Kitten Care 101: Five Tips for First-Time Cat Owners
When you bring a new kitten into your home, it’s an exciting time! We know that you’re going to be totally in love with your new kitty, but we also know that it can be a little overwhelming. The joys of kitten ownership come with its own set of “firsts,” expectations, and obstacles, so hopefully, our kitten care 101 guide can help.
1. Make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need before bringing home your kitten. This includes food and water bowls, a litter box, toys, and a carrier or cage if necessary. The last thing you want when bringing home a new cat is to make multiple trips back to the store!
2. Make sure your cat has an ID tag on its collar so that if it does get lost or run away, your cat can return home safely.
3. Give your kitty plenty of attention—they need lots of love! You’ll want them to feel comfortable with their surroundings so they don’t panic when something changes unexpectedly, like getting moved from one room into another or having someone come over unexpectedly.
4. Kittens are known to be curious, playful, and can keep us on our toes! With all of that baby energy, it’s useful to try out enrichment toys and interactions with your kitten! Providing enrichment toys and interactive play to your feline friend offers valuable mental, physical, and emotional health benefits. Further, it establishes a routine for your kitten and a safe space for them to play.
If you wish to enhance your space for a more cat-friendly enriching environment, consider the following:
- Cat trees
- Scratching posts
- Interactive toys (like a play mouse or cat wand)
5. Put down some sort of litter box in the area where you plan on keeping your cat’s litter box permanently (or at least until they get trained). If you have multiple cats, make sure there are enough boxes to accommodate them all (and remember: cleanliness is key!).
