PET INFORMATION

Bringing Your New Pet home

Basic Supplies

This is a list of items that will help you and your new KITTEN get off to a great start:

Bed or sleeping area
Water and Food bowls
Toys
Litter box and litter
Cat carrier
Brushes and / or combs
Scratching post
Kitten or cat food
Lots of Love

Patience

 Easing the Transition

When you bring your new pet home, at first she may miss her family.  Animals can experience stress in the transition to a new home, so it is best not to overwhelm them with too many new things.

Introduce your cat to your home gradually by following these helpful hints:

·          For the first day or two, keep your pet confined to one room with a litter box, food and water. Let her become comfortable in this room before introducing her to the rest of the house.

·          After your new pet is relaxed and acclimated, allow her to explore and roam the rest of the house.

Children in the Household

Show your children how to properly pick up a cat and how to play with their new pet.  Teach them that cats do not like to be teased or have their ears or tail pulled.

Always supervise your children’s interaction with your new cat, especially when they have friends over to play. If a cat is overwhelmed it may react instinctively by hiding, urinating, growling, scratching or biting.

 Let the animal approach the children first, when he/she has grown accustomed to them. Do not encourage a child to seek out an animal that is hiding.  Let the animal come out on his/her own. Teach kids to care for a cat or kitten by showing them how to feed and groom him / her.

Other Pets

Before you introduce a new pet to the household, be sure she (and your resident pets) are disease-free and has been recently checked by your veterinarian. Older, settled-in pets may resist sharing their domain, and it may take a month or more before your new pet is an accepted member of the family.

Health Care

Take your new pet to the veterinarian right away for a check-up, fecal test and necessary vaccinations that will protect them against various, life-threatening feline diseases. An annual visit to your veterinarian is necessary for booster vaccinations and a check-up. In the event of an injury or health problem, see your veterinarian immediately

Transporting

Always transport your cat or kitten in a pet carrier for safety. Holding your cat in your arms outside the home can lead to loose cats! Your pet will be much happier and safer in an enclosed container.

Children and Pets

Pets can teach a child compassion and caring, and provide companionship. However, before you bring a pet into your home consider your family’s lifestyle and expectations, and choose the pet accordingly. You need to prepare your children for the new arrival, set rules and limits, and monitor the interaction.

Children can dangle a paper towel on a string for kittens, play ball with them or give them a paper bag to play in.

Get him used to having things taken out of his mouth. When your kitten nips, react with a loud "meow" or "NO" and end the playtime. He will soon realize this behavior is not acceptable.

Play biting can be too rough for some young children. Supervise interaction and separate them if the play is too rough.

Spay or neuter your pet. Non-neutered animals accounts for the majority of aggressiveness..

Protecting Your Pet at Home

Pet proof your home by eliminating unsafe conditions and substances. Your kitten is closer to the ground than you are and they can find small objects which may be swallowed. Most young pets are curious and will chew or taste almost anything they can find, so be careful with medicines and household cleaners, insecticide and electric wires just as you would for a toddler.

Know where your pet is at all times. Pets like to investigate and sometimes hide in or get locked in strange places. Do a check before leaving a room, leaving the house or going to bed. It is best and safer for your pet to be kept indoors. If it is necessary to take your pet outdoors, be sure he or she has a collar, leash and identification.

Keep fresh water in a clean bowl available for your pet. Play with your pet daily and groom them regularly.

How to Make Your Outdoor Cat a Happy Indoor Cat

Although it takes patience, an outdoor cat can be turned into a perfectly content indoor pet. They key is to make the conversion gradually and provide lots of attention and stimulation while the cat is indoors.

Cats are creatures of habit, so you must be careful to slowly replace your cat's old routine of going outside with the new routine of staying in. If your cat is outdoors most of the time, bring your cat inside for increasingly longer stays. Gradually shorten the length of time the cat is outside until you no longer let him or her out at all.

Cats need human companionship to be happy, and when they spend all their time out doors they get little attention. An outdoor cat may welcome the indoors if he or she gets more love, attention, and play.

Provide plenty to keep your cat occupied indoors. Things such as scratching posts, toys and cat condos are great.

 Specific Information Regarding Cats

Picking up a cat

Never grab or pick up a kitten or an adult cat by the scruff of the neck. Place one hand under the chest, just behind the front legs. Put your other hand under the hindquarters to support the cat’s weight and lift with both hands.

Hold your cat in the crook of your arm, gripping firmly to prevent him from getting loose.

Litter box Training

Get a litter box and put it in a low traffic, low noise area separated from the food and water dishes. Show your kitten or cat where it is located a few times. Keep the box clean by scooping out the waste daily and changing the litter every few days. NOTE: any urinating or defecating outside the box could be a sign of serious health or behavioral problem. Contact your veterinarian.

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