How to Care for a Kitten

Raising a kitten into a healthy member of your family takes dedication and responsibility. Find out some things you can do to make sure you are prepared to bring this furry little friend into your home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Litter box
• Kitten food
• Toys

1. Know that you are ready to make a commitment to raising a kitten. Kittens generally live for anywhere from 15 to 18 years.

2. Consider having your pet live indoors. Statistics prove that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats.

3. Be sure to find out if he has had any vaccinations to date. Immediately establish a relationship with a veterinary clinic, and have your kitten seen for a complete physical. Bring any papers that you receive from whomever you purchased the kitten from.

4. Isolate your kitten at first in a small space. This will help your pet get used to you and the family before becoming overwhelmed by an entire house. A few days should be good enough before letting your kitten have the run of the house.

5. Start training your kitten with a litter box immediately. Cats adapt to the use of a litter box rather quickly, so potty training is much simpler than it is with a puppy.

6. Make sure you have some toys for your kitten to play with. They are rather playful little critters. Also try to handle your kitten often, as cats have a natural independent nature, and handling them will help tame them.

Tips & Warnings

• Instruct young children and monitor their behavior around kittens. Cats do not tolerate rough handling very well.
• Be aware that raising a kitten properly does require expenses.
• Consider adopting a kitten from an animal shelter, unless you are set on getting a particular breed.

Resources

• How to Care for Your Kitten
• How to Care for a Kitten Video

[breezygurl09]

on 6/29/2008 that was helpful