The first few hours
after bringing any cat home can really affect how well they accept their new
life. First and foremost, be prepared to be patient and never attempt to rush
your kitten into doing things they may not be ready for. Being creatures of
habit, a change of environment is always stressful for a cat, so it will often
take a few weeks for them to gradually settle and feel safe in their new home.
Before collecting
your kitten, set aside a dedicated, secure room. This area should include their
food and water bowls,litter tray and
ideally something that smells familiar that they have previously put their own
scent on.
It is best not to
leave a kitten alone until they have settled. Provide them with a warm, secure
bed at ground level – a cardboard box will do. Once they’ve had a look around,
show them where their litter tray, bowls and bed are by gently tapping these
items. They may feel a little unsettled if they are used to living with their
mother and siblings, so when you are not there, a soft toy or low-volume radio
might help them feel at ease.
Introducing your kitten to others in the household
Kittens and children
Although kittens
are more fragile and injured more easily than adult cats, they can still be a
suitable pet for children providing there are careful measures in place to
ensure a mutually beneficial relationship. Growing up with a pet can be an
extremely rewarding experience for any youngster. Many children regard their
cat as their best friend and it is through this friendship that important
lessons are learned in trust, empathy, care and love, which help children
become responsible and caring adults. When choosing a kitten, look for one that
is responsive, energetic and happy to approach. Don’t allow any encounters that
hurt or frighten the kitten as it may lead to a negative association and the
kitten may grow up to resent being handled.
From their earliest
days, children can be taught to be gentle and kind with kittens. Children learn
best by example, so if you treat your kitten gently with love and respect, it’s
more likely your children will grow up to do the same.
When your children
are old enough to understand, explain that kittens like to be left alone when
sleeping, hiding, toileting or eating and that they can become frightened when people
shout, make sudden movements or try to grab them. Kittens are very active and
care needs to taken as they can climb up legs, or inadvertently scratch or bite
while playing. Children soon learn to interpret the signs of an unhappy cat –
the swishing tail, ruffled-up fur or hissing – and will avoid doing things that
upset them.
Your children will
love helping to take care of your kitten too,so involve them in the feeding, grooming
and playing routines and you’ll have happy children and a happy kitten!
Kittens should be
provided with a room or area in the house that is out of bounds to children,
especially as kittens need to sleep for long periods frequently throughout the
day. When they are awake, they need short intensive play sessions, while ensuring
that they do not become too exhausted.
Fishing rod toys
are a great way for children to interact safely with kittens, while teaching
the kitten appropriate items to which to direct play behaviour. Water and food
should be readily available and easy to find so they can feed little and often. Small treats
can be given to kittens to form positive associations with children.
Kittens and cats
Introducing
unfamiliar cats and kittens should be done very slowly and there is no
guarantee that they will peacefully cohabit. This process can be helped by
providing separate bowls and litter trays in a variety of different places in
the home to avoid conflict and competition.
If cats are forced
together too quickly, it may lead to lifelong conflict and stress which is
difficult to resolve – first impressions are all important.
Kittens and dogs
A slow and gradual
introduction can make all the difference when introducing a kitten and a dog to
each other. However, this is no
guarantee of success and some cats will never get along with a dog.
It can be easier if
both the kitten had positive experiences with dogs during the socialisation
period of two to eight weeks of age and vice versa.
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