	Cat Breeds
	Cat Names
	Mating and Pregnancy
	Raising A Kitten
	Cat Food and Nutrition
	Cat Health
	Cat Care
	Cat Humor
	Cat Gallery
	Cat Horoscopes
	History and Famous Cats
	Cat Links

Before Kitten at your Home

Be sure you have all the things you will need so you won't have to go to the store and leave your kittens home alone and unattended. In the beginning, kittens need someone around to help them adjust to being away from their brothers, sisters and especially, Mommie. The following list is all of the necessities you will need for your new kittens:

• Cat Box

• Poop Scooper

• Ceramic Food Bowls*

• Cat Food

• Cat Toys

• Cat Treats

• Soft Cat Bed

* Use ONLY ceramic bowls! Plastic bowls are porous and collect food in the pores. That food rots and creates bacteria. When your cat eats his food from a bacteria infested bowl, he might develop a form of acne on his chin. This will require a vet trip, where the veterinarian will shave the affected area, lance the pimples, and you will have to treat your cat with a cat acne topical cream.

PURCHASE NEEDED SUPPLIES AHEAD OF TIME

You will definitely want to have on hand:

- food and water dishes (we recommend stainless steel, and recommend getting your new kitty her own set, even if you already have a set for another feline),

- food (make sure you are continuing with the type of food your kitty is used to, to avoid abrupt changes in her diet which could cause loose stools),

- litter box (be realistic as to the size and style of litter box, and what will work best for your kitty, and be sure to place the litter box in an easily accessible location, away from the food and water area),

- litter (again, it will be much easier on your kitty if you continue to use the litter she is used to, at least at first, and any changes that you may want to make should be done very gradually),

- pooper scooper, cat furniture such as several scratching posts, a window level perch, and at least one tall cat tree or tower (and be sure to place these in the areas where they will get the most use),

- cat bed,

- toys,

- collar,

- identification tag (micro-chipping is another option here),

- walking jacket harness and leash,

- travel kennel crate,

- nail clippers,

- Gerber's baby food (lamb or chicken, for special treats and when kitty is ill),

- bottled water or a filtering system for your tap water, and a brush.

Move all toxic materials so that they are out of reach (or better yet, safely locked in a secured cabinet) for your cat.
Remove all poisonous items from your home. This includes household cleansers, car products such as anti-freeze, small sharp objects, poisonous plants, etc.

Cover outlets and hide or heavily cover with tapes or plastic conduit electrical cords as cats and young teething kittens like to gnaw on such items. Watch for lightweight table lamps that can fall over; heavy irons that can fall off ironing boards; reclining chairs where kittens and cats can get up way inside and suffocate, or get trapped and badly injured or killed when someone unknowingly sits down at the wrong time.

It's best to keep real houseplants in a separate, closed area, away from any contact with your cats. Silk plants make an attractive, safe substitute. This way, the cat does not come in contact with any poisonous plants, nor have the opportunity to ingest or come in contact with any potential parasites in the soil. Be sure to remove all strands of spaghnum moss, to avoid having your kitty ingest them.

A professional veterinarian should be contacted immediately if your cat suddenly collapses, has repeated vomiting or severe diarrhea, or shows signs of excessive irritation (red, swollen, blistering or raw) of skin of the mouth or throat. Any cat or kitten who becomes lethargic and loses interest in their food for a day or more may also have ingested something potentially dangerous, and professional help should be sought. If you actually see your cat eat something that you suspect to be poisonous, do not attempt to make the cat vomit yourself. Take the cat to the vet with a sample of the plant (a plant label or means of identification would also be most helpful). This will help the vet to find a treatment or antidote to the poison. Keeping notes of the time of eating and any symptoms may also be very helpful to your vet, as sometimes several days can pass between the ingestion of the harmful material and the actual effects showing up in your cat. Contact with the leaves, stems or sap of certain plants can cause rashes and hypersensitivity to sunlight resulting in sunburn. In cats these plants may cause blistering or itching of the mouth and gums, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed as gingivitis. Sneezing and eye problems can also be caused through contact with these plants.

You've seen your cat contently rub her face on the furniture, corners of the room, bottom of the curtains, and even you. She's marking her surroundings with special facial pheromones. These pheromones reassure her that all is well in her little world. However, if something stressful disturbs your cat's environment such as a new pet, visitors, moving to a new home, or even rearranging the furniture, she may begin urine marking, scratching, or even stop eating, or have a reduced desire to play and interact.

Check your house to make sure there are no holes he can squeeze into and hide, and no string or bad things he could eat. Kittens will go into very small spaces, as pictured, where you can't get to him for hours.

Decide where you want his bathroom facilities to be located. Set up the cat box lined with newspapers, about 4 inches of litter, and a splash mat or litter catcher if that is required.

Establish where you will feed you cat and set up the water and food bowl. Feed your kitten a food specially made for kittens, not adult cats. Kittens are growing and need extra calcium and fat. Cats and kittens should have food available all day long. Leave dry food in a bowl and refill as necessary.

Place your kitten's bed and toys in a place where he can get to them whenever he wants them. You may want his bed near your own bed, or let him sleep with you at night.

YOUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER

Once your cat is comfortable with the house, including where her food and water dishes, litter boxes and scratching posts are, you can help her get started learning your household and family routines, which will now include her. Cats seem to thrive on consistency and keeping her feeding and play times to a specific part of the day will be very calming for her, and probably for you too! She will be more open to learning to recognize her name, your voice, the different personalities of your human family members, the household rules about jumping, scratching, etc. Just like humans, each cat is a unique individual, and it is important not to have unrealistic expectations of your kitty's personality. As she becomes more comfortable with you, she will open herself up and show you her individuality. Let her know that she is a full member of your family now, and she will reward you, in her own time and way, with her trust, her affection, and her love.