You have decided to take a cat home. And now the baby is reserved or has already been purchased - and the question becomes, how many days will it take for the kitten to adapt to a new home, what to do in the first days, what is needed to keep it healthy and happy? After all, you don’t know at all how to deal with small kittens, what they can and can’t do, how a kitten can get used to a new home. In fact, this is not difficult in most cases, but you need to prepare for everything correctly. After all, moving a kitten to a new family is a lot of stress.
What you need to buy before bringing a kitten into your home
If a new kitten is about to move into your home, then, due to the experience gained, you are unlikely to have any problems. If raising a small pet is new to you, then be sure to read the theoretical part and start with the simplest thing - buying essentials for your new pet.
Bed or house
If possible, take both. The lounger provides a comfortable view, and the hut provides a secure place for privacy. Place these items in a quiet area next to a wall or in the corner of a busy room.
ADVICE!
Do not place the lounger next to heating appliances or an open window, and also try to avoid close proximity to noisy household appliances and a TV.
Toys
Toys help maintain activity and also relieve stress by providing pleasant emotions while playing. Choose them based on safety. Avoid small parts that your baby could accidentally swallow and toxic materials.
Bowls
You will only need 2 bowls: for food and water. As with toys, the material is important here too. Cheap plastic absorbs odors and quickly accumulates bacteria, changing the taste of its contents.
Metal has only one problem - good reflectivity. The glare from the bowl can scare the mustache, so the best choice is ceramics or glass.
Scratching post or play complex
The gaming complex is a very useful thing, but you can buy it a little later. At first, the new family member will be content with lower surfaces, so there is no urgent need for this item.
A scratching post is of great value, since a cat must be taught to sharpen its claws in a certain place from the first days of its appearance. It comes in the form of a column and horizontal. The latter option can be placed on the floor or attached to the wall.
Here the situation is the same as with a sleeping place. It's very difficult to predict preferences, so take both options if possible.
Tray and filler
When choosing a tray, consider the size and height. Don't be intimidated by overly large structures. They can be taken for growth. The only thing you should avoid is high sides. They perfectly minimize the affected area when burying, but are not suitable for kittens due to the difficulty of getting inside. For this purpose, a special toilet house is more suitable.
It is better to take 2 trays at once, since many mustachioed pets flatly refuse to relieve themselves where feces are already lying.
“ Read more about how to choose a litter box for a kitten
Among the fillers, avoid those that are clumping, too dusty and scented. The first are fraught with constipation after ingestion, the second - with the development of an allergic reaction, and the third - with a dulling of the sense of smell and the erasing of cat marks, which are important for litter box training.
“ More about tray fillers
Carrying
It will be needed for transportation from the breeder and for subsequent visits to the veterinary clinic. If you do not plan to travel with your pet in the future, then a fabric bag or plastic box is suitable for the situations listed above. The first carrier is good from the point of view of price, light weight and compactness, and the second from the point of view of long service life, comfortable seating of the animal, good ventilation and a hard bottom with walls that increase the feeling of safety while moving.
“ Read more about how to choose a cat carrier
Products and tools for care and hygiene
Representatives of short-haired breeds will need a comb with fine or medium teeth or a comb-mitten, and representatives of long-haired breeds will need a comb with long, widely spaced teeth and a massage brush with bristles. During the molting period, it is recommended to comb both of them with a slicker brush and a furminator.
If desired, you can purchase special eye and ear cleaning products. But in general, they can be easily replaced with a more budget-friendly analogue - cotton swabs soaked in warm and clean water.
To trim claws, a nail clipper, grinder, or regular nail clippers are suitable. Scissors are not suitable for this procedure. They are difficult to work with, so if you have no experience, you risk injuring your cat's claws.
First aid kit
This item is important not only for people, but also for their pets. In your first aid kit you should put:
- dressing materials (gauze, bandage, cotton wool, cotton swabs, adhesive plaster, tourniquet);
- antiseptics and rehydration agents (replenishing fluid deficiency);
- antiparasitic agents;
- drug "Artificial tear";
- lotions with chamomile and calendula;
- medical instruments (tweezers, thermometer, disposable gloves, vertically curved scissors with blunt tips, pipettes, 2 rubber bulbs);
- injection equipment (disposable syringes of 2, 5 and 20 ml, you can also put insulin syringes for intramuscular injections and butterfly needles for hypodermic injections).
Remember that most medications in the human medicine cabinet are toxic to cats. They can only be given as prescribed by a veterinarian. Some seemingly harmless pills can kill your pet in a matter of minutes.
Tray and filler
You can choose any toilet for your kitten from the variety that can now be found in pet stores. For shy cats, a closed toilet is more suitable; for those who like to throw litter, a tray with high sides is more suitable.
If your pet is not quite a baby anymore, there is no point in buying a small litter box - kittens grow quickly, and very soon the litter box may become too big for them. If your kitten does not know how to use the toilet, find out how to train your kitten to use the litter box in our article.
It is better not to buy mineral litter for kittens, as the kitten can eat it and get a blockage in the digestive tract. Sand ones are bad because the little friend wants to play and scatters it. Give preference to wood or silica gel.
Home preparation
Before the little kitten finds himself in a new home, he needs to organize places for feeding and relieving himself. In addition, you will have to pay attention to safety by getting rid of potentially dangerous things.
Safety
Milk teeth erupt 2-3 weeks after birth and fully grow only by 2.5-3 months. Almost immediately after this, they change to permanent ones, so somewhere up to 7-12 months, kittens can gnaw on everything that is not nailed down.
In connection with the above, be sure to remove all wires, small objects that can be easily swallowed, and household chemicals from the floor. Also, do not leave fragile vases or unstable items in the public domain. Otherwise, an active “mustache” may crash into the nightstand during games and be damaged by a lamp falling from above.
Places for feeding and toileting
For the first time, place them in one room, not far from the bed. As soon as the “mustache” gets used to it and feels more confident, the feeders and tray can be moved to the toilet and kitchen.
House plants
It's better to put them away. A cat can pee in large pots, while small ones can be accidentally dropped or dug up. Particular attention should be paid to plants. If you have hydrangea, ficus, aloe, kalanchoe, begonia, spathiphyllum and other plants that are dangerous for cats in your house, then you will have to get rid of them - or place them in an inaccessible place.
How quickly does a kitten get used to its new home?
In the first couple of days, and especially nights, a kitten in a new home may feel lonely and scared. Moving to a new family can be accompanied by screaming and crying. Therefore, it is better to pick up a kitten from the breeder on the eve of the weekend, that is, before those days when you can give your undivided attention to the new tenant.
Kitten's first day in a new family
If it’s the kitten’s first day in a new home, it should be surrounded with discreet and unobtrusive care, because this is the most difficult period of adaptation. The kitten's behavior these days is usually timid, he is afraid of everything. Therefore, it is necessary to isolate the new animal from other pets, children, and anything that brings even more stress than a new home. The first victory over stress will be that the kitten began to eat and went to the toilet (most likely not there, but there is no need to scold him for this yet). Most likely, he goes to the toilet for a small need, and for a big need - only after a few days. This can be considered a second big victory.
Kitten's first night in a new home
The first hours of a kitten in a new home are very important. His future attitude towards your family will depend on them. Therefore, approach the issue as responsibly as possible.
If you have something with the scent of your kitten's previous family, you can wipe it on various objects in the room to help your pet feel more confident around familiar smells. Also pour a handful of litter taken from the breeder into the tray for the litter that the mother used.
When you come home with your new baby, place the carrier in the middle of the room and open the door. Do not sit opposite the cat and do not coo with him, do not call him to come out. Let him sit as long as he wants. It usually takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours until the kitten comes out on its own. At this time, let it be quiet and no commotion around, and let there be a bowl of treats and toys nearby.
After the kitten has climbed out of the carrier (sometimes it helps that people have left the room and he feels emboldened to explore the territory), do not pick up the animal. You can be nearby and speak very quietly and gently to the murkot, but nothing more. If he himself shows interest in you and goes into your arms, then you can pet him. But most often, a young cat or cat experiences confusion in a new place for the first few hours, during which they slowly walk on half-bent legs and sniff the room. Don't interfere - let him get comfortable. If the poor thing hides in a corner or under a closet, let it sit there: eventually it will come out on its own, because curiosity will get the better of it.
See how it happens with brave kittens...
...and among cowardly kittens.
First week
How long it takes kittens to get used to their new home depends on their mental strength, age, your efforts and knowledge. But usually this process takes from 1 to 3 weeks.
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On the second or third day, it will seem to you that the kitten has completely settled down. He no longer walks on bent legs, but communicates with his family and eats calmly. But this is an illusion: the stress has not yet subsided. Therefore, in the first days, do not bathe the kitten under any circumstances (unless it is taken from the street), because bathing is another big stress. And don't do anything else that might make your stress worse.
Your third big victory can be celebrated when this miracle begins to rush around the apartment like mad, playing with toys, and with all its appearance shows that it has already become completely insolent.
Another victory is when the cat comes to your lap and starts purring, showing with all its appearance that it likes your hugs. Grabbing a murkot yourself if he doesn’t want to is strictly contraindicated. True, with certain breeds of cats, for example, British and some representatives of Scottish, this wonderful moment can be waited for a very long time, because... they simply don't like being held. Nothing personal - just breed quality.
A kitten's life in a new home is largely determined by how others treat it, as well as previous experiences with people and other animals. If he was offended, it will take longer to start trusting people. If he was treated well, he will get used to you quickly. How long it takes a kitten to get used to a new home also depends on other factors: mental characteristics, age, the presence of other pets in the house, etc. But you can speed up the process by following the tips described above.
How to pick up your baby
After preparation, the kitten can be picked up from the breeder with peace of mind. To do this, you will need a previously purchased carrier.
Suitable age
The cubs are separated from their mother at 2.5-3 months, when they stop breastfeeding and completely switch to adult food. Losing their native “nest” too early can affect their psyche.
What should the breeder give?
When meeting with the breeder, make sure that he has given you a veterinary passport, birth certificate and a sales contract. Also, be sure to ask about the feeding regime of the little “mustache” and ask for recommendations on care. With the dry type of feeding, you should be given some of the food that the kitten ate in its home, as well as filler.
To minimize the stress of moving, take a toy or any other thing with a familiar smell to your baby from the breeder. At the end of the meeting, exchange phone numbers with him so that you can ask for help in case of force majeure.
The way to a new home
When choosing transport, give preference to a personal car or taxi. If it is very cold outside, spread a warm cloth inside the carrier, not forgetting to hide an absorbent diaper under it. After that, put the item taken from the breeder inside and place the “mustachio” there. During the trip, hold the carrier on your lap, trying to minimize shaking.
ADVICE!
Do not hold your baby directly in your arms, because in order for him to relax, he needs to get used to you. The most comfortable and safest place at this stage is carrying.
Care for 3 months and older
Nutrition. The diet of an adult fluffy during this period is very varied: meat, fish, milk, cottage cheese, egg yolk, cereals, vegetables, cereals (except corn). Food can be offered in bite-sized pieces. But you cannot put the entire daily amount of food into a bowl at once. The pet has not yet learned to clearly control its appetite, so it may eat too much. The norm for one feeding is 200 grams per 1 kg of animal weight. At 3 months, a kitten eats 400 grams of food per day, and at 4 months – 600 grams.
Natural food and wet food should be warm.
Hygiene. Caring for a kitten includes the usual set of hygiene procedures, which is complemented by brushing teeth. By the age of four months, all of the cat’s teeth have erupted, so prevention of dental problems in domestic hermits is mandatory. Teeth are cleaned using small brushes and a paste with a pleasant smell.
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Vaccination. At 3 months the cat is vaccinated a second time. Revaccination includes the same drugs that were used a month ago. The next vaccination is scheduled after a year. After the procedure, you should carefully monitor your pet's well-being. If you notice apathy or restlessness, fever, sneezing, swelling in the injection area or other suspicious symptoms, you should contact a veterinary clinic.
The exciting period for the owner of caring for a kitten passes quickly. But if the pet is surrounded by care and attention, then many problems bypass it. Kotofey grows and develops according to his age and enters adulthood healthy and cheerful.
Getting to know a new place
The next stage is getting to know the new territory and family. Immediately after returning, carefully place the carrier on the floor in a previously prepared room, open it and allow the cat to take its first steps without assistance.
Inspection of the territory
On the first day, it is better to limit the “mustachio” to one room. Too much new and unknown can scare him, so give him time to get used to it. A little later, the exit door can be opened, and the tray and bowls of food can be moved to their designated places.
Meeting with family
Try not to focus your attention on your pet until he himself reaches out to you for affection. Being overly intrusive can be scary in the early days, so be sure to explain this to your children.
Avoid squeezing, but be sure to talk to the mustache in a soft and even voice. This will help him calm down and feel safe.
Meeting other pets
It is better not to make acquaintances on the first day. The baby may be scared, and other cats or dogs may be jealous.
On the second day, open the door to the room with the “new recruit” so that the “old-timers” can examine his smell and appearance. If there is no aggression, feel free to get to know each other more closely, but be sure to stop unwanted behavior right on the spot.
Avoid showing love to the “newcomer” in front of the “old-timers”. This will increase their jealousy.
“ Read more about how to make two cats friends OR how to make a cat and dog friend
We are taking care of a small kitten. Hygiene
The next thing you definitely need to purchase is a nail clipper. And it is also advisable to use it when the kitten is still small, so that he gradually gets used to the fact that once every few months the very tips of his claws will be cut off.
For those who are afraid to trim a kitten’s claws themselves for the first time, you can contact a veterinarian who will show you how to do it correctly.
Raising a baby
Don't forget the importance of education. Decency should be instilled immediately after showing interest in research activities.
Accustoming to a nickname
Say it every time you call your pet to eat or play. Thanks to positive reinforcement, the baby will quickly begin to respond from any corner of the apartment.
“ More about nickname training
Tray training
If the breeder has not trained the baby to use the tray, be patient. On average, the training process takes 1 month.
Take your pet to the litter box every time he starts to sit down to relieve himself, and reward him wholeheartedly for his success. If puddles appear in other places, try rearranging them or soaking a napkin with urine and then putting it in the cat's litter box. Thanks to this trick, a familiar smell will direct your pet in the right direction.
Getting to know the scratching post
Try attracting a mustache by sprinkling catnip extract on your scratching post. If he starts to rub against it or immediately sharpen his claws, praise him and give him a treat.
Hygiene procedures
Do not delay cutting nails, brushing teeth and combing. The sooner you become familiar with these procedures, the more calmly an older cat will perceive them.
What you can and cannot scold for at first
In the first days that the kitten is in the apartment, it is better to taboo punishment. “Usatik” will be scared, so a dissatisfied tone will only aggravate the existing situation.
Scolding for misconduct should occur after the activity appears, but, of course, not for everything. For example, a cat cannot be punished for leaving a puddle on the floor during play. In this case, the reason for the offense lies in the inability to control your bladder, and not at all in an attempt to annoy you.
At first, the baby can be scolded for aggression towards other animals, attacking your hands and demonstratively walking past the tray. In the latter case, punishment is permissible only if the unwanted action occurred right before your eyes.
Kitten care
How to care for a kitten that is no longer under the care of the cat and the breeder? You took your baby to you at the age of three months (the most optimal age for separation) and now you are his mother, father and immediate family. And you need:
Trimming a kitten's claws
This procedure is easiest to do using special scissors. How to trim your baby's claws without causing pain?
If the kitten has white claws, then if you look closely, you will notice a pinkish tint. This pink area should be avoided when trimming nails.
If the claws are black, there is a high risk of injuring a sensitive area. Remove approximately 1 mm of the claw. This will be enough to prevent scratches on leather or furniture.
Read more in the article on how to trim claws.
Cleaning a kitten's ears
For some kittens, this procedure becomes their favorite. The question is - why do this? Firstly, to remove dirt. Secondly, to prevent ear mites. These tiny parasitic insects can live in the ear canals, causing infections and other problems. We remove them mercilessly!
Brushing our teeth
We wrote about this procedure above. Let us only add that the baby does not need to brush his teeth too often. Once a month is enough.
Combing out the wool
The coat (if any) should be brushed regularly, once or twice a week.
Bathing is completely contraindicated for some breeds, and for others due to severe contamination.
Feeding and diet
Feed your pet the same as the previous owner. If you are not satisfied with the brand, then wait a couple of weeks and gradually change the diet by gradually mixing more and more new food into the old one.
Until 3 months, give your pet food 6 times a day. Next, the number of meals will need to be gradually reduced so that by the age of 1 year the “mustache” can eat like an adult – twice a day.
NOTE!
The volume of the daily portion can be found on the packaging of the finished food, and when feeding “natural” it should be approximately 5% of body weight.
scratching post
Unfortunately, even if you trim its claws, the cat will still have a desire to sharpen them - this is an instinct. Therefore, if you are not ready to give up your furniture to be torn to pieces, your kitten needs a scratching post.
In a pet store you can choose a scratching post for every taste - from simple boards with carpet to entire play complexes. Start teaching your kitten to sharpen his claws in the right place as early as possible.
If the kitten is stressed due to addiction
In the first days of your kitten's arrival at your home, he may experience severe stress. Anxiety and restlessness on the part of the “mustache” can be easily determined by a number of symptoms outlined below.
Meow
If a pet constantly meows, then he simply misses his mother. In a couple of days, maximum a week, the condition should stabilize. Just in case, the process can be accelerated with a special fumigator with cat pheromones.
Hyperactivity
Mainly appears at dusk. It is better to ignore it for the first days. The feeling of freedom will help your pet settle in faster. But later, night runs that interfere with sleep should be stopped so that unwanted behavior does not have time to become a habit.
Shyness and secrecy
If the “mustache” moves around the apartment sideways with fluffy fur, crawls on its belly or simply hides, try not to put pressure on it. During the adaptation stage, interact with the baby only during feeding. In this case, you will gain a foothold in the cat’s head in a purely positive way.
Aggression
It is caused by fear, which prompts you to defend yourself from strangers located around you. This reaction is normal if someone tries to pet or pick up a pet. In this case, you just need to leave him alone.
Lack of appetite
Fasting for a few hours or even a whole day is not dangerous, so just make sure your pet drinks water. If this does not happen, forcefully inject it through a syringe.
Toilet problems
They occur even more often than loss of appetite. Mostly constipation is noted. If there is no stool for more than 1-2 days, and the baby looks completely healthy, then there is nothing to worry about.
Let's get out of the box...
As a rule, kittens are brought home in special carriers or boxes. A very thoughtless step would be to immediately allow children (and adults) to drag the baby out of a secluded place into a new “world” and be deafeningly happy to meet him.
The kitten will definitely get out of the box on its own, but it needs a little time for its fears to fall asleep and the cat’s natural curiosity to awaken. First, the baby will show its mustache, then gradually stick its head out and look around. If there are no frightening factors nearby, the kitten will go to explore the room. And of course, the household will also get his attention. It is important not to frighten the kitten with sudden movements and loud sounds, otherwise the baby will hide in a corner and will be very tense in the future. Give the “child” time to get comfortable and get used to the new environment a little.
Kittens brought home for the first time lose their appetite due to stress. For the first 2-3 days, the baby will refuse even tasty food; there is no need to worry about this. The appetite will definitely return, and the owner can help this. The kitten should be seated next to the bowl, gently stroked on the head, and spoken in a soft tone. Most likely, the previous owner’s kitten ate not only its mother’s milk, but also other “dishes.” It’s worth asking about them so that you don’t change the kitten’s diet for the first 10 days. This will make it easier for him to adapt to the new place. The owner should play with the baby more often in order to charge him with positivity, which is so necessary in a “moving” situation.
Health of a new family member
To maintain the health of the new family member, you will need to regularly follow preventive recommendations. The most important of them are vaccination and treatment against parasites.
Vaccinations
The first vaccination is given at 2-2.5 months. After undergoing revaccination and receiving all mandatory vaccinations, the animal is vaccinated only once a year.
Treatment for parasites
In addition to quarterly deworming tablets, your pet may need periodic use of acaricidal medications. They work against fleas, ticks and other external parasites, so they are mainly recommended for those who walk outside.
Kitten health
Once you get a kitten, start listening to word of mouth. After all, it is very important to find YOUR veterinarian! Based on the advice of friends or reviews on the Internet, it will not be difficult for you to do this. At the first meeting, ask your future family doctor about nutritional recommendations, options for fighting parasites, the first signs of disease, and get a schedule of vaccinations and visits to the veterinarian.
Deworming a kitten
About 7 days before the first vaccination you need to do deworming. Subsequently, kittens undergo this procedure every three months until one year. It is optimal to use broad-spectrum drugs for the prevention of parasites.
Flea control
Fleas are no joke. It’s especially not funny for the little ones who have these parasites. They cause itching, allergies, dermatitis, lead to exhaustion and the development of blood diseases! Have we scared you? Anti-flea products come in five types: drops, sprays, shampoos, collars, tablets. Do not rely on your choice if your pet is still very young, but consult your veterinarian.
Vaccination
IMPORTANT! It is necessary to vaccinate both animals that live in the yard and those that do not leave the apartment. Both the first and second can get sick equally, so it’s better to be safe.
Kittens are vaccinated for the first time at the age of 8-9 weeks. In this case, vaccinations that do not contain the rabies virus are used.
Revaccination is carried out when the kitten is 12 weeks old. This complex vaccine already contains the rabies virus.
The next revaccination takes place once a year and then once every year.
The scheme may change slightly. Your veterinarian will suggest the best one.
Vacation trips
A very important point for all cat owners concerns the holidays, the period when they will have to be left alone. Everything here is extremely individual and it is a great success if you have friends or relatives who can help out.
- It is very important for animals to constantly stay in their home territory, so any stay outside of it is a lot of stress.
- It should be kept to a minimum, the animals should not be given to friends or relatives, but rather let them live with them for a while.
- This is very convenient when a person looks after both the house and the animals.
Finally, it is worth touching on this topic; squeamish people should think carefully before getting a cat. The cat can walk everywhere around the house, it can jump on tables and countertops and lie down in the owner’s bed.
Therefore, if even the slightest doubt has crept in that you will be able to look at these situations calmly, then you should think about whether you need to get yourself such an animal. Of course, by training you can ensure that the cat never climbs onto the table, but the cat can still climb there.
Therefore, in order to avoid any hassles, you need to understand that cats feel like absolute masters at home and it is very difficult to deal with them in this regard.
And when cats live in the house, there will be fur everywhere, you will need to vacuum every other day, or even every day.
