Bringing Your Kitten Home

Keep your kitten confined to one room of the house for the first few days, giving your other pet(s) a chance to grow accustomed to their smell. Make the first introduction short and sweet, removing the kitten after a few minutes. Most pets will work things out in their own way, which may take about a week. If your pets are having more difficulty adjusting, supervise their time together and be patient. Offer both pets a place to go when they want to be alone. Introducing a new kitten to an older animal can be very stressful on the older animal. Lavish most of your attention on the older animal, not the kitten, making sure that the old-timer doesn’t feel threatened by the newcomer.

Playing

It’s not a good idea to use hands, fingers, feet or clothing when playing with a kitten, as your cute little kitten will eventually grow into a healthy-sized cat and you do not want to encourage aggressive behavior. Providing appropriate toys for exercising their natural predatory instincts of pouncing, stalking and chasing will ensure she has a safe and healthy outlet for these behaviors. Do not use toys that are too heavy for the kitten to move or that are small enough to be swallowed. A scratching post is an excellent investment for your new kitten. It will allow your kitten to scratch, stretch and exercise all at once.

Diet and Nutrition

Kittens need a different kind of diet than adult cats, as their stomachs are smaller and their nutritional needs somewhat different. It is important to feed your kitten a kitten food that is specially designed to meet their nutritional requirements. Feed their in small amounts, several times a day. As your kitten grows, dietary changes will be necessary. We are here to help you keep your kitten healthy and happy.

Litter Box

You can help your kitten to understand what is expected by placing her in the litter box after feeding and sleeping. Kittens do not need a full-size litter box and might do better in a box with lower sides (about 1 inch). Watch your kitten closely. When she begins nosing in corners or squatting, place her in the litter box. Gently scratch the kitten’s front paws in the litter, so she begins to learn that this is the place to deposit and bury waste. If your kitten has an accident, wipe it up with a paper towel and place the paper towel in the litter box. Then place the kitten in the litter box and repeat the process of scratching with her front paws. Do not punish your cat for having an accident. This won’t help her to learn to use the litter box, it will only teach her not to eliminate in front of you. When your kitten begins to understand, don’t take her good behavior for granted. Continue to praise her for using the litter box.

Grooming

It is important to make your kitten feel comfortable about grooming from an early age. Look into her ears, eyes, nose and mouth regularly. Look at her paws to prepare her for claw trimming when she needs it. Brush or comb your kitten regularly.

Otodectes (Ear Mites)

A common problem in kittens is ear mites. These mites can cause significant discomfort, fortunately there is a one time treatment that cats rapidly respond to. The primary symptoms of ear mites are scratching at the ears, shaking of the head, and a dark discharge.

FELV/FIV Testing

FeLV does not live long in the environment and is transmitted via prolonged direct contact between cats. Ways our cats can become infected are by grooming each other, eating and drinking out of common food and water bowls, and by bite wounds. Urine and feces may also be means by which the virus is passed from one cat to another. Kittens can be infected in utero and have the virus when they are born. There are a small number of cats that actually clear the virus from their systems, but the majority are infected for life. For most cats, they will continue to be healthy for many years. As the disease begins to become apparent, cats may become ill more frequently because their immune systems are suppressed, they may have periods of lethargy and decreased appetite, weight loss, and sometimes recurrent fevers. Some cats develop cancers secondary to the disease. The test that is used most commonly for diagnosis is a blood test that measures viral antigen (actual virus particles in the bloodstream). We recommend that all kittens and any cats with unknown history be tested before being brought into the household. It is important to keep FeLV positive cats indoors for two reasons. The first is their own health. Because their immune systems are not working as well as they should, cats with FeLV are more likely to become ill when exposed to other ill cats or fight with other cats. The second is the health of other cats. All FeLV positive cats have the potential to transmit the virus to other cats they are in contact with. There is a vaccine available to protect against FeLV and we recommend its use on an annual basis for any cats that are outdoors or have exposure to outdoor cats.

Outdoor free-roaming cats are at greatest risk for FIV. FIV is not able to live long in the environment and is almost always transmitted through bite wounds. Once cats are infected with this virus, they remain so for life. As with FeLV, infected cats are often healthy for many years before they start to show signs of disease. Because of the immune suppression that occurs, there can be vague non-specific signs suggesting your cat is ill. The test that is used most commonly for diagnosis of FIV is a blood test that measures antibodies to the virus. We recommend that all kittens and any cats with unknown history be tested before being brought into the household. For the same reasons mentioned above, it is important to keep any FIV positive cat indoors so they are not being put at unnecessary risk nor are other cats they come in contact with. The best way to protect your pet is to keep him or her indoors. If they must be outside, try to ensure they are in at night since this is when the majority of cat fights occur.

Kitten-Proof Your Home

Keep small items such as string, ribbon, tinsel, rubber bands, buttons and beads out of reach, your kitten could choke on them.

Place all electric cords out of reach.

Also be aware of those household products and plants that may be harmful to your new kitten.

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This information may also be printed for your convenience: Your Kitten’s First Visit