Owning a cat is an adventure, especially when getting your first kitten. Taking care of them and grooming them will be easier if you know what to expect with your first cat. I’ve had cats for many years, so I’m very familiar with the ins and outs of owning one. If you follow these tips, your life will be easier when owning a new kitten:
Make sure you have the right type of food for your kitten.
- Make sure you have the right type of food for your kitten. Kittens need a diet that is high in protein and calcium, so look for a food specifically designed for kittens.
- When buying cat food, check the label to see if it has the right ingredients. You should also make sure that any vitamins or minerals listed on the packaging match those recommended by veterinarians (many brands will list these on their websites).
Give your kitten fresh water at all times.
- Give your kitten fresh water at all times.
- Keep an eye on the water bowl and refill it as needed, preferably with clean, cool water every day (or more often if your kitten is drinking a lot).
- If you’re using tap water, make sure it’s filtered to remove chlorine and other contaminants that could harm your kitten’s health; otherwise, use bottled spring or mineral water instead.
- The amount of liquid your kitten needs depends on his age and activity level–you should be able to gauge how much he drinks from watching him eat or play in the bowl. Generally speaking though: “A healthy cat should consume about 1 oz/pound body weight per day.”
Make sure you have the right type of litter for your kitten.
When you’re choosing a litter for your kitten, make sure it’s not clumping and unscented. This is because your cat will be using the same box as their litter tray and it will be more convenient for them if there are no odours or clumps of waste in their bedding area.
Additionally, some cats may be allergic to certain types of litter (such as those made from wheat or corn), so it’s best to use a non-allergenic variety like wood pellet or paper-based pellets instead!
Keep your kitten’s nails short so they don’t scratch you or their littermates.
You can use a nail clipper or scissors to trim your kitten’s nails. If you don’t want to risk cutting their skin, ask your vet for advice on how to do this safely.
Get a scratching post, so they can sharpen their claws on it instead of furniture or rugs.
Scratching is a natural cat behaviour, so don’t be alarmed if your kitten starts scratching furniture. It’s important to get them a scratching post as soon as possible, so they can sharpen their claws on it instead of your furniture!
- Make sure you choose a tall enough scratch post for your kitten–this will ensure that he or she doesn’t fall off while scratching. You also want to make sure it’s sturdy enough not to tip over when he or she uses it (you may need someone else around if they’re young).
- Choose something made from durable material like sisal rope or carpeting that won’t damage your furniture when they use it.
- Cleaning up after cats can be messy work; make sure any materials used in making the post are easy to clean by hand or machine washable if there were ever any accidents on these surfaces.
Get your first kitten used to being handled and groomed from an early age, so they don’t need to be sedated later.
- Get your kitten used to being handled and groomed from an early age, so they don’t need to be sedated later.
- You can use a comb, brush or a soft toothbrush to groom your kitten. If you’re nervous about handling them at first, start by sitting on the floor with them in front of you and then stroke their fur gently with one hand while holding them by the scruff of their neck with the other hand (don’t squeeze too tightly). After doing this for several minutes each day for several days in a row, try moving closer while continuing to stroke their coat until they’re relaxed enough that they’ll let go and lie down next to you on their own accord!
Find out if there are any local shelters, so you can adopt your first kitten from them if possible.
If you’re planning to get a kitten where should you get one from? The first thing to do is to check if there are any local shelters taking in kittens. If there is one, consider adopting from them and then fostering your new pet until they can be adopted by someone who will take care of them properly. You may also want to look into adopting an older cat or dog that has already been spayed/neutered and is ready for adoption!
If finding a shelter isn’t possible, another option would be looking into animal rescue organisations such as Cats Protection or RSPCA; both have very low adoption fees which could help offset expenses along with any costs associated with caring for your new pet once they arrive at your home.
If none of these options seem feasible at this time then perhaps try contacting breeders personally instead? Breeders typically charge more money than other types but also provide better care because their goal isn’t just making money off selling animals but rather helping people find homes where they’ll be happy living forever together too.
If you do everything right with your first kitten, it will be easy for future cats!
If you do everything right with your first cat, it will be easy for future cats!
- Adopt from a shelter. You can find some wonderful cats who need homes and will bring years of love and companionship into your life. If possible, adopt a kitten rather than an adult–kittens are much more adaptable to new situations, and somewhat less likely to have behavioural issues resulting from previous experiences in their old homes (like abuse).
- Get him used to being handled early on so he doesn’t grow up thinking he’s untouchable. Start by holding him when he’s still young; handle his paws gently but firmly so he gets used to being touched there too; let him explore your hands/arms/face while they’re covered with something soft like fleece fabric or cotton balls; pet him often under supervision at first until he seems comfortable enough not only with physical contact but also vocalising his desires (crying) without fear of punishment–then gradually increase the amount of time spent alone together without supervision until eventually they’re able keep each other company without any supervision at all. This process takes patience but well worth doing right because otherwise we might end up having one bad experience after another which may even lead us into depression over time due poor socialisation skills within ourselves as well as our pets.
I hope this article has helped you get a better idea of what to expect when caring for a kitten. If you follow the tips I’ve given here, you should have a happy and healthy pet for years to come.