How to Care for Your New Kitty

Just like having a new baby in the family, getting a new pet is quite the lifelong change and takes a lot of planning. Kitties are so cute and cuddly, adorable little critters that need an awful lot of love and care. The bonding begins from the day you adopt that new baby. That is where all the training and nurturing should begin to develop a most intimate and special connection. When you plan on adopting a new cat/kitten, it is so much more than just acquiring a possession. All of their health, well-being and care is totally in your hands, so love and spoil them as they deserve.

When planning on your new family member the first thing you will need to do is shop for all the necessities for that new little guy. The most important essentials that you would want to get before bringing “baby home” is a food dish, good nutritional cat/kitten food, a litter box and some good odor controlled litter, toys and bed.

Another thing you may need to do is “cat proof” your home prior to kitties’ arrival. The problem is that cat’s love to and can jump just about anywhere they wish to. Removing breakables from the parts of the house that they are allowed will be essential. After all, a cat’s main “job” is to be curious . . . and that, they are. You don’t want your valuables to all get broken and that new “baby” to get hurt. Another thing to worry about is poisonous plant life around the home as part of kitties life is biting and nibbling on things. It may also be necessary to “cover” furniture with blankets so furniture (and drapes) is off limits to getting clawed. Most people who keep indoor cats can get them declawed for more safety in the home. Other concerns should be keeping various cords tied up and out of reach of kitty, pest poisons totally out of reach, and all other “choking” hazards out of reach such as “tinsel” rubber bands, paper clips, ornament hooks (the list could go on and on), so be sure to keep all “dangers” in special containers.

If you have other pets at home when you bring home the new family member, you may need to quarantine the new little guy until he is really welcome. You also want to be sure that your new cat is healthy before “introducing” him to the other pets so quarantining him is essential until you have had a chance to visit your own Vet and get a clean bill of health. You certainly don’t want to take a chance on the health of the whole “family”. It is a good idea to keep the new pet in a “safe” room with his own bed, blanket and so forth for at least a couple of days upon arrival. Rub his scent on a towel and slowly introduce his scent to other family pets to get them used to the smell before introducing the actual pet. You can do a reverse as well, by rubbing the older pets scent on a towel and place with new pet. At least at this point they have each other’s smells. Eventually try slow introductions, such as a small crack on the “safe room” so the older pets can “peek” in at their own pace, start small playing games where they can all get involved, just little steps at a time. It is not unnatural for a little growling and hissing but that will all pass. After a while they will be the best of friends. . . Just let nature take its course and give it time. We have had many new pets brought it and of course the older “residents” didn’t approve at first, but have never had a situation where they did not get over it.

As you form your bond with this new family member, as you have with his others, learn all his verbal and non-verbal signals such as the way he uses his tail, ears, eyes and other body language to communicate to you his needs. There is a lot of further information you can get on the internet on care of your new cat and how to communicate so do not hesitate to research as much as you can to provide the most loving care and home for that new family member. The rewards will be endless for years and years to come.