How To Prepare For Your Kitten Coming Home

Are you getting ready to welcome a kitten into your home? If so, you may be feeling very excited right now. A kitten can be a wonderful addition to your family, with its boundless energy and playful nature certain to bring joy to your life. However, before you can start enjoying fun and cuddles with your new furry companion, you’ll need to get ready for its arrival. Read on to find out how to prepare for your kitten coming home. 

Go Shopping For Essential Supplies

A shopping trip is in order when getting ready for your new kitten’s arrival in your home. There’s a whole host of items you’ll need to buy, ranging from a litter box and litter, water and food bowls, food, a bed and bedding, a carrier, a scratching post, and toys. You’ll need to ensure that you have purchased these things before bringing your kitten home. Being prepared will help ensure that the process goes smoothly.

Kitten-proof Your Home

Since kittens are curious and playful creatures, it’s not unusual for them to get into mischief. From chewing through cords, shoes and other household items to scratching furniture and carpets and knocking things off shelves and tables as they explore. With this in mind, it’s essential to carry out kitten-proofing before your new feline friend arrives at your home. We recommend securing electrical cords, removing any toxic plants, securing windows, and removing any valuable items that your kitten could break. You may also want to close and secure windows since they could find their way out if left open, potentially injuring themselves or worse. 

Create A Safe Space 

Kittens can find moving to a new environment very stressful indeed. As a result, it makes sense to create a safe space where they can retreat should they become anxious. You could use a spare room for this, or even just set aside a corner within another room. Having this space that’s only for them can provide comfort and a sense of security and them transition more easily into your home. Make sure the space has everything they might need, including a litter box, their food and water bowls and their bed. You could also add toys and a scratching post. When it comes to how to prepare for your kitten coming home, creating a safe space is worth its weight in gold. 

Set A Routine And Stick To It 

Before your kitten comes home, decide on a routine to follow. This should include when they will eat, sleep and play. Cats enjoy predictability since it can help them feel more secure and less anxious. Establishing a routine can help with litter training too. This is because regular feeding times and consistent meal schedules help regulate a cat’s digestive system. Once you have set a routine, make sure you stick to it. Breaking from the routine can cause your kitten to feel stressed, which can seriously impact their physical and mental well-being. 

Book Their First Vet Appointment

We recommend scheduling your kitten’s first vet appointment within the first couple of weeks of bringing them home. During this appointment, the very will carry out a thorough examination to ensure they’re healthy and don’t have any existing medical issues. They will also recommend a vaccination schedule based on your kitten’s age and health. In addition, your vet may check for parasites such as worms, fleas, and ticks and provide appropriate treatment if necessary.

Avoid Overwhelming Your Kitten

Try to avoid overwhelming your kitten in their first days and weeks in your home. Although it can be tempting to spend as much time with them as possible and invite friends around so they can see just how cute your kitten is, it’s important to give them space and time to adjust to their new surroundings. Too much stimulation can cause them to feel stressed and anxious, which can lead to them displaying bad behaviour. We advise limiting the number of visitors when you first bring your kitten home. Instead, introduce them to friends and family slowly over time.

Spend Quality Time Together 

Spending quality time with your kitten is essential, supporting their overall well-being and development and strengthening the bond between you. There are many ways you can enjoy quality time with your kitten. As well as gently petting and cuddling them, you may also want to play with them using interactive toys like feather wands and laser pointers. Teaching your kitten new tricks and commands using reinforcement training is another great way to spend time with them. Life can certainly get busy but try to make time for your kitten as much as you can.

Teach Proper Handling 

Teaching your kitten proper handling is important not just for their well-being and safety but for building positive relationships with humans. Proper handling ensures they feel comfortable and secure whilst helping to prevent feelings of stress and fear. Begin with short sessions when starting to handle your kitten since this can stop them from feeling overwhelmed. You can increase the duration once you feel that they’re becoming more relaxed. We recommend using positive reinforcement when handling your kitten so that they associate it with a positive outcome. You can do this by giving them their favourite treats or praising them when they allow you to hold them. 

Find A Local Cattery 

If you haven’t even brought your kitten home yet, you may not be thinking about boarding facilities. However, we strongly advise looking into your options at this early stage. You never know when you might need a cattery for your kitten, especially if you don’t have family or friends you can call on to care for your furry friend if you’re unable to.

Whether you’re heading off on holiday or you fall sick and are unable to look after your kitten, having a local cattery on hand to provide professional care can be vital. Research catteries in your area to find one that you can rely on should you need temporary boarding for your pet. 

If you require a cattery in Sheffield, look no further than Jaycliffe Pets.