Kitten Care Guide

In my previous post: “Kitten Care Essentials, Part One,” I highlighted a few must have items that you will need to purchase in order to care for your kitten. Those items included a litter box, litter scooper, rubber litter box mat and food. In this post, I will discuss additional items that you should buy prior to the arrival of your new fur-baby. As I mentioned in the previous post, being prepared for your new kitten is very important and will make the transition into the wonderful world of kitten parenting much easier!

The Basics - Part Two

Ok, so you bought food for your new kitten to eat…wonderful! How about dishes? You will need to purchase a small food dish as well as a water bowl. Cats do not need a large food dish. Most cats (and I know this from experience) don’t eat a lot in one sitting. My cat Norman is what I call a “grazer.” Unless he is REALLY hungry, he will pick at his (dry) food throughout the day. Cat dishes that are made of ceramic, glass, or stainless steel are best. Plastic has a tendency to harbor bacteria over time, so avoid plastic if at all possible. Believe it or not, some cats are allergic to plastic and develop “cat acne!” So, again, avoid plastic.

Your kitten’s water bowl should be deeper than his food bowl. Cats have a tendency to paw or play with their water so a deeper bowl will help to prevent spills.  If you can afford one, small “self-water” dispensers are wonderful! They are easy to fill, clean and you won’t have to fill it as often as you would a regular water bowl.

The next item you should purchase is a scratching post. Don’t be like me and learn the hard way (or should I say…my couch learned the hard way!). Cats need to scratch EVERY DAY! As he grows up, scratching will become a major part of your kitten’s grooming ritual as it enables him to shed the outer sheath of his claws (plus, it just feels good!). It is a good idea to place several scratching posts throughout your house and show your kitten where they are. It is best to place them close to your kitty’s favorite napping spots as one of the first things your kitten will do after he wakes up is SCRATCH! Trust me on this one…if you don’t have scratching posts available, your kitten WILL destroy your favorite arm chair, bedpost, or sofa and you will not be happy.

You may also want to consider purchasing a cat tree. Cat trees are 4 to 6 foot high, multi-level, carpeted structures that cats and kittens LOVE to play and sleep on. I purchased a cat tree for Norman and he sleeps in it every night. During the day, he climbs to the top of the cat tree and gazes out the window for hours at a time. Norman also considers his cat tree his “safety  zone.” The cat tree allows him to tease the dogs and then quickly climb to safety.

Along with the cat tree and scratching posts, you should have several toys available for your kitten to play with. Toys, in my opinion, are not an option. Cats that do not have toys to play with often become bored and unhappy. Toys will allow your cat to exercise not only his body…but his mind as well! Purchase toys that are made of tough, durable, materials as cats can be quite rough when they play.

So there you have it…the basic supplies you should have ready and available before you bring your new kitten home. Kittens are wonderful, lovable pets. They deserve the best care possible and by having all of the necessary supplies you will ensure that your cat has a happy and healthy start in life.

Filed under: General Kitten Information, Kitten Care Products on February 18th, 2009