What To Expect When Bringing Your New Kitten Home

When you first adopt or bring a new kitten home, it can be a fun, but nerve-wracking process. After all, you are taking on a big responsibility and want your kitten to feel loved and comfortable in his or her hew home. 

There are so many decisions to be made and you want to make sure everyone gets along if you have other cats or dogs. 

Below are some tips to help your kitten adjust easily to your home:

Pick a time when you can be home for a few days

When you bring your new kitten home, make it is during a time when (or someone in your family) has a few days off to help your kitten to adjust.  While cats and kittens are easily adaptable, your kitten needs some time to feel more comfortable in his or her new environment.  It’s a time for you to bond, make sure your kitten isn’t scared and that he or she is eating and pooping in the proper place.

Provide a separate room or space for your kitten

If you have an extra small room or can make a space for your kitten, this is ideal for the first week or so. Place a blanket, toys, her bed and give your kitten the time and space to feel comfortable in her new home. You can place the litterbox close by – which should be cleaned and freshened daily – and some food and water close by.

What to feed your new kitten

Your kitten needs two to three times as many calories and nutrients as adult cats. Kittens get everything they need from a mother’s milk for the first four weeks of life and are usually able to chew dry food by six to seven weeks and are completely weaned by ten weeks. Once a kitten is weaned, milk can give your kitten an upset stomach.

Make sure to purchase a high quality kitten food with a high protein content and less additives. You can give your kitty wet food twice a day and leave out dry food. If your kitten tends to eat a lot, monitor the dry food to make sure kitten is not over-eating. There are many brands that offer healthy food that is made specifically for kittens.

Take your kitten to your veterinarian for a thorough exam

You should have your kitten tested for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus. Your vet will also give your kitten a full physical exam, test and treat for parasites and vaccinated before introducing her to your other felines.

Your vet will not only provide the necessary vaccines for you kitten but will check for intestinal parasites which tends to be a common issue for kittens. If your kitten does have parasites, your vet usually takes a fecal exam and then can give you the proper treatment. If your kitten has any external parasites, such as ticks, fleas or even mites, your veterinarian will provide you with the proper treatment that is safe and made for kittens.

Spay or Neuter Your Kitten - a must!

Kittens should be neutered or spayed by six months of age. Neutering or spaying not only helps to reduce some medical conditions and behavioral issues, but it also helps to control the overpopulation of cats. And gets more cats out of the shelter or rescue facilities. There is absolutely no reason not to spay or neuter your kitten and should be taken seriously.

Set up scratching posts or pads around your house

Since declawing is not an option, make sure to provide your kitten with scratch pads or posts around the house. Each kitten likes different types of posts, but they all love to scratch. Find that perfect post or pad for your kitten and start them using them at an early age rather than your furniture.

Clean your litter box on a daily basis

Most kittens will take to a litter box right away as it comes instinctually to them. Make sure to buy a litter box that is big enough for your kitty to sit properly and move around. 

You can start with a soft non-clumping litter and eventually try changing it to a pine mix or whatever you and your kitty like.  And, clean your litter box daily which will help avoid any unforeseen accidents outside the litterbox.

Kittenhood is such a wonderful time and a great way to bond with your new family member!