Caring for a New Kitten: Playtime

Just like kids, cats like to play no matter what their age. A few toys can keep them occupied for hours if they like them, but they can also lose them and they may want you to play. As your new kitten gets older it will develop more of a personality and you will figure out if she prefers to cuddle or be active and get into mischief.

A kitten is great fun as it has a tonne of energy and will want to play with you all day long. But, you may prefer to just enjoy their company and not play, and as a result, it may be a good idea to adopt two kittens instead. In this case, it may be best to get siblings, as they will already know and be comfortable with each other, and you will not have to go through the stage of getting them acquainted.

A great thing about two kittens is that they will play with each other and when they are tired, they will likely lay down and sleep together. You may also catch them grooming each other. By having two kittens, you do not have to worry about your new kitten being bored if you are gone all day as they will have a play companion. Another benefit is that your kitty will have another warm body to cuddle up with at night if you do not want them sleeping in your bed.

That said, it is more expensive to adopt two cats as you will have to buy twice as much vet, have twice as many vet bills and buy more cat toys. Make sure that you can financially afford two before taking on the responsibility of two kittens.

Beware when you are playing with your new kitten that he may get aggressive and get out the claws or bite you. Their instinct is to play rough as they are learning to be a predator. If they attempt to bite or scratch your hand, take the hand away from them. Chances are they will grow out of it and become a sweet cat as they get older. If they do not seem to be growing out of this stage, you can get a product named Soft Paws that is like a gel nail for the claw, and it will protect you from their claws, and it will also save your furniture if they like to scratch. This is a much better choice than getting your cat de-clawed, as even if your cat is an indoor cat, he may get out and will not be able to protect himself without claws.

Cats scratch, it is just who they are, as they use it to sharpen their claws. Again, this is part of their predatory nature and they are not likely to stop. Get your new kitten a nice scratching post that will be at least twice as tall as him when he is full grown. This will allow your new kitten to stretch out when scratching the post, which is another thing that they like to do. Having a taller perch will make kitty happy as he can climb to the top and watch over his castle.

There are many different toys on the market that you can purchase for your cat to play with. These toys run the gamut on pricing as well with there being many that you can pick up at the dollar store and others you can pay a lot of money for. Try different toys and see what your cat likes, and do not forget to check under things when they all go missing. You can also create toys from things at home such as a crumpled ball of aluminum foil or a toilet paper roll. Big boxes are also great for playing hide and seek with.

Overall, a kitten is a great companion and it is great fun watching them go from a little furball of a kitten to a full grown cat. They can be playful and mischievous, but they also have their moments when they are calm and just want to be loved. No matter what the personality of your specific cat is, just play with it and love it and enjoy its company.