Bringing home a new kitten is a wonderful occasion! It's exciting adding such a small creature to your family.
And also, they are pretty much the cutest baby animal ever.
But adding a new pet to the family is a big responsibility. There are a lot of factors that must be considered before taking this huge leap.
You want to make sure that bringing a kitten into the home goes as smoothly as possible so you can just spend all those moments loving on your new baby. I have put together a list of the most important things one must know when bringing home a new kitten.
1. Under age
The best age to get a kitten is after 8 weeks old, preferably closer to 12 weeks. Younger kittens really need to stay with their momma up until that point. Those extra couple of weeks really help socialize the kitten a little better and don't cause as much emotional trauma then if they were younger.
6 weeks kittens are SO cute, believe me. But if we are looking at what's best for the kitten try to wait until after 8 weeks before you bring her home.
2. Socialize
Be sure to socialize with your kitten! Kittens need a lot of attention early in their life. This helps round them out into adulthood. Be sure to pet them, love on them, and take them from room to room with you.
But also be aware that the kitten may need time to process new surroundings, don't rush, but gently guide your kitten with socialization.
3. Preventive Care
Take your kitten to the vet within the first week of getting her. The earliest you can get your kitten examined by a professional, the better. Make a plan for preventive care like shots, de-worming, and spay or neutering. Being proactive in your kittens care will only prove to be beneficial in the long run.
4. Kitten Food
Getting kitten appropriate food is very important. This specifically kind of food is key for getting the nutrients your kitten needs that is not found or needed in adult cat food. Plan to use kitten food for at least the first 8 months.
5. Kitten Proof
Kitten proof you home is another tip one might not think about. Put up those plants (especially those known to be harmful to cats), tie up those window shade strings, and keep door shuts to places that the kitten doesn't need to be. This is especially vital if you are one that works full time and can't offer supervision during the day.
Additionally, be sure to put toys, cat condo, and other related kitten products out and available for your kitten to enjoy.
6. Introduce Slowly to Resident Pets
If this is not your first pet be sure to introduce your resident pets slowly to their new roommate. Start off with a short very supervised meeting and slowly weaning to longer supervised visits.
Also, love on your resident pet a little more during this time as well. This is a huge adjustment for everyone especially your resident pets.
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