I am finally getting a kitten but how do i take care of it

Question

i know i need to have a litter box,food,and a scratching post but is there anything that i need to do special for it cuz its a kitten

Answer 1

it really helps if you get kitten chow and then put a little water in it because it is easier to digest  and even though people think kittens like milk don't give it too much because it will give them the runs. and make sure to get its shots after it is 6 weeks old.  

Answer 2

To keep kitty extremely healthy and to help reduce future health issues, I recommend getting a high quality pet food (NOT purina, iams, etc).  Ask for a premium pet food.  Costs a little more, but kitty will eat less (saving you money) and p**p less (saving you from icky scooping) because premium food doesnt have all the fillers and by-products that supermarket brands have.  

Scratching is very important.  Cats actually prefer to scratch at an angle vs vertically.  There is a good scratching product called the "Alpine Scratcher" that is at a 45 degree angle, made of recycled materials, and very inexpensive.  They also donate a portion of the sales of the scratcher to promote awareness of the cruelty of declawing.  You can find it at http://www.letspawty.com  

Another good product they have is "Sticky Paws"--nice to have if you find that kitty is scratching up your furniture.  It's like a clear double sided tape that you put wherever kitty is scratching.  Cats don't like it.

To prevent kitty acne and reduce the amount of bacteria in your pet's food and water, it's important to get a ceramic or stainless steel bowl instead of a plastic bowl.  

And, of course, toys to keep kitty entertained and to help maintain a healthy weight.  

Answer 3

Kitten food. ( It is smaller morsels that makes it easier and faster for them to eat).  

Small water and food bowls.  

Small cushion or sleeping area.

Answer 4

Yes, you will need a litter box,kitten food (I recommend Purina Kitten Chow), a scratching post, some form of toys and or entertainment for the kitten (not string though because that can get lodged in their intestines and it can be deadly) that is all you need and just make sure the kitten goes to the vet regularly but if you can not afford a vet then buy over the counter kitten wormer, and make sure you treat the cat for ear mites

note: do not feed your kitten milk it gives them diarrhea

have fun with your kitty

Answer 5

First. about the litter box... if it doesnt p**p or pee in it right away its because its only a kitten. just give it some time. when scooping the litter box you should scoop it once a day or every other day. make sure the litter box in around the middle of the house. that way it wont forget where to find it.

for food feed it a can of wet food once a morning. you dont have to get a variety of different flavors but if you get a variety it will make them live longer. always have dry food in a bowl for them. put it near the litter box. and always have a bowl of water next to it. you only have to put new food and water in the bowls once theyre empty. theres no need to replace them every day.

scratching post- the cat might not use the scracthing post. instead it might use the couch or furniture. if it uses furniture instead of the scratching post maybe put catnip on the scratching  post. (sometimes that works) if that doesnt work you could have the kitten declawed. but if you get it declawed im might hide a little bit because it feels like it cant defend itself. but you shouldnt worry too much about that.

cat nip. some people dont know this but cat nip is like a drug to cats. so if you ever give cat nip to your cat dont give it too much. and there shouldnt be anything special really that you need to do.

ive taken care of six cats and read an encyclopedia on cats. i am positive all this is true. hope i helped:-)

Answer 6

feed it, pet it, play with it and change its litter box often. kittens are easy to please. but in case it gets to hyper keep some cat nip on hand. cats sleep about 16 hours aday and play most of the night. keep in mind a cat owns a person a person doesnt own a cat. they do what they want when they want too. weither you want them to or not lol i have 8 indoor kittens and 12 grown out door cats and most breed at the age of 7 months

Answer 7

Well, I am going to list a lot of stuffs here, some you already know but maybe not enough and some you might not know.

New Kitten Checklist:-

Food

(find out what she is eating prior to coming home to you, keep the same food if it is a high quality brand. If you need to change, transition slowly by mixing the old and new food together)

**It is always better to feed an exclusive wet diet as compared to dry. The reason is pretty simple. Cats are not big water drinker and they need water for hydration. Dry food contains very little moisture and a diet of dry food will create many health problems down the road. Also, the believe that dry food helps clean teeth is a complete myth just like how some people believe that wet food causes diarrhea.

If you are interested to find out why a wet diet is better, go here:-

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac...

http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/canne...

http://cats.about.com/od/catfoo1/tp/tpca...

http://www.catinfo.org/

http://www.naturalmatters.net/article.as...

http://www.traciehotchner.com/cb/QandA.h...

Most cats are lactose intolerant so giving them milk is not a good choice. Some might develop diarrhea and some will be fine. But it is better not to take any chances since cats do not need milk in their diet. If you like, you can purchase cat milk instead as a treat but the kitten has to be over 6 weeks old to drink them.

Some brands to try:-

Whiskas Cat Milk

http://www.whiskas.ca/catmilk.html

Vitakraft Healthy Milk/Yogurt Snack Drops for Cats

Catsip

Milky Flakes Um Treats for Kittens

Water

(filtered water would be the best, you can also invest in a water fountain if you like.

Petmate and Drinkwell are popular ones)

Food/Water Dish

(Kittens and cat like to eat and drink from shallow bowl. Dog bowls are not suitable because they are deeper and cats do not like to get their whiskers wet or soggy. Stainless steel and ceramic are the best. Avoid double serving dishes - keep a separate dish for food and water)

Grooming Tools

(short haired cats require less grooming than long haired. Invest in good quality nail clippers, brush, flea comb, wet wipes, and I like to use a chamois cloth to give my kitty's coat a high sheen and glow after grooming. The furminator is also a good tool to help with controlling excessive shedding. Kitten do not need to be bathed unless they get very dirty/messy)

Litter and Litterbox

(She will need at least one litterbox for your kitten. To begin with, choose a smaller one where the sides are lower so she is able to climb in and out easily. Remember, not all cats like a covered litterbox. It is only convenient for the owner.

There are many kinds of litter to choose from and I personally prefer clumping litter made from natural biodegradable ingredients like corn, wheat and pine)

To make sure that your kitten uses the litterbox regularly, you have to maintain a clean and sanitary litterbox condition. Be sure to scoop daily and replenish with fresh litter. You will need to empty the litterbox at least once a week or twice a month. Wash the litterbox thoroughly with a mild detergent and bleach. Be sure to rinse off all cleaning residue. Don't forget to also clean the scoop! With kittens, you will need to make sure you leave a little of the used litter behind to remind them what the litterbox is for.

Scratching Post and Play Structures

(This is very important to get for your kitty because you do not want her to learn to scratch your furniture. Scratching is a natural habit and you shouldn't punish er. When you buy a scratching post, make sure it's one that is sturdy and will not tip off easily. All cats love to climb and getting her a nice cat tree of playhouse will allow her to exercise her natural talent without ransacking your house)

You can try one of these two method to teach your kitten/cat to use the scratching post.

Method One

Hold treats near the post to get your cat to come near the post. Slowly, make your cat come closer and closer to the post to get the treat. Then increase the height at which you are holding the treat so your cat must put his paws up the post to reach the treat. Gradually increase the height at which you hold the treat so that your cat eventually has to climb to the top in order to get the treat. This training session is a slow process to be worked on each day, making small progress each time you work on it.

Method Two

Using the kind of cat toys that are at the end of a string, dangle, drag, and swing one of your cat's toys. Do this on and around the post. Use the scratching post as the play area. Your cat will climb up and down and around his post to try to reach his toy. By doing this, his post will be a place of fun and good memories.

Stain and Odor Remover

(Accidents happen so be prepare to clean up after your kitten. You must remove all traces of urine from carpeting because a kitten will urinate on the same spot again if she scent it.)

Carrier

(When you bring your kitten to visit the vet, you will need a carrier. It is important that you choose one that fits the kitten comfortably and she can stand and turn around easily. You can choose hard sided or soft sided carriers and they come is all shapes and design)

Collar and ID Tag

I hope your cat stays indoor. If she is outdoor, a collar and ID Tag is a must. I am not a huge fan of collar for indoor cat because of the possible risk of strangulation and getting stuck in structures. But it is up to you to make that decision. Choose a breakaway collar if you must.

Toys

(Kitten loves to play and make sure you always supervise her playtime. Favorites are jingle balls, mylar balls, feathered toys, dangling toys, lure toys, and I recommend you try Da Bird and Cat Dancer. They go absolutely crazy for them. Some toys you can make at home. Milk Jug Ring is a hit in all cat household, drinking straws, a rolled up ball of paper, newspaper tent, pillow tunnels)

Bed

(Just to remind you, you cannot place a kitten on a bed and expect her to sleep there quietly like a newborn baby. Kittens will choose wherever they want to snooze and the place changes all the time. Just make a simple comfortable bedding for her should she choose to sleep in a bed)

A note about plants at home. Please visit this website to make sure your plants are safe for kitty and non toxic.

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants.ht...

This site is very useful in learning more about taking good care of your kitten. Hope you'll visit and get more information from there.

http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/Kitt...

I hope I've covered it all for you. Good Luck and Best Wishes to you and your kitty!

Answer 8

first you want to make sure your kitten will be in a happy healthy fun home. Then you will want to get a litter box and some food! if you are not ghetting your cat declawed then get it a scratching post and maybe somthing to play on and grab some toys if your cat is playfull. like maybe get a ball or some fake mice! give it a cool name and let it get used to being called that certain name! scince its a kittenyou will need to keep a good eye on it because kittens can get into tons of mischief sometimes so be carefull also make sure it has enogh love and good phrases when its being good and if you want let it sleep with you! if you have any more questions my email is [e-mail]  

                                               The Hanster