I got a kitten yesterday and i need a few tips on taking care of a cat i have never had one before

Question

I know that they need fresh water and food everyday .But i just need some pointers on what you would do to take care of your cat or to make them feel more comfortable at a new home .Any tips will help i have'nt had a cat before.

Answer 1

just let them walk around and explore and get familiar with there territory and also keep on putting her in the litter box so she learns that thats her poo poo place and also show her were the food is and interact with her alot soon before you know it thell get to know you and the Whole house

Answer 2

Take it to a vet. They will tell you everything you need to know about taking care of her and they will provide way more reliable information that anyone on Answers can.

Answer 3

When I first got my cat, I kept him in one room at first. Sat with him and let him explore around. You do not want your cat to be too overwhelmed by the experience. Once he has experienced everything, introduce the next room, and so on. Cats are naurally inquisitive, and will let you know when they want to play. I have 4 cats and only two of them use the cat beds I have for them, but I would supply fleecey bedding for them. Some cats do, some cats don't.

I think it is brilliant that you're inquiring how best to look after you kitty, it is really nice to see someone wanting make a warm and loving environment for a cat.

Oh, and kitten food helps them grow up nice and strong so if you can, give him that along with the occasional treat ;-)

Best of luck, he/she is a lucky cat.

Answer 4

You will know that your kitten feels comfortable in his or her surroundings when s/he sits down and starts to wash her/himself.

Remember that kittens love tiny places, like couch cushions, so please check twice before sitting down. Kittens also like to hide under furniture like beds so, unless the litterbox is in your room (and let's hope it isn't), make sure your kitten isn't in any room where he/she can get accidentally locked inside.

Spend lots of time playing with your kitten but don't play too roughly with it. Those claws and teeth are super sharp and kittens are not always aware of just easily humans can bleed if bitten or scratched.

Appropriate playtoys:

1. paper bag

2. crumpled up piece of tin foil

3. ping pong balls

4. shoebox

5. newspaper

6. yarn but only if you prevent it from swallowing any of it

Inappropriate playtoys:

1. medicine bottles and the contents therein

2. yarn (unattended, they may swallow it and then suffer a bowel blockage)

3. toes or fingers

4. antifreeze (it may taste nice to a kitten but it's lethal)

5. cutlery

6. scorpions and, indeed, any venomous insect

Finally, kittens startle very easily so any sudden loud noise will frighten the poor little thing. Feel free to spoil your kitten. My mother-in-law once told me that we don't have cats to chase mice or dogs to fend of burglars but that we have pets so we can spoil them.

For some amusement, check out http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Answer 5

Like Jane D said, take it to your vet. The vet will examine it to make sure it is healthy and will also provide it with the first round of vaccinations that it will need to be healthy. They can also provide you with tips and brochures on how to care for your new kitten. Mostly make sure they have fresh food and water at all times and toys/scratching post to play with and be sure it knows where the litter box is and praise him a lot in the beginning when he uses it properly so that you reinforce the good behavior. And last but not least and probably most important, give him all your love and affection and you will get much more in return than you ever dreamed of. Happy kitty ownership!  

Answer 6

Well, I am going to list a lot of stuffs here, some you already know but maybe not enough and some you might not know.

New Kitten Checklist:-

Food

(find out what she is eating prior to coming home to you, keep the same food if it is a high quality brand. If you need to change, transition slowly by mixing the old and new food together)

**It is always better to feed a 100% wet diet as compared to dry. The reason is pretty simple. Cats are not big water drinker and they need water for hydration. Dry food contains very little moisture and a diet of dry food will create many health problems down the road. Also, the believe that dry food helps clean teeth is a complete myth just like how some people believe that wet food causes diarrhea.

If you are interested to find out why a wet diet is better, go here:-

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac...

http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/canne...

http://cats.about.com/od/catfoo1/tp/tpca...

http://www.catinfo.org/

http://www.naturalmatters.net/article.as...

http://www.traciehotchner.com/cb/QandA.h...

Most cats are lactose intolerant so giving them milk is not a good choice. Some might develop diarrhea and some will be fine. But it is better not to take any chances since cats do not need milk in their diet. If you like, you can purchase cat milk instead as a treat but the kitten has to be over 6 weeks old to drink them.

Some brands to try:-

Whiskas Cat Milk

http://www.whiskas.ca/catmilk.html

Vitakraft Healthy Milk/Yogurt Snack Drops for Cats

http://www.vitakraft.de/en/ar/kt/ktprme....

Catsip

http://www.akpharma.com/catsip/default.h...

Milky Flakes Um Treats for Kittens

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/239...

Water

(filtered water would be the best, you can also invest in a water fountain if you like.

Petmate and Drinkwell are popular ones)

http://www.petmate.com/

http://www.vetventures.com/

Food/Water Dish

(Kittens and cat like to eat and drink from shallow bowl. Dog bowls are not suitable because they are deeper and cats do not like to get their whiskers wet or soggy. Stainless steel and ceramic are the best. Avoid double serving dishes - keep a separate dish for food and water)

Grooming Tools

(short haired cats require less grooming than long haired. Invest in good quality nail clippers, brush, flea comb, wet wipes, and I like to use a chamois cloth to give my kitty's coat a high sheen and glow after grooming. The furminator is also a good tool to help with controlling excessive shedding. Kitten do not need to be bathed unless they get very dirty/messy)

http://www.furminator.com/

Litter and Litterbox

(She will need at least one litterbox for your kitten. To begin with, choose a smaller one where the sides are lower so she is able to climb in and out easily. Remember, not all cats like a covered litterbox. It is only convenient for the owner.

There are many kinds of litter to choose from and I personally prefer clumping litter made from natural biodegradable ingredients like corn, wheat and pine)

http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/

http://www.swheatscoop.com/

http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/

http://www.naturesearth.com/

http://www.natureslogic.com/products/cp_...

http://www.preciouscat.com/kitten-attrac...

To make sure that your kitten uses the litterbox regularly, you have to maintain a clean and sanitary litterbox condition. Be sure to scoop daily and replenish with fresh litter. You will need to empty the litterbox at least once a week or twice a month. Wash the litterbox thoroughly with a mild detergent and bleach. Be sure to rinse off all cleaning residue. Don't forget to also clean the scoop! With kittens, you will need to make sure you leave a little of the used litter behind to remind them what the litterbox is for.

Scratching Post and Play Structures

(This is very important to get for your kitty because you do not want her to learn to scratch your furniture. Scratching is a natural habit and you shouldn't punish er. When you buy a scratching post, make sure it's one that is sturdy and will not tip off easily. All cats love to climb and getting her a nice cat tree of playhouse will allow her to exercise her natural talent without ransacking your house)

You can try one of these two method to teach your kitten/cat to use the scratching post.

Method One

Hold treats near the post to get your cat to come near the post. Slowly, make your cat come closer and closer to the post to get the treat. Then increase the height at which you are holding the treat so your cat must put his paws up the post to reach the treat. Gradually increase the height at which you hold the treat so that your cat eventually has to climb to the top in order to get the treat. This training session is a slow process to be worked on each day, making small progress each time you work on it.

Method Two

Using the kind of cat toys that are at the end of a string, dangle, drag, and swing one of your cat's toys. Do this on and around the post. Use the scratching post as the play area. Your cat will climb up and down and around his post to try to reach his toy. By doing this, his post will be a place of fun and good memories.

Stain and Odor Remover

(Accidents happen so be prepare to clean up after your kitten. You must remove all traces of urine from carpeting because a kitten will urinate on the same spot again if she scent it.)

Carrier

(When you bring your kitten to visit the vet, you will need a carrier. It is important that you choose one that fits the kitten comfortably and she can stand and turn around easily. You can choose hard sided or soft sided carriers and they come is all shapes and design)

Collar and ID Tag

I hope your cat stays indoor. If she is outdoor, a collar and ID Tag is a must. I am not a huge fan of collar for indoor cat because of the possible risk of strangulation and getting stuck in structures. But it is up to you to make that decision. Choose a breakaway collar if you must.

Toys

(Kitten loves to play and make sure you always supervise her playtime. Favorites are jingle balls, mylar balls, feathered toys, dangling toys, lure toys, and I recommend you try Da Bird and Cat Dancer. They go absolutely crazy for them. Some toys you can make at home. Milk Jug Ring is a hit in all cat household, drinking straws, a rolled up ball of paper, newspaper tent, pillow tunnels)

Bed

(Just to remind you, you cannot place a kitten on a bed and expect her to sleep there quietly like a newborn baby. Kittens will choose wherever they want to snooze and the place changes all the time. Just make a simple comfortable bedding for her should she choose to sleep in a bed)

A note about plants at home. Please visit this website to make sure your plants are safe for kitty and non toxic.

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.ht...

This site is very useful in learning more about taking good care of your kitten. Hope you'll visit and get more information from there.

http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/Kitt...

And don't forget to bring kitten to the vet.

Here's the suggested kitten vaccination shots:-

6-8 weeks

FVRCP vaccination No. I

(Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calici virus, panleukoenia, chlamydia)

Fecal examination

Blood test for Feline Leukemia virus (FelLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

12 weeks

FVRCP vaccination No. 2

FeLV vaccination No. I

Possible second fecal exam

16 Weeks

FeLV vaccination No. 2

Rabies vaccination

Pets should be vaccinated annually for most vaccines, after the initial booster series is administered to kittens. Some vaccines can be boostered every three (3) years. Remember that vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to fight off viruses. Boosters must be given for the immune system to make long-term protection, antibodies that stay around for long periods of time.

Please note: If a pet has never received a vaccine before, and is over 16 weeks old, it will need one additional dose in 3 to 4 weeks before starting on the annual or triennial schedule.

An annual visit to your veterinarian provides an opportunity for a routine health check as well as any re-vaccinations that are necessary. If, for any reason, your pet misses a vaccination which has been advised by your veterinary practice, contact them for advice as soon as possible.

I hope I've covered it all for you. Good Luck and Best Wishes to you and your kitty!