Caring for a New Kitten: Lifestyle

Not only does caring for a new kitten involve nutritional needs, but they have other needs such as socialization and a place to sleep. These need to be considered as well before you bring home your new family member but it is not always something people consider.

This can be a tough question, especially if it is a family that is adopting a new kitten. The kids may want him to sleep with them, or maybe the parents prefer the cat to sleep with no one. Keep in mind that a kitten is used to sleeping with mom and siblings, so they are used to having a warm body beside them. But if you prefer kitten to sleep on his own, you can line a cardboard box with blankets as this will keep him in one location all night but provide a place of warmth and a place to curl up. If you are afraid that kitty is going to be cold, you could put in a warm water bottle. It would be best to put this box somewhere other than the bedroom, as kitty will eventually get big enough to get out and join you in bed.

If you do not mind your new kitten sleeping with you, you will need to realize that they likely will choose to sleep with you for the rest of their life. You may also find that they are hogging all the space in the bed and you will only get the outer edge of it. When they are still a baby, they may not sleep through the night and if they are in your bed, they will likely wake you up as well. Just like with a baby, do not expect a full night’s sleep for quite a while, if ever. Many kittens end up becoming little alarm clocks, and you can look forward to waking up to being licked, especially if kitty wants food.

People think that litter box training their new kitten is going to be difficult, but it is relatively easy. Chances are when you get your kitten it has already been paper trained, and they may have even started litter training. Bring kitty home and show them where the litter box is. Take their paws and scoop a bit in the litter so they realize what they are to do there. Watch them for a while and if you see them hunting for something, or they have just eaten and you think they may need the box, take them there and set them in the box. It won’t take long and they will understand, as cats like to be clean and that means they use the litter box.

It is a good idea to get your new kitten spayed or neutered. The only real reason for not doing this would be because it is a purebred and you plan to breed them, but there are so many kittens already out there that need a good home, there is no need for this.

Male cats that are not neutered may end up spraying your home to mark his territory and be more prone to get outside where he will then get into fights. A female cat that is not spayed can go into heat as early as four months and will continue going into heat every few weeks after that. When in heat, a female cat can be very loud and annoying and may try to escape from the house at every chance to go find a male cat. Typically you can get the males neutered around six months and a female spayed at four months, but talk to your vet as they may be able to do it even younger.

The type of cat you get will determine what type of grooming will be required. If he is a short hair, you can get away with less grooming or even very little. When brushing, use a brush that has soft bristles and be gentle. If you have a cat with long hair, you will need to brush them on a regular basis to prevent their coat from matting. Get a comb that is made specifically for cats with wide-teeth. Brushing them will keep their coat looking shiny and healthy, and it will also prevent them from getting hairballs.

With these issues resolved, it is a lot easier for both you and your new kitten to adapt and get used to their new surroundings. Remember that cats are nocturnal so when deciding where to place things such as their litter box and bed, put them places they can access through the night when you are sleeping. Caring for a new kitten gets easier as time goes on and you both get to know each other.