If you’re planning to add a kitten to your life, then congratulations from Oven-Baked Tradition!
There is no greater decision than starting a new relationship. Welcoming a kitten into your life is a big step. You and your new kitten will form a lifelong partnership that will bring joy to your life for years to come.
If you plan to adopt a kitten, you need to learn about what to do when you bring it home. This blog will detail what you and your family should consider when bringing a cat home. We will help you set up your home to make the kitten’s transition smoother.
1. Plan Your Trip Home
The one aspect that many people often forget to plan for is the trip home with their new kitten. While it may be a short trip,having the right supplies will help make your kitten’s journey to its new home comfortable and safe. Here are a few things to consider bringing along:
- Crate or carrier
- Blanket or bed
- Water dish
- Small litterbox with litter
- Wipes for possible clean-up
- Kitten food
You may be excited to hold your kitten for the first time in your car. However, the safest place for your kitten is inside a carrier. A carrier keeps your kitten from wandering. It also has soft, warm bedding for comfort.
2. Your Kitten Will Most Likely Be Anxious
Cats can display signs of emotional distress, even if they don’t always make it known with loud noises or disruptive behavior. Sometimes the signs are not as clear as a bite. Paying attention and thinking like your cat can help you understand how they feel when entering a new space.
If you’re sensing your kitten is afraid, anxious or stressed, it’s important to take the steps below:
- Make sure your kitten has its own space. It’s important for cats to have a space of their own where they can hide or feel safe. Set up somewhere cozy and away from things so your kitten has somewhere to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed.
- Avoid or remove the things that scare them. If possible, avoid or eliminate sources of fear. If your cat is frightened by something in the environment, see if there’s anything you can remove that might be causing a negative reaction. Also reduce any noise if you can to create a calmer atmosphere.
- Give them space. Some kittens will seek comfort from you when they feel afraid, while others may prefer to hide or be alone.
Every cat is unique,it’s important to observe their behavior and respect their choices. Don’t force them to come to you if they’re scared. Not every cat will follow you around.
- Stay calm. Cats will often pick up on your emotions If they are showing signs of stress, your calming mood will help them feel more relaxed. Don’t overreact if your cat behaves in an unusual way.
- Stick to a routine. Most cats love routine, this way they can predict what’s going to happen next and feel secure.
Feed and play with your cat at the same time each day if possible. You could also adjust your own routine, so they become familiar with your daily activities. Feeding them the same kitten food is essential too.
- Introduce new things slowly. If you’re making any changes to your home or routine, try to make it a slow process. Cats like to observe, sniff, and explore new items. Allow them time to adjust to a new toy or anything new in the room.
- Keep a few litter trays inside. If your cat feels scared of something they might want to use the litter box, especially when they’re kittens. Make sure you have at least two litter trays in different areas of the house for them to use in an emergency.
3. Prepare The Kids
Newborn kittens are incredibly small and require extra attention in the beginning. Preparing young children on how to treat your new cat will ensure a healthy relationship for both sides.
Have your kids practice how to play, pet, and safely pick up the newborn kitten. Set some ground rules about how and when they can spend time with the cat. Learning how to care for the kitten will help them understand and respect the kitten’s transition into your lives.
4. How Can I Introduce My New Cat Or Kitten To The Family Dog?
If you already have a dog, experts recommend that you wait before introducing your pet to a newborn kitten. While cats and dogs can have a beautiful relationship, now is not the time to learn if yours will.
In the future, you will have time to introduce your pets properly. Your kitten will have so much to adjust to and as you can imagine, having a dog as part of this process may be overwhelming. It’s best to wait and keep them separated until you feel your cat is comfortable.
5. Get Your Supplies Ready
Stock up on supplies before you take your new cat home. Having the right kitten food, toys and accessories can help prevent messes, injuries, and stress. You can also feel confident that you are prepared as a pet parent for any situation. This will include snacks and food too from Oven-Baked Tradition.
Think about what you would need as a person. Your cat will most likely need the same. What will they need for play time?
What will they need for meal time? Do you have kitten food for this current life stage? What are some comforting accessories they will need if they need to take it easy and relax?
Are you prepared for a messy situation if there’s an accident? Think about the scenarios you’ll encounter as a newborn kitten owner and anticipate what you would need.
6. Kitten Proofing
To keep your home safe for your new kitten, put away anything that could hurt them. This includes items they might scratch, bite, or bump into.
For kittens, plants are one of the biggest concerns as they can be harmful to your pets health. House and garden plants can be toxic to cats, so ensure if you have any plants they are out of reach or in another room.
Other dangerous objects could include cords, rope or string, candles, decorations, and loose food. Set aside any valuable decorations or electronics that you can easily knock off surfaces and tables. Once your kitten is feeling brave enough to explore, this will prevent damage to your valuables as well as our kitten.
7. Educate Yourself
Cats may seem to have similar personalities, but your cat’s breed can reveal more about their character. Bengals are very active cats, for example. People find them hard to train if they are not ready.
If you don’t know much about your new cat’s breed, it’s smart to do some research. This will help you understand what to expect. This guide will also help you prepare for their new home.
Cats grow and develop a lot in their first year. It’s important to choose a diet that provides them with the nutrients they need. Oven-Baked Tradition offers the right nutrition for every stage of your cat’s life from kitten to senior.
8. Kitten Brushing and Grooming
Brushing your kitten daily is a great way to get them accustomed to their grooming routine. This also helps prevent shedding, reduces matting, and stimulates oil production in the skin, which helps condition their coat.
Kittens are small and require a gentle brush for grooming. Long-haired kittens and newborn kittens need regular brushing as their fur requires extra care and attention.
You can use de-shedding brushes once your kitten is comfortable with brushing. However, avoid de-shedding your kitten more than once every two weeks. Plan how to keep your home tidy, especially If you’re not used to cleaning up fur.
9. Kitten Toys
Playtime is an important part of a kitten’s life. Having a variety of toys for group play and solo playtime, will help your cat learn good playtime behaviors. This will also stimulate them, provide comfort, and keep them out of trouble by keeping them occupied.
Many cat toys are infused with catnip. Kittens may not feel the same effects of catnip as adult cats. Therefore, we suggest adding non-catnip toys to your toy bin. This will ensure they are not overwhelmed when they are not expecting catnip.
Pick toys that are safe and remove any toys that your kitten has damaged. Broken toys can hurt your kitten. Sharp pieces can break off and cause injuries. If your kitten chews on them, they might choke.
At times, a cat won’t even need a toy and will have fun just by interacting with you.
10. Collar and ID
Most cats spend minimal time outdoors, but a collar and a cat ID tag are still necessary. You never know when they might get curious and wonder what’s outside the home. Even if you have an indoor cat, it might still sneak outside and lose its way.
The best way to ensure your kitten makes it home from an impromptu neighborhood stroll is to quickly identify them.
A newborn kitten will not spend much time alone or outside. However, it’s a good idea to address this while they are young.
With a little work and patience, you will quickly become your new kitty’s best friend and in due time, you will gain a great friend, too. Your kitten’s first days at home can be stressful. But remember, you are starting a wonderful new relationship. Enjoy the memories you will create together!
