Supplies to have on hand
Litterbox -If
you can afford one, I highly recommend the Litter Maid self scooping
litterboxes. But our kittens will readily use a regular litterbox also.
Scoopable Litter -We use the Tidy Cats brand.
Water Dispenser- Many people like the electric models, we have
always used the simple gravity fed kind.
Food Dishes- Buy the ceramic ones that are heavy so kitty won't
tip it over and make a mess.
Scratching Posts- Very important! We do not recommend declawing.
There are so many different kinds to choose from. Start with at least one
or two simple sisal posts and you can always upgrade to a fancy cat tree
later.
Bedding- I always get asked what kind of bed to buy for the new
kitten. Honestly kittens are happy to sleep any place. You'll be surprised
how your kitten will be rambunxiously playing and then just collapse
right there on the floor for a nap. They will often find their own
favorite spot to sleep and it may just be in bed with you. If you really
want to get them something special, buy a kitty hammock to fit in your window.
It will surely be a favorite napping spot.
Toys- Kittens will play with almost everything. Crumple up a piece
of paper and throw it on the floor to watch them go nuts! Or leave a
paper sack sit on the floor and they will love to play hide and seek. But
we all love to buy things for our pets, so here's some of our kitten's
favorites. Crinkle balls, you can even teach them to play fetch with
these, or the jingle balls. Wands, with feathers or sparkles on the end.
Anything stuffed with catnip. Rabbit hair mice. Kitty fishing poles,
you're the fisherman. Oh, and I must not forget those round, on the floor
scratchers that have a ball to chase around the outside. You can load
these up with catnip too. Hours of fun!
Food- We use the Iams kitten food ( purple bag ) up to one year, and the Iams
canned food twice a day. For adults, the hairball formula is great.
Carrier- If your kitten is shipped you will get one of these, but
if you come here to pick up your kitten you will need to buy one. You'll
definitely need one to take your kitten to the vet for checkups and they
come in handy for any trip.
Grooming Supplies We like to use a slicker brush, works great to remove the thick undercoat and prevent tangles. As your
kitten grows you may consider also buying a comb and thinning shears to
keep kitty's coat in tip top shape.
Nail Trimmers- Your kitten will naturally use the scratching post
to keep the nails in shape. If you choose to trim them yourself be very
careful. Best to have someone show you how the first time.
Socializing and Playing
When you first bring your kittens home we recommend
you confine them to a small space like a bathroom or spare bedroom until
they get used to the strange smells, noises, people and other pets in
your household. Doing so will help the kittens adjust to your home more
easily. The first few weeks in a kitten's life are the most important
ones in terms of socializing and bonding. Pick up your kittens often and
cuddle, pet, and talk to them. Properly handled kittens will associate
these happy times with you and be your friend for life. Always handle
them gently and don't let the kittens attack your ankles or hands. Biting
and other rough play is natural for kittens, but they might start to
think of you as a play toy. If your kitten does this say NO! And walk
away. Instead, give the kittens toys to play with.
Litter Box Training
Your kitten will be fully litter trained here
before he/she goes home with you but it can be confusing for them the
first few days in a new home. Place the litterbox in a quiet, out of the
way place but not right next to the food and water. They instinctively
will not do their elimination near their food. As soon as you get home,
place the kitten in it's litter box so he/she knows exactly where to find
it. For the first few day periodically pick up the kitten and place
him/her in the litterbox as a reminder.
If the kitten starts to go on the floor, pick him up and gently place him
back in the box. Some tips to remember:
You should have at least
one litterbox for every cat you own.
Always keep a litterbox
nearby when they are young.
It is important to keep
the litterbox very clean at all times.
If you've had pets before who've went on the carpet
it must be thoroughly cleaned before bringing your kitten home. Any place
where a kitten can smell urine they will think is a litterbox. Even if
you can't see, smell it, the kitten can. You can use a black light to
find any spots on the carpet that need to be cleaned. Once you've found
the areas, here's how to clean them- Link
Scratching
It is natural for kittens to scratch. This is how
they sharpen their claws and it is great exercise for their legs. Provide
a sturdy post of sisal beginning the day you bring your kitten home. Show
your kitten how to scratch on it, and if you find her scratching your
furniture, pick her up and place her at the post. You can make the
scratching post more attractive by rubbing some catnip on it, or spray
with catnip spray.
Feeding
Kittens should be fed 4 times a day or you can
leave fresh food out all day. Adult cats can be fed twice a day. Always
leave plenty of fresh water out DO NOT, under any circumstances, change
(or add to) the kitten's food for at least three weeks after you get him
home.
Kittens are not cats and should not be fed on adult cat food! They need
the special nutrients in kitten food to grow properly. Our kittens also
enjoy canned food.
Do not give your kitten milk! Most kittens cannot digest is properly and
it will give them diarrhea.
Grooming
Grooming is a big responsibility when you own a
Persian cat. Persians and Himalayans must be groomed every day. Be sure
to brush kitty everywhere- especially underneath. Run your fingers
through the coat, if you feel a tangle, carefully loosen it with your
finger tips, then brush out. Brushing against the grain will stimulate
growth and to improve shine. If the kitty is not brushed thoroughly and
often, he can get matted. Brushing your kitty often promotes less
shedding and less hairballs as well. Gently clean the face and around the eyes
with a soft cloth once or twice a day to keep from getting stained.
It is necessary to give your kitten a bath from time to time. If you keep
them very clean they will grow up to really dislike being dirty and will
groom themselves better. They will also get used to being washed in the
tub and won't fight you about it when they get older. Anyway the trick is
to have everything ready- run the bath about 4 inches, have towels within
reach, use baby shampoo or special shampoo for cats and have the lid open
so you can pour it on with one hand, then bring him in and get him all
wet and shampoo, a sprayer is great to rinse or a dip a cup in the bath.
Be very careful not to get water in kittys ears. Be sure to thouroughly dry kitty after each bath!
To dry,
use one towel and dry him off as well as possible, then wrap him up in a
dry towel and blow dry set on low. It helps to set the blow dryer on a
chair so it blows down on him and that way you have two free hands. Brush
the fur up as he dries. Be careful that the blow dryer is not too hot- if
it is comfortable on your hands it's Ok for kitty.
It is helpful to clip
some of the hair around the backend- helps him to keep himself clean back
there.
Pet Insurance
Due to the rising cost of pet care, you may choose to purchase pet insurance for your new kitten.
Here are a few more links about kitten care.
Kitten Proofing Your Home
The facts About Declawing
Litter Usage Issues
