Bringing Home Your First Kitten

Bringing home a new kitten is an immediate commitment

While everyone loves playing with a new kitten, bringing home that little bundle of fluff is an instant long-term commitment. You’ll need to look after your new furry friend for life, all 9 of them if legends are to be believed. Something to keep in mind right off the bat is that those early, formative months are especially important. This is when you’ll set up the routine and habits that will ensure you and your new furry family member will have many years of fun, love and harmony together. In short, if you help your little kitten settle in smoothly with unconditional care and attention, in the beginning, your whole household benefits!

First, let your kitten settle into its surroundings

While your home is your haven, your new fur baby may find it scary and overwhelming. If your kitten looks nervous and stressed, know that it is normal in the beginning. The best way forward is to ensure your kitten has all it needs to feel more comfortable. Show your new cat where its food bowl, litter tray and bed lives. Then give your little friend some time to settle in and get used to its new environment. Don’t rush to introduce your new kitten to other pets and people in the household. Instead, give your kitten a few days to calm down and get comfortable first. Your kitten will be exploring your home’s nooks and crannies in no time!

How to create their “purrfect” sleeping haven

To make sure they have the best chance of feeling comfortable, there are few things cats find more welcoming than a snug, cosy bed. Whether you’re getting one from a pet store or using a strong, cardboard box lined with a soft blanket, you simply need to make sure it's warm, dry, comfy and tucked away from any household draughts. While kittens do eventually get used to sleeping alone, in the beginning, it does help to pop a hot water bottle under their bedding to remind them of the warmth they are used to soaking up from their brothers and sisters.

How to kitten proof your home in no time at all

Have you ever heard of “baby-proofing” a house? Well, kitten proofing is just as important to ensure the safety of your new furbaby. Making your house as safe as possible starts with just a few habits and considerations:

• Can your kitten fall out of any windows in the house? Then these must be kept closed (even wired/tied shut for their initial few weeks in case your or another household member forgets).
• Do you have open fireplaces? These will also need to be blocked since your kitten could climb up to the chimney and even roof.
• Do you have any exposed electrical cabling? These need to be secured in case your new cat decides to chew through them while your back is turned.
• Do you have houseplants? Identify and research them online to ensure that they aren’t dangerous for your kitten. For example, lilies, poinsettias and cyclamens are all extremely poisonous to cats.

Taking care of kitty’s nutrition and well-being

You must find out exactly what your new kitten was eating before you became her forever owner. To help them adjust to their new home, you can help her feel secure by not changing this diet straight away. Once you’ve chosen the kitten food that will help them thrive into a well-adjusted, healthy adult cat, you can migrate them over. This is done by adding the new food with their old food for about a week i.e. until you’ve finally completed the migration.

Another tip to remember is that feeding smaller amounts more often is usually best for kittens and then this tapers off as they become adult cats:

• 8 to 12-week-old kittens usually need ±4 meals a day
• 3 to 6-months-old kittens usually need ±3 meals a day
• 5-months plus kittens usually only need ±2 meals a day

Also bear in mind that there are two types of premium kitten foods available:

• Dry foods that allow your kitten to visit their food bowl as often as they want throughout the day without losing freshness.
• Wet foods in cans or pouches need to be given as separate meals throughout the day as they become stale.

Your thirsty little kitten will also need a hydration station

It's strongly advised not to give milk to your kitten. Given in large quantities it can cause diarrhoea. Instead, set up a bowl that they can always access with clean, fresh water that you change regularly throughout the day. If you would like to reward your furry friend with something else, chat to your vet about recommending the best kinds of milk and treats for kittens.