Looking After a Kitten

When you first adopt a kitten, you quickly realize they provide an endless source of amusement, curiosity, energy and to some degree frustration. You will learn about sleep deprivation, become mentally challenged in how to stop your kitten from chewing on; shoelaces, drapery ties, vinyl blinds and electrical cords. You will burn carbs moving the refrigerator when kitty becomes trapped behind it and wonder why your kitten looks at your bedroom drapes as if they were Mount Everest instead of a decorating accent to your home.

How do you look after a kitten?

Adopting one kitten isn’t the answer, try adopting two if it is economically feasible. Adding another kitten stops; separation anxiety, behavior issues, and pants-leg ambushes. Plus watching two kittens at play is relaxing. They will exert an incredible amount of energy playing off each other then become content to just crawl into your lap afterward and catch a cat nap.

What do you need to look after a kitten?

• Time
• Patience
• Understanding
• Love
• Tolerance

And a few other essential items:

• Two litter pans and cat litter (non-clumping)
• A cat post or scratching post
• Proper food both wet and dry
• Food and water bowls- pet fountains work great
• Brushes, combs, claw trimmers

Last but not least…

A first vet exam!

Your veterinarian will (depending on the age and health of the kitten):

• • Perform a hands-on exam.
• • Test the blood for infectious diseases.
• • Weigh the kitten.
• • Take the kitten’s temperature and heart rate.
• • De-worm, de-flea and examine the ears for ear mites.
• • Look into the mouth determining the age of the kitten.
• • Administer vaccines and make an appointment to neuter the kitten.
• • Give you meds if kitty has health issues.

The initial cost of looking after a kitten will vary. In most states a general exam is between $30-$40.Vaccines can run up to $60.00 lab work starts at $30.00 then goes from there.

Items for the kitten – check local thrift stores for food and water bowls and other supplies, order online or buy locally. Look to spend about $100.00 just for the basics. Be sure and buy a large cat carrier. Your kitten(s) will not stay small very long. Leave the carrier out at all times with the door propped open so kitty won’t be scared of it. Don’t confine the kitten to live inside a carrier, instead, put the kitten into a small room (bathrooms work great) make sure the room is warm and all the basic needs are within the kitten’s room. Be safe when you purchase cat toys. Stay away from toys with detachable tails, eyes or ears and don’t use string toys unless you are supervising the playtime. Put the toy up immediately after playtime. Interactive play between the two of you brings energy into focus, encourages prey activity and is the start of a bond between the two (or three) of you which will last for a long time.