Kitten First Month Raising a new kitten is an exciting thing, but regardless of how the new kitten arrives, the first month of a new kitten’s life is an ever-changing month that requires us to Familiarize yourself with and understand what to prepare for this month. Before you bring your kitten home If you plan to bring a new kitten into your home, you should take some time to prepare for the kitten’s arrival. Buy the items your kitty needs and keep them in your home so other people and pets can begin to settle in. Synthetic calming pheromones can be purchased as a diffuser or spray and used before a new kitten arrives to help older cats and new kittens feel calm and relaxed. Even if you already have a cat, make sure the new kitten has its own bed, food and water tray, litter box, and toys. Use these items to set up a bathroom or other small room for your kitten to temporarily stay in to provide an enclosed safe space while your kitty is away from other pets and possible hazards elsewhere in the home. You should have at least one more litter box than your cat, and there should be no direct line of sight between the litter boxes to prevent cats from stalking or intimidating each other when using them. Of course, kitten food is also needed to help your kitty feel at home. The first day with your new kitten is very exciting, but you want to be careful not to overwhelm it. Let the kitten explore in the small room you’ve set up, or if you don’t have time to prepare for its arrival, set up a safe room, sit on the floor, and let the kitten get used to it. If you have other pets, let them sniff the kitten from a distance, but be sure to keep the kitten safe at all times. When you can’t supervise, keep the kitten and its belongings in a small room so you don’t have to worry about getting hurt. Make sure kittens know where the litter box is and where they eat and drink, and make sure they have all of these basic needs in a safe cubby. If the kitten wants to sleep, let it sleep. Keep the harness you bring home in an easily accessible place in case the kitten gets nervous and wants to curl up inside or provide another safe hiding place, such as a box. It’s common for a newborn kitten to hide at first, sometimes for the first few days, as it adjusts to all the changes. As long as it has all the necessities and quiet alone time, it will venture out of its hiding place little by little every day. Don’t try to force it, as this can lead to unnecessary stress and negative connections with people or parts of your family.
After 10 days, your kitten will start exploring its new home. You can make it a play by encouraging your kitty to venture out of a separate room little by little each day by using toys and treats. Your kitten will also get used to the placement of other litter boxes, food and water trays. It might even claim to be your favorite place to sleep and make friends with your pets. Make sure your kitty continues to eat and drink well and monitor their litter box habits during this time. If you notice anything unusual, including loose stools in the litter box, it is best to take this sample to the veterinarian. You will need to make an appointment to check on your kitten during this time, even if it appears healthy, as it may need vaccinations, deworming and/or routine checkups. If your cat will be wearing a collar, choose the appropriate collar and add some identification, such as a name tag with your phone number, in case your kitty is out. It’s best to buy detachable collars for cats that will come off if they get caught on something. This can prevent injury, especially in active kittens, if their claws or teeth get stuck on the collar, or if they get caught on something while exploring.
By day 30 and by the end of the first month, your kitten should be able to eat, drink, and use the litter box normally. Your cat should now be acclimated to its new home, active and playful. You may notice new behaviors such as scratching on vertical surfaces, wrestling, climbing, chewing, and jumping on furniture. If your kitty starts to behave in a way that is not good for you, be sure to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Provide your kitty with proper scratching, climbing objects, and toys to play with. Use treats and catnip to lure him to areas you want him to play in, and redirect him to those items when he enters restricted areas. Kittens should also visit the veterinarian at least once for vaccinations, stool checks, and physical exams, but don’t take your kitten anywhere else until it’s fully vaccinated. Get your recommended initial vaccinations on a schedule and ask your veterinarian there for monthly preventatives for fleas, heartworms, intestinal parasites, and more. If you have another cat and it’s not getting along with the new kitten yet, don’t panic. This process can take time, and 30 days may not be enough for your cat to get used to it. This is where those synthetic calming pheromones can help all cats in the house adjust; they can be used as diffusers in a room where both cats are in, or as a spray that can be used on their beds or other common areas. It can also help them bond if you make their interactions more positive with your new kitten by playing with both cats, giving them treats, and/or engaging in other activities your cat enjoys (such as grooming). If either cat becomes overwhelmed, frightened, or aggressive during these sessions, it’s best to separate them temporarily. A step-by-step introduction is always the best approach, and it may take more or less time for different cats with different personalities. When your cats do bond and you can enjoy watching them play together, cuddle and even groom each other, the time and patience will be worth it.
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