What To Expect Having A New Kitten In The House
So, you have decided to bring home a new kitten
. Congratulations are in order! But, before you settle in with peaceful and warm thoughts about this situation, a few things should be considered.
First, where should you look for a new kitten? The papers are full of people trying to sell or give away a new litter, but is this the best place? Are the people trying to make money on their animals and why should they let their cats have litter after litter? Did they give the kittens the veterinary care that is necessary to have the animal get a good start in life? Is the home environment stimulating and challenging to encourage personality in the kitten? Are there too many children that might play too hard with the kitten and make it mean or cowardly? These are good questions that should be considered before looking into kitten adoption.
There are many deserving homes needed for animals at the Humane Society. Many times, these animals are home fostered and live with a person who actually cares about animals. The person has spent time training and caring for the kitten and it is already well socialized. The costs for the necessary shots and normal spaying or neutering are reflected in the adoption charges, although most animal shelters have discounted the fees dramatically. This also saves you a lot of money in the first months of a kitten's life, so please consider saving an animal's life by adoption.
A breeder is a good route if you have a specific type of kitten in mind. Make sure the area is well taken care of, the smell is minimal, and that the older animals look well taken care of. Their coats should be well groomed and their eyes should not have any sort of drainage. They should not be scratching and itching due to any infestation.
After you have chosen the lucky kitten, taking him home should be a real joy. Just make sure that you have a carrier, which you will need for future veterinarian trips, and place a blanket or towel inside to make the kitten feel more secure. Do not try to drive and let the kitten unrestrained. It is a recipe for disaster!
When arriving home, let the kitten become accustomed to one room at a time. Place his litter box and food in one room and keep him confined to make sure that the litter box is found and that the kitten is not overwhelmed with family and friends playing and tiring him out. Make sure that the room is kitten safe, because even the smallest kitten has the knack for finding wires dangling or the papers you do not want chewed.
As the kitten comes to depend on you for his food and water, he will come looking for you and start exploring his new territory. This means sticking his nose into every nook and cranny that is in your home! Even the smallest kitten will climb and want to be up high. They run through the house and wait to attack your feet as you walk by. When you go from one room to another, they will run between your feet, seemingly daring you to step on them. They will jump off a chair and will try to eat the food on your plate. They will follow you into the bathroom and have even been known to fall into the tub. They will meow if left alone and they will attack your toes if you wiggle them. They love to have toys and will play for hours with something as simple as a ping pong ball. Having play time is something that should be encouraged as it bonds you and the kitten and it encourages them to hunt and pounce.
All these activities are normal and natural for a kitten. Do not get a kitten if you do not want to train it. You should not allow a kitten to play with your fingers as it will attempt to bite playfully and that might not be good if you have children or grandchildren. Teach the kitten to stop attacking feet by saying "NO" in a voice that he understands is reserved for him doing something wrong. The tone of your voice can be very useful in teaching the kitten what he is allowed to do and not do. For instance, in one home he may not be allowed in the bedroom at all and in another home, he may be encouraged to sleep next to his owner in the bed. You have to let the kitten realize the rules of your home and make sure that you keep telling him over and over until he understands. Eventually, he will mind you or at least stay away from troublesome areas and situations.
It is fun to try to teach a kitten new tricks. There are many books on training a cat, and it seems best to start with a young animal because they are so curious and so active anyway. Training is a good place to channel some of that kitten energy and also to teach your kitten things that amuse others and can extend their love of animals as well.
Adding a new kitten to your household is a good thing and you have a duty to give the animal a loving and safe home with routine shots and veterinary care. Training the kitten will be an ongoing event and you will need a lot of patience.
It is rewarding to have a kitten which will become a wonderful member of the household very quickly. You will also have a loyal friend for a long time to come.
by: Ryan Round
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