What You Need to Bring A Kitten Home For Christmas
You and your new kitten are alike in that you both require food, water, and shelter. However, kittens require just a few more things than that if you want them to thrive in their new home with your family, so keep reading for a more detailed look at all of that.
Cat Food:
Kittens have different nutritional requirements than older kitties, so make sure you bring home the right food. It is generally recommended to start kittens off with the food they were eating at the breeder or shelter they came from. Kittens also need special bowls because they are so tiny! You can get bigger bowls as your kitten grows. Save those little bowls in case you want to bring in another kitty someday!
Cat Treats:
Cat treats are great to have on hand to reward kitties with positive reinforcement, for example when they use their scratching post. Kitty treats also help you and anyone else in your family bond with the kitten.
Litter Box and Supplies:
Once meals and snacks are said and done that food’s gotta go somewhere! Having a setup with a litter box, extra litter, a poop scoop, and somewhere to dump the dirty litter will making keep the house (and the kitten) nice and clean. It is usually recommended to have a litter box per cat, so if there’s already another cat in the house, please buy an extra!
Cat Perches:
A lot of people don’t think to bring in a cat tree right away, but kittens and cats like to have a high up place to escape to. If you can, having a couple of these around will help your kitten climb, play, and most importantly feel safe, especially if you have other pets. Also, many cat perches include some type of scratcher as well, which leads to our next thing on the list.
Scratching Posts:
Cat scratchers come in all shapes and sizes, and if you want to keep your kitten from tearing up all of your furniture it’s a good idea to have at least one, or you can grab a couple extra in case your kitten isn’t keen to use one type of scratcher or the other. To get your cat scratching in the right place it can work to put some catnip on the scratcher as well.
Cat Beds:
Most cat owners find out that their kittens will find a comfy place to curl up on your sofa or another cozy spot in the house, but it’s not a bad idea to buy a cat bed. They come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes I wish there were a human size one for me since they look so cozy.
Toys:
Kittens are full of life and need plenty of playtime, and that means toys! Having some interactive toys like wands and catnip toys are great, but we recommend grabbing a whole variety, as you never know what your cat will like and what she’ll totally ignore. Everyone’s different! Many stores have variety packs of toys, suiting this situation perfectly.
Cat Brush:
Depending on if your kitten will have, short, long or in-between hair, he or she will need a different type of brush. You can check what is recommended online or at the store for specific breeds, or bring a couple home and see what kind works and kitty enjoys.
With these supplies at your arsenal, you should be ready to bring your new kitten home, and what a wonderful gift that will be. Let us know if you have any questions or want to make sure you have a reliable sitter for your new baby when you have to head out of town. Cheers and Merry Christmas from all of us!
