2 minute read
Welcome Kitty
Oh, a lovely tiny fluffy kitty in the house! The thought of it conjures up memories of kittens we grew up with, and a new one was a little like bringing a new baby home. While my advice now would probably not be to dress the kitten up and put her in the doll’s pram, or to try and make it play the piano, as we did when young, a kitten is a wonderful – if sometimes exhausting – addition to a home. Here are a few pet pointers.
By Juliet Abrahamson
Once you’ve decided to bring home a kitten, then it’s a good idea to get some basic supplies from your pet store or supermarket.
• You’ll need a bowl for water, and another, or a double bowl for food.
We always found that our cats were happier with a mixture of dry and moist food.
Don’t put down milk as it can cause an upset tummy, and cats are quite happy with water. Do get recommended kitten food for the first year or so of life in order that you provide good nutrition for a growing animal. Put a few little treats in your shopping basket too!
• A sturdy, good-sized plastic cat litter tray and some cat litter. Find a good place to put it: a utility room, or out of the way corner is ideal, and place it on some newspapers away from cat bowls.
• Cats like to sleep in all sorts of places, and rarely keep to their own bed like a dog might, but it is a good idea to start with a comforting little kitten-bed for your new pet.
• You’ll also need a pet carrier to bring her home or to the vet, a grooming brush, and a scratching-post is a must if you want to try and protect your furniture. A few toys are great for the kitten to play with and to use to discourage clawing and biting you, and an adjustable collar with a tiny bell and ID tag (kittens will lose it at the first opportunity, but it is worth a try).
Bringing her home
Check there are no dangers in your home: check doors to washing machine are closed, and remove plants that are poisonous or items that you don’t want damaged, and make sure the kitten can’t get outside.
A kitten should be allowed to sleep, which she will do a lot, and it might be a good idea to confine her to one room until she feels safe enough to explore the house further. She probably won’t eat straightaway, but can be shown to her food and water bowl.
Try to keep the excitement down so that the kitten isn’t frightened and can begin to adjust to the new place. Young children need to be shown how to handle and gently stroke her – how to pick up the kitty gently, and no grabbing or pulling tails allowed. Other pets you may have need to be introduced slowly and with care until everyone adjusts to the exciting new inhabitant.
