Bringing a New Cat or Kitten Home

Congratulations! You have decided to bring into your home a new cat. Whether you’ve rescued a cat or kitten from a shelter, found one on the street, or purchased one from a reputable breeder, here are some essential items needed to make the transition to your home smoother:

1. A qualified veterinarian is crucial towards helping a cat live a long, healthy life. Are the hours of the clinic user friendly? Do they accept payment plans? How clean is their facility? How friendly is their staff? Do they perform declaws on a routine basis or do they offer alternative measures to this procedure?  Find a small animal vet, or better yet, a Feline Specialist.
2. Premium cat food plus food and water bowls.  If you use a bowl for your food and water, be sure the edges of the bowl don’t bump the kitty’s whiskers (this can cause food avoidance). Feed on flat surfaces or in wide lipped bowls.
3. Cat litter- Preferably low-scented litter or plain clay litter (clumping is fine for older cats not for kittens). Good rule of thumb: If you can smell the litter once it is dumped in the litter pans, chances are good your cat won’t agree with your choice. Scented litter is marketed for our noses, not our cat’s sensitive nose.
4. Litter Pans- two per cat plus one extra is the rule. Observing cats living on the streets, they don’t use one location to do their business.  This is an ingrained survival mechanism. Cats have an easier time with more than one choice for a waste station.
5. Grooming tools- even for short haired cats, daily brushing cuts down on pet dander and excess hair. Use soft bristled brushes or best yet- the Zoom Groom. Add to this arsenal, a good set of electric clippers -Wahl is highly recommended. Don’t forget nail trimmers and a good septic pencil in case you hit the quick of the nail.
6. Cat toys if they are the right type can engage your new cat or kitten in play. You want to steer clear of string toys unless they are only used under your supervision. Strings are very dangerous for kitty. If she is left with string, she will eat it.
7. Cat Condo or Scratching Posts- Look for tall, strong, stable condos and scratching posts with wide bases. Less of a chance they will tip over. If the condo wobbles, reinforce it. You don’t want it tipping over and hurting kitty.
8. Appropriate flea products- Get these from your vet! Don’t buy over-the-counter flea anything! Even with inside cats, fleas can be a problem. Talk to your vet about the safe measures available to control these pests. Ever ask yourself why vet clinics don’t carry flea collars? Flea collars are toxic to cats and sometimes lethal for kittens.
9. Cat Carrier- top loaders are the best.  Leave it out at all times so kitty can get used to going inside without the fear of capture.
10. Pet Fountains are a must. They can encourage a new kitty to drink because of the motion of the running water. You can float a ping pong ball in the water to entice kitty close for a drink.