Not many of us can resist a small kitten's delicate meow or the playful curiosity that makes us smile. But bringing a new kitten home can require a few adjustments by pet and owner alike.
If you have a new kitten or are thinking of getting one, here are a few tips that may help you both through the adjustment phase.
First of all, choose the best kitten for your home situation. The old saying goes that all cats are gray in the dark, but they can be different in some ways. A very young kitten of four to eight weeks, for instance, may feel fear or become lonely when separated from the litter. That means you may be kept awake by your new pet's frightened mewing. It may be easier on everyone if you choose a kitten that is a little older, perhaps eight to twelve weeks.
Kittens that are litter trained are a good bet as well. While it is not hard to litter-train a cat, you can save time and effort by getting one that is already used to finding its way to the litter box. If not, keep the kitten in a relatively small, confined area where it will be able to sniff the scent it needs to find the litter box. A bathroom, mud room, or garage may be suitable.
Most kittens are eating solid food by the time they are adopted by a family. Be sure that is the case with your new little one unless you are prepared to use an eye dropper to provide artificial milk for an abandoned orphan.
Teach your kitten where it may and may not go. This means you will have to keep a close eye on its movements for the first several days. When it tries to climb the drapes, jumps on the kitchen counter, or walks across the dining room table you should be prepared to say "No!" in a loud voice and remove the pet, if necessary. Should your animal resist verbal training, you may need to carry a loaded gun--a water pistol, that is--and squirt your feline every time it crosses a boundary. While you may not get 100% compliance, you should get reasonable results. To protect boundaries in your absence, you can crate your kitty or put it in a room with the litter box and close the door.
Get the kitten used to human handling by picking it up, stroking it, and talking in a low voice to avoid startling the animal. If you have children, encourage them to treat the kitten gently so it can get used to being around the family and won't bite or scratch.
Allow your dog or other cats to sniff the kitten, but watch them together carefully until you are sure the larger animals will not attack the new addition. In time, most house pets learn to respect each other's boundaries and become pals to one degree or another.
Put the kitten in a carrying crate occasionally so it will not balk or resist when you transport it to the vet or elsewhere. You don't want a frantic feline with a vet's appointment just minutes away.
Don't neglect these important elements of training your kitten that can make its adjustment, and your family's enjoyment, more meaningful.
