is something really bad, like scratching furniture, spray it with water.

If you trim the cats claws, or it does something really good, give it a treat. We give our cat AquariYums! She seems to like them a lot! I would wait until a vet visit for advice about claw trimming.

As far as handeling the kitten- it is best for them to get used to it when they are young. Pet them and handle them a lot. Use their name a lot too, even when unnecessary. Also, using snapping commands is a good habit to get into.

Good luck! I hope you have a lot of fun! E-mail me ([e-mail]) if you have questions.

Answer 4

Everyone so far has given you great advice, but missed one thing: Night Crazies! When you settle down, and are drifting off to sleep, your kitty will lose her/his mind!!!!! Bouncing off the walls, the bed, and even your head!  LOL You will lose some sleep, and some of your mind, but you will get some good laughs. :) It's normal, and every baby that ever owned me, went through it. Have fun, and good luck!!

Answer 5

One thing is for sure. Expect to NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP for some time until the kitten gets used to your schedule. Get her lots of toys and cat proof your house. Get a cat tree because they love to see the world from up top. Be ready to be snapped, scratched, bitten and loved by the kitten. You will not be able to keep up with her but she'll make your life wonderful. Keep her litter box cleaned and be ready to clean it up to 3 times a day with no complaints (kittens eat a lot because they're always running, and therefore, poo a lot as well) Be ready to be tested; meaning she will test your patience many times lol I love cats.

Answer 6

Oh, they are so fun!! You'll need a litter box with LINERS! They scratch the furniture...they scratch YOU sometimes...LOL...the thing about cats is they each almost have their own personality...so ya never know what to expect...they usually don't like water on them...it's real hard to bathe em....they scream and fight, I usually have to wear old shorts and a tshirt when I bathe mine, so I can just get in there with em and expect to get wet...usually have to hold em up against me to rinse em off...cuz I think it scares em...but they are so fun...you'll enjoy it...

They multiply fast too baby....YIKES!

God Bless!