Owning a pet cat can be very rewarding but it is important to answer a few basic questions before rushing out and bringing a new kitten home. This post is intended as a summary only and you should thoroughly research all aspects of cat ownership before bringing a new kitten into your house.

Animal shelters receive thousands of unwanted and abandoned animals every year, many of these from people who have rushed into getting a pet before realising that they are actually unprepared to look after it in the long run. 

The RSPCA website has some great information regarding what you should think about before bringing a new pet home… Here is a summary (read the full article here)

Am I prepared to care for a pet for its whole life?
The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years, with some dogs and cats living until 15 or even 20 years of age. While puppies and kittens are irresistibly adorable, you will need to be prepared to provide for an adult animal too.

Can I afford a pet? There are many costs involved with pet ownership. Upfront costs include vaccination, microchipping and desexing. However, you must be prepared to pay for food, worming, annual health checks, vet bills, training, boarding, toys and bedding for the life of the animal. 

Do I understand how to care for a pet? It is your responsibility, as a pet owner, to thoroughly research the basic requirements of your chosen pet. You should do this before bringing your pet home so that you are well informed about the species-specific needs of your pet and you are prepared to take good care of it. 

Do I have time to care for a pet? Some pets will demand more of your time than others. You will need to have time to exercise, groom and play with your pet for its lifetime.

Do I live in suitable accommodation with adequate space for a pet? Your home and garden size are significant factors in determining your suitability as a pet owner. Do you have enough space?

Will a pet fit into my lifestyle and priorities? Working hours, a busy social life and taking regular trips away are all factors you need to be considered before purchasing a pet. Companion animals thrive on human company and will always depend on you; you must be sure that your lifestyle will accommodate them. 

Don’t forget to buy the essentials before returning home with your new cat;

• A cat bed
  
• Food & water bowls
  
• Cat carriers 
• Scratching post (because you don’t want your cat to destroy your furniture!)
• Litter tray
  
• Toys
  
• Grooming equipment
  
• Food

Now click on this link to search Google for advice on what you should consider before running out and bringing home that cute little kitty and how to prepare your home… See you back here in a little bit!

Welcome back! Hopefully now you are prepared to bring your new kitten home and have a good understanding of what it takes to be a responsible cat owner but what comes next? What about after you arrive home with your little bundle of fluffy joy?



Health
The health of your kitten is vitally important right from the start so one of the first things you should do as soon as possible is take your kitten to a vet for a full health check. The vet will give you some general advice on caring for your new kitten as well as some important documentation regarding caring for your cat, health and vaccinations. Make sure that you check your cat’s ears regularly and carefully clean dirty ears with cotton wool dipped in water. Teeth should be checked regularly for tartar and inflamed gums although feeding a dry food can prevent some dental problems. 

Nutrition
You should feed your kitten a balanced and nutritious diet. You should provide a mixture of commercially available foods mixed with natural foods including raw meat, raw meaty bones and vegetables. See this article from the RSPCA for more advice on what you should feed your new kitten. If you have any questions about your kittens diet or nutrition needs speak with your breeder or your vet. Fresh water should be available for you kitten at all times and you should wash her food bowl after every meal… After all, you don’t eat from a dirty plate do you?!!

Grooming
It is important that you regularly groom your cat to avoid matted fur and unwanted nasties making it their home. If you start grooming from a young age and make it part of her routine this can be an enjoyable experience for your cat.

Litter Tray
Cats are clean animals therefore training a cat to use a litter tray is easy. Her litter tray should always be accessible and easy to find. You should use about two inches of litter in the bottom of the tray.

You don’t need to change all of the litter every day, simply scoop up patches and faeces and replace with fresh litter. Once a week you should wash the litter tray with hot water but be careful about using detergents as some can be toxic or your cat may be put off by the smell and not use the tray after washing. 

Like many animals, cats can carry disease in their faeces (especially if let outside and mixing with other cats) therefore you should use gloves while handling the litter tray and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. 

Sleeping 
Provide you kitten with a clean bed to sleep on that is warm and dry. Don’t forget to put plenty of toys in the bed! Cat beds come in many different types. For your kitten’s first bed, a cardboard box with sides about twelve inches high will be better than a large bed since the high sides will help her feel more secure and will also help to keep out the cold. Make sure you put soft blankets inside.

Playing with your Kitten
Kittens love to play and it is an important part of their growth and development as well as a way you can strengthen your bond with your kitten whilst also honing her instincts and reflexes. Give your kitten safe toys that she cannot injure herself with such as a ball or a rubber mouse.

Training
You need to bond with your kitten and there is no better time than play time for this! However, if she does something naughty, such as sharpen her claws on the furniture you need to stop her. You can read more about how to stop your cat from scratching in this blog post. It is important that your kitten doesn’t turn her hunting skills on the local wildlife. Putting bells on your cat’s collar and keeping her in at night are one option whilst a cat enclosure or cat run at your house will allow your kitten the freedom to play outside day or night whilst preventing her from leaving your property and the associated dangers. 

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Read about some common cat terms here 

The video above shows a full walkthrough of the completed large netted cat enclosure surrounding backyard, both sides of the house, front garden and carport with aluminium door entry...  Complete property enclosed and safe from sneaky kitty escapees! 

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