Kitten Care Guide

Before you bring home your new furry bundle of joy, there are a few kitten essentials you will need in order to properly care for your kitten. Most, if not all of the products can be purchased at your local pet supply store. Kitten care is relatively easy…especially if you are prepared. Make sure you have all of the kitten essentials BEFORE you bring kitty home. This will make your life easier and your kitten’s transition to his new environment much less stressful.

The Basics

First, let us start with the basics. As you know, every kitty needs a litter box. This is a MUST HAVE item…unless, of course, you don’t mind your kitten using your pile of laundry as his toilet…and I’m sorry, but that would just be gross. There are many different types of litter boxes on the market. From the basic plastic box to extra fancy, self-cleaning kitty toilets…decide what your budget will allow and go from there. My cat, Norman, uses a very basic, plain litter box. It is plastic and approximately four inches in height. Norman does not have a cover on his litter box, however, many cats and kittens appreciate the privacy that a cover provides. Of course, you will also need to purchase kitty litter to put in the cat box. Again, there are many types of litter available. Believe it or not, most cats are not fond of scented litters. Cats have a very strong sense of smell and sometimes scented litters are over-whelming to their sensitive noses. If your cat refuses to use his or her cat box, you may want to change the kitty litter. If changing the litter does not remedy the situation, then you should take your cat to the vet for a check-up.

Unless you plan on scooping out the litter box with your hands, you will also need to purchase a litter scooper. I highly suggest you purchase one as the alternative cat box cleaning method previously mentioned is just plain yucky. Another basic product that you may consider buying is a rubber mat to place under your cat’s litter box. As you know, a cat covers his waste with litter once he is done. Many cats tend to go overboard and fling litter out of the box. The rubber mat catches the litter and makes clean-up much easier. My cat Norman is a complete slob. I put a rubber mat under his box and it has saved me a lot of clean-up time.

Kitty Tip: Though cats are clean animals by nature, young kittens must LEARN how to properly bury their waste. This behavior is taught by the mother, therefore, you should never take a kitten away from its Mommy before it is ready. A kitten should live with its mother for at least seven to eight weeks.

Obviously, one of the most important things you will need in order to care for your kitten is food! Kittens begin eating solid food at approximately seven weeks of age. If possible, continue feeding your kitten what it was eating at his previous home. This will help to avoid any digestive issues that a sudden food change can cause. If you wish to change brands of food, slowly mix the new food with the old….eventually, eliminating the old food all together. There are many different types of cat food available. If you do not know what is best for your kitten, talk to your veterinarian. They can give you some suggestions as to what is best for your kitten. Of course, if you have a lot of spare time and just happen to love cooking, you can always provide your kitten with home-cooked meals. While fresh, nutritious, all natural, home cooked meals sound wonderful, most people don’t have the time or extra money to go this route. It does not matter whether you choose dry kibble or canned as long as the food you choose is nutritious and specifically designed for feline digestion.

That’s it for now my furry friends! Come back soon as I will post the second portion of “Kitten Care Essentials” within the next few days. Trust me, there are many more products to purchase in order to give your kitten a good start in life. Remember, kitten care is easy…as long as you do your homework BEFORE you bring kitty home! Meow!

Filed under: General Kitten Information, Kitten Care Products on February 17th, 2009