| TAKING YOUR KITTEN HOME
• When taking your kitten home try not to;
• Have the television or radio on; too much noise may initially startle
your kitten
• Go into a large room; this will overwhelm your kitten
• Have any windows or doors open
• Allow your kitten to exit the travel box in his/her own time. Your kitten may be rather timid initially
• Use soft reassuring tones
• Allow your kitten to go back into the travel box if he/she desires. This is a safe place to your kitten and will reassure him/her.
• Introduce your kitten to the room where he/she will sleep first, this is normally the kitchen area, he/she must have access to;
• A littler tray
• Clean drinking water
• Food – at mealtimes
• Clean dry bed area; in summer months keep them out of direct sunlight, and in winter months away from draughts
• Toys
• By introducing your kitten to this area first, you are providing a sense of continuity, as your kitten will spend a proportion of his/her time here daily
• During the first few days of having your kitten, try not to overwhelm your kitten by having lots of visitors. Once your kitten has settled into his/her new home encourage people to come and visit, as this will socialise your kitten
• When visitors enter your home, allow your kitten to approach them;
• Don’t chase your kitten around the home in order to let people hold him/her
• Once your kitten is settled, encourage various people to stroke and interact with your kitten |
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• Your kitten will be rather nervous, try not to make this worse by giving too much attention, as by doing so you will reinforce the idea that there is something to be afraid of.
START AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON
• Do not allow your kitten to perform any behaviour that you do not wish him/her to perform when he/she is an adult cat, for example;
• Scratching furniture
• Biting
• Scratching the family
• Climbing on furniture and curtains
• Please ensure your kitten wears a collar with an identification disk at all times. It is good to introduce the collar as soon as possible. Always ensure that the collar has elastic in it to allow it to come over the head if the kitten gets trapped or stuck in a tree..
LITTER TRAINING
• Provide your kitten with an easily accessible litter tray
• Your kitten is most likely to use the tray
• After waking
• After feeding
• During or after playing
• If your kitten passes motion not in the litter tray;
• Do not shout at your kitten
• Do not rub its nose in the motion
• Do not use strong scented cleaning products; this may encourage your kitten to scent mark
LEAVING THE HOME
•Ensure that your kitten cannot hurt itself e.g. from:
• Exposed wires
• Hot cooking pots
• Edible items
•Try not to leave for a great period of time. Build up the time you are away from your kitten gradually. |
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INTRODUCING YOUR KITTEN TO THE GARDEN
• Ensure that your kitten is fully vaccinated
• Carry your kitten around the garden, allowing him/her to see the area
• Ensure that there are no holes or areas in which your kitten could hide and potentially become stuck;
• Drain pipes
• Open manholes
• After allowing your kitten to get used to your garden, sit in the garden with your kitten and allow him/her to walk around. Some people prefer to put the kitten on a harness and lead while doing this
• Try not to jump up and shout if your kitten is approaching an area you feel is dangerous or do not want him/her to go to
• Instead calmly approach your kitten calling his/her name softly. Pick up your kitten and place him/her in a more appropriate area of the garden
Finally enjoy your time with your kitten, try to remain as calm as possible, as this will help your new addition adjust to family life much more quickly. Please do not hesitate to contact the surgery with any questions or queries whether they be medical or behavioural. |
