How to Look After a Kitten
So, are you considering getting an adorable kitten for your home, but not sure what caring for a kitten entails? Worry no more, because you’ve come to the purrfect place! Kittens are cute but they can be a handful, so there are plenty of things you’ll need to learn before bringing a furry feline friend into your home.
Continue reading Yappy’s helpful guide to find out all you need to know!
Preparing your home
Caring for a kitten starts before you bring them home. You have to prepare your space and their first few weeks well in advance.
Before you’ve picked up your kitten, whoever has been looking after them in their first eight weeks should have already organised their first vaccinations, started socialisation by introducing them to people and environments, and possibly even started litter training.
For you, in those first eight weeks of the kitten’s life, you have to prepare your home by providing all of the following:
Lots of space and cat-proof the home
Cat essentials
Find a vet and take out insurance
Find the right litter tray location
Lots of space and cat-proof the home
The first thing you have to do is prepare the space for your new kitten to live in. Pick a space that can be just theirs, with a comfortable bed and some toys. You could maybe even position a scratch post right next to their bed. This is the space where they’ll begin to acclimatise to your home and get comfortable with their new surroundings.
Cat essentials
After picking the right space for your kitten, you’ll need a bed, possibly a blanket, some toys, food and water bowls, a scratching post and things to climb on. Kittens are energetic, so it’s important to give them something to expel that energy on.
A soft throw blanket can make your kitty feel warm, cosy, and right at home.
Find a vet and take out insurance
You’ll be visiting the vets frequently for vaccinations and checkups, so make sure to find a good one. You’ll also need some insurance to cover your finances in case your kitten needs any treatment (hopefully not!).
Find the right litter tray location
Pick somewhere quiet and easily accessible for your kitten to learn to do their business in peace. Preferably not in the kitchen where you definitely won’t want the smell of a litter tray near food.
Bringing the kitten home
This is where learning how to look after a kitten really starts to come into effect. Once you bring the kitten home, you’ve got to make sure they’re as comfortable as possible. This is a totally new environment for them, with new smells and sights they’ve never seen before.
Here’s what you do for the next few weeks:
Get used to handling - Gradually get used to holding, tickling and stroking your kitten. This helps to build a level of trust in you and comfort in their new surroundings.
Introduction to other people and pets - If you have children and pets in the house, ease your kitten into the environment by slowly introducing them. Your kitten will be stressed and frightened if they’re dropped into a situation where a large dog roams freely and children are running around screaming.
Establish a routine - Set up rules like keeping the kitten out of certain rooms and possibly off certain furniture. Remember to reward good behaviour.
Consistent feeding - Keep feeding your kitty the same food they’ve been eating before they arrived at your home.
The future
At 12 weeks of life, your kitten will have started to get used to their new surroundings and their new family. Hopefully you’ve eased them into their new life with love and care, but there are still a few things to learn when caring for a kitten at this stage.
Lots of play time - In order to mentally and physically stimulate your kitten in their first few months you have to play with them. Getting their energy levels up and keeping them moving is important for their physical development. This is also how to create trust and bond with your kitten.
Kitten training - The early part of their life at home includes training them on what they can and can’t do, like scratching the sofa and where to go to the toilet. Training also includes teaching the kitten their name and getting them to come when their name is called.
Plenty of rest - With all the stimuli of a new environment, it can be very tiring being a kitten. So make sure they have plenty of rest. Let them up on your lap or even your bed to really bond and cuddle.
Cat gifts at Yappy
Pick up some personalised gifts from Yappy for your cat!
Dress them up and make them look even more pawsome with a bandana, or make them as comfortable as possible during nap time with their very own cushion and towel.
There’s so much more on offer at Yappy, including personalised gifts and cards for any occasion.
If you’d like to know more about what Yappy offers, don’t hesitate to contact us at help@yappy.com.
