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Tip 1: Bringing Home a New Kitten
When you get home, make the kitten comfortable by providing it a safe environment, its own bed in a quiet place, and a litter box. To soothe the kitten during the first days at home, you may want to place in its bed a hot water bottle for warmth and a wind-up clock to substitute for its mother's heartbeat. Keep the litter box nearby, but away from the cat's food and water. Although kittens sleep for two-thirds of the day, toys and a scratching post should be provided to occupy its time when it is not sleeping. Slowly introduce the kitten to your other pets. Your kitten will quickly adapt and will become an irreplaceable friend in no time.
Tip 2: Age
A cat will live for an average of 15 years, which is approximately equivalent to 74 human years. How you care for the cat, its sex and its lifestyle all affect its longevity. To maintain its health, your cat needs to be regularly vaccinated and wormed. Some owners have their cats declawed, an amputation of each digit at the second joint, thus altering the personality of the cat resulting in the cat biting more.
Tip 3: What to do with Kitty
You have several options when you have to travel but you can't take kitty along:
- Have a neighbor, friend, or relative take care of kitty.
- Hire a pet sitter.
- Board kitty at the vet
No matter which you choose, you need to leave instructions:
- What food, how much, and when
- A number you can be reached at
- The number and address of your vet
- The number and address of an emergency vet
- What toys kitty enjoys
- Where all supplies are located (I find post-it notes work really well)
- What treats are okay, and how often and how much
- Location of carriers
If the person taking care of kitty isn't a professional, you also need to leave instructions on what signs indicate kitty is sick and should go to the vet:
- Refusing to eat for more than 24 hours
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting several times in one day
- Lethargy
- Trouble breathing
- Nothing in the litter box (pee or poop)
I don't actually recommend leaving your cat at the vet's. You may think it's the best option because they'll know what to do if kitty is sick. It's very traumatic for kitty to be taken away from her home, however, and she might be exposed to a virus at the vet's. Most vets do not have anyone on the premises at night, either.
I do recommend having someone come in twice a day. Cats especially kittens and older cats can get sick in a frighteningly small amount of time.
Make sure that whoever takes care of Kitty writes you a note every day. Even better, have the caretaker leave a message on your answering machine. Then you can call every day and find out how Kitty's doing. Or if the sitter has email and you'll have access to email, they can email you about Kitty every day.
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