Things to Expect When Bringing Home a New Kitten
Bringing home a new kitten is a big step. Whether you are bringing your kitten home to just you or a larger family, you should be prepared to welcome the new member of your family. There’s a lot of bracing up to do before bringing a new kitten home, and this article will guide you on what you should expect.
Behavioral patterns of kittens
Cats are generally territorial, so they are wary of new environments. You should try as much as you can to make your new kitten feel at home. For smaller families, the process of welcoming a new kitten is easier than that of a bigger family. Be sure to give them space and introduce them to everyone in due time. You should also be open to your kitten not warming up to everyone immediately, especially other pets. Try to get other pets out of the way of your new kitten for the first few days.
You should also prepare a room or spot for your kitten before they are brought home. That way, you take them to that personal space immediately you get home to help them settle in. Preferably, the room should be small and made welcoming with food, water, litter tray and cat basket well placed. Cats are clean animals, so you should make good effort to clean out their rooms very often. Bringing your kitten home in a cat carrier is another way of welcoming them properly.
Cat names
You should consider the name of your new kitten before their arrival. Naming your new cat is a personal decision, but you should decide on the name early enough to enhance the cat’s ability to adapt to it. You may also consider sticking to the former name if they already had one. Sticking to the former name may be great for your kitten but might not be good for you if you are keen on naming them.
There are several name inspirations for kittens, from generic names to odd names which you found intriguing. It is, however, noteworthy that cats connect better with high-pitched sounds so you could incorporate high-pitched sounds into your kitten’s name to improve its ability to connect to the name. If you have trouble choosing a name, there are some amazing collections of cat names, such as this awesome list of cute cat names for your new kitty.
Healthcare Needs of Cats
The healthcare needs of your new kitten is another aspect you should be familiar with. Kittens are typically weaned when they are eight weeks old, and you should endeavour to see a veterinarian in the first few days of their arrival. Physical examination, vaccination and parasite check are part of the basic check-up your kitten should get at its first vet visit. You should also ask for background healthcare information of your cat from its previous owners or caretakers.
You should also find out healthcare information and tips from the vet. Proper initial check-up of your kitten ensures protection for both your household and the kitten. You should also ask the vet as many questions as you deem necessary about the healthcare needs of the kitten.
Kittens are great pets and bring so much warmth to households. Bringing them home should thus be done with warmth and care.