Preparing a Home for Your New Kitten

It is so much fun to bring home for your kids, or for yourself, is a brand new fluffy kitten. They are so cute and so easy to take care of too. Little kittens come in all sorts of colors, black & white, calico, tabby, Siamese or Persian, and they all have their own individual personalities. No two cats are alike. They are different from puppies, but just as much different from each other.

The first thing to do is to set up their litter box. Place it in another room from where their food will be, or on the opposite wall, but not right close to the food dish. Poor about a 2' layer across the bottom of your litter box and that will be good for about 5-6 days. Then replace it with fresh. Cats are allergic to the ammonia smell that comes from their feces, and they will quit using the box if it smells too bad, and you don't want that! If you have more than one cat, take that into consideration, too.

Cats like to have a bed or special place to sleep but they also like to know that they have free reign of the house. You can purchase a cat bed and put it in an inconspicuous corner, or even a blanket folded up will give them a bed. Chances are, though, you new kitty will sleep on your sofa, a favorite chair or in your bed with you most of the time.

Next put out a bowl of crunchy type food for them and right next to that, a big bowl of water. Cats are not like dogs that eat once or twice a day, but rather they will eat and nibble all day long. This is great for easy care if your family is out all day long. They will eat when they're hungry whereas a dog will eat all the food that you put out in the bowl at once. Totally different habits. As for canned food, that's fine but they don't need it every night. Try 2-3 times a week and that should be plenty. In fact, they will be perfectly fine with just the crunchies, using the canned food as a treat. They need the crunchies to keep their teeth , breath and digestion all in order so don't neglect those.

Cats, especially kittens love to play, to bat things around, and chase things. Any pet store or Walmart has a variety of kitty toys you can bring home for your little pet. To be honest with you, I'd bet that their favorite toy is a long shoestring that cost about $.29. You hold one end and just tease them with it getting their curiosity going and getting them to chase it. They always love that chasing the string. Little balls and stuffed mice are always a big favorite, too. They love to play; they're just not as rough as dogs.

Cats like to scratch, and that's a fact. There are scratching posts that you can find in the stores and sometimes you'll get lucky and your cat will use it. You might have to get creative though - maybe put some scratch material on a wall, or on a large board. If you have a chair that you don't mind them using, you could teach them to use that chair. In any event, if they aren't naturally attracted to one post, etc. you will have to train them to what they can and cannot use. Declawing your cat is really a no-no. Nails are their strongest and best tool when outside, and even if you decide your cat will be an indoor cat, they tend to get out every so often, and it's just not fair to leave them defenseless.

Contrary to popular beliefs, cats can be trained. They are very intelligent animals but they have their own way of reacting. Tin training them, use a spray bottle of water or papers all rolled up (because they don't like loud noise) and remain consistent in what you are training him/her on. Say he always jumps up on the kitchen counter and you don't want him up there. Take him down, either give them a few squirts - and say "No" or hit their behind with the papers a few times while saying, "No or Down". They are independent by nature and it may take you a few times using the same technique to reprimand him. And then again, sometimes you will squirt them twice, and they learn and they never do it again. Cats have a mind of their own.

Now with this information you can bring Fluffy home and enjoy your new pet. They are fun and inquisitive, fastidiously neat, and quiet. Treat them well and they'll be your friends for life.....and you'll hear their affection in their purring!