Getting a Cat

A new little kitten will soon be arriving at your door, and a prepared home will help your kitten to quickly acclimate to its new environment. Kittens love to explore and often end up in places they shouldn't be, and some 'kitty proofing' measures will help to keep your kitten safe from harm as well. To welcome your little kitty home, follow these tips to prepare your house for your new arrival.

Preparing Your Home

Kittens need plenty of toys and activities to keep them from getting into trouble. Invest in plenty of balls, stuffed play animals, and other toys that will keep your kitten busy. A scratching post will help your kitten to learn appropriate places to sharpen claws. For the crème de la crème in kitten preparedness, purchase a cat condo pole. Your new kitten will love this 'kitty jungle gym,' and when your kitten grows into a cat the condo will still be there for scratching, climbing, and play times.

Additional items you will need for your new kitten include:

Litter box
Water dish
Food dish
Comb or brush
Nail trimmer

Try to decide first where you want the litter box, food, and water dishes to be. Keeping these items in a permanent spot will help your kitty to remember where they are. In addition, choose your kitten food that you want to use before the kitten comes home. Do your research, and pick the food that you think is best. Figuring out which food you want to feed first can reduce any unnecessary changes in diet that can cause stomach upset and diarrhea in the kitten.

'Kitty proofing' your home will help to keep your kitten out of possibly dangerous areas. If you have any tiny holes around your home, plug these holes up; kittens are notorious for their curiosity, and if there are any small holes that lead to the inside walls, or anywhere else, the kitten could become trapped.