Bringing Your New Kitten Home
Provided by P&G Everyday Solutions
Welcoming your new kitten into your home requires a lot of love, patience and preparation.
With the right equipment and our expert tips, you can make your cat's introduction
to your home and family go smoothly.
Basic Supplies
Here's a list of items that will help you and your new kitten get off to a great
start:
- Bed or sleeping area
- Water and food bowls
- Toys
- Litter box and litter
- Cat carrier
- Brushes and combs
- Scratching post
- Kitten food
- A collar (and ID tag)
Beds
Provide a comfortable sleeping area to discourage your kitten from using the furniture.
Check pet stores or make a bed using these instructions:
- Find a cardboard box with the sides intact. (A small box is good for a kitten; a
larger cat should be able to stretch out while lying down.
- Cut out a door opening on one side of the box.
- Line the box with an old blanket, a small pillow or a cushion covered in a washable
fabric.
- Place the box in a warm, quiet spot.
Feeding Bowls
Each pet in your house should have her own food and water bowls.
Choose bowls designed especially for cats (shallow, broad-based metal or ceramic
bowls).
Safe Toys
Cat toys, like toys for small children, are wonderful amusements, but should be
chosen carefully. Use these tips:
- Avoid toys that have sharp edges or parts that your kitten might swallow
- Choose soft toys that bounce (the bouncier, the better)
- Beware of yarn and toys with strings, as yarn and string are dangerous if ingested;
supervise all play with these toys
Homesickness
When you bring your new kitten home, she may miss her family at first. She may wake
up and meow during the night. Pick her up and comfort her by speaking soothingly
and stroking her gently. If this doesn't calm her, try these two tips:
- Put a ticking clock by her bed to remind her of her mother's heartbeat
- Put a hot-water bottle (100 to 102° F) wrapped in a towel near her; this will
remind her of her siblings
Easing the Transition
Introduce your cat to your home gradually by following these helpful hints:
- For the first day or two, keep your kitten confined to one room with a litter box,
food and water; let her become comfortable in this room before introducing her to
the rest of the house
- After your new kitten is relaxed and adjusted, allow her to explore and roam the
rest of the house
Children in the Household
Show your children how to properly pick up a kitten and how to play with their new
pet. Teach them that cats don't like to be teased or have their ears or tail pulled.
Always supervise your children's interaction with your new kitten, especially when
they have friends over to play.
Cat-Proofing Your Home
Your cat's inquisitive nature can be dangerous. Follow these recommendations:
- Keep all medicines and household cleaning agents locked up
- Shut the bathroom door when you run water in a bathtub
- Keep stringy material away from your kitten, except under your supervision
- Close toilet lids and make sure the fireplace is tightly screened
- Secure unscreened windows, as cats may jump out of open windows
- Cats often lean into screens as they nap, so secure them on all windows
- Close all garage and appliance doors; a warm dryer or a car engine may entice cats
in search of a warm place to nap
- Immediately place opened tin or aluminum cans behind closed doors or in containers
with secure lids, as their edges are extremely sharp and can cut your cat's tongue
- If possible, replace the antifreeze in your car with a nontoxic brand; antifreeze
tastes sweet to pets and is the most common feline poison, and just a teaspoon can
cause kidney failure
- Keep all chemicals in the garage out of reach
- Set rodent traps out of a cat's reach
- Keep easily swallowed small items such as balls, bits of fabric and baby-bottle
nipples away from your kitten
