Soon to be first time cat owner??

Question

ok well here r my questions 1st is it better to get a kitten cuz thats what i want to do but do they know how to go to the litter box like right away or what??Oh and is there anything i should know

Answer 1

I think it is best to get a kitten as soon as it is old enough to leave it's mother, at about 8 weeks.

This way, you will raise the kitten, it will be used to you, tamed by you, and will learn to think of you as it's "mommie."

Most kittens are litter-trained by their mothers.

Show your new kitty it's box as soon as you bring it home. I have the box set up and ready before the kitten arrives, and simply pick the kitten up, carry it to the box, and gently place it in the box.

Gently using the kittens front paws to scratch the litter is a good idea, too.

Show kitty where it's food and water bowls will be located. ALWAYS make sure your kitten has FRESH water available at all times. I check and refill my cats' water bowl 2 -3 times daily, more often if they dump it or drop their food in it (which the little darlings DO enjoy doing!).

Play with your new kitty. Hold it (but sit on the floor to do this, kittens are afraid of heights), stroke it, cover it with your hand to make it feel secure and keep it warm.

Use you kitten's name frequently when you speak to it ("Come here, Paco, pretty Paco. Does Paco want to play, etc") so the kitty will learn it's name.

If you want your kitten to come when you call (all my cats do), make sure that when you call, or attract the kitten to you, it is ALWAYS a GOOD experience for kitty - food, treats, play, affection, stroking, etc.

Cats ADORE being gently scratched along the jaw, under the chin, and on their neck under their ears. Your cat will love you for this! :-))

If your cat approaches you (say you are sitting on the floor, and kitty walks toward you), simply point your finger at kitty's nose. When the cat loves and trusts you, it will then rub it's face, jaws, and forehead against your finger and hand, to mark you with it's scent. You've arrived! :-))

No need to spend huge sums on cat toys. Tie a big button to some string or yarn - and there you go! :-))

Treat your kitten gently! Remember kittens are babies, and will need a lot of sleep. (Grown cats sleep about 18 hours a day!)

Treat your kitten gently and kindly, NEVER tease it or strike it, speak softly, and move slowly around it, and it will learn to trust you.

For some reason, cats LOVE to walk RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. They see-saw back and forth across your path as you walk. I always take my shoes off as soon as I come in the door, so that if my foot makes contact with a cat, I do not kick it or step on it! Be prepared for this! :-))

Get a squirt bottle, and if kitty does naughty things (climbing furniture, chewing electrical cords, etc), squirt the kitty! This way the "punishment" does not come from you, but out of the air :-))

As soon as I pick up my spray bottle, my cats scatter - fast!

NEVER chase the kitten, grab it, and smack it! This is the quickest way to teach the cat to run from you!

NEVER call a cat (or a dog, for that matter) to you, then punish it. Quickest way to teach the animal to run and hide when you call it!

Love your kitty, talk to it, and play with it, cuddle it, and you will have a loving, affectionate pet!

Plan to take kitty to the vet for shots, so it does not get sick.

Plan to spay or neuter at about 5 - 6 months. Avoid unwanted kittens, and bad habits like spraying (peeing) in the house!

Hope this helps! :-))

Enjoy your new pet! :-))

Answer 2

I got older cats because everyone wants kittens and usually the older ones don't really have a chance and could be put down.

My cats came from pet smart. They had all their shots and a description of things that the cat is good and bad with. For example: not good with other cats or dogs, not good with children. These are good so that you know what you might be getting yourself into.

Also I use a squart bottle to let the cat know when he is doing something bad. Only use the squart bottle when he is doing the bad thing (scratching on the couch, sitting on the table). Never just squart him. All I have to do now is show them the bottle when they are being bad and they will stop and run.

I also give my cats a treat when I will do something that I know they don't really like (getting their tonails cut for example). The one cat is so good he will just sit there, let me cut them and then go to the fridge and wait to get his cheese.

If you do get a kitten play with his paws and ears alot, that way if you need to give him ear meds, or cut their toenails you will have an easier time.

Someone else said about toys. I agree, don't spend a ton of money on them. My cats favorite toys are an old sock filled with catnip and a clothes pen!

Things you may want to spend money on however is scratching posts so they will not scratch the rug or furniture (or where ever else they shouldn't be) and good food. It's worth it for the cat to be getting the quality food in the long run. It could save you alot in vet bills!

I also use clumplig litter, this is easier for you to clean. I bought the other by mistake once and ended up throwing it out cause everything just stayed in the litter box. Clean the box out frequently too, because they don't like to go in a dirty potty!

Hope these things help.

Answer 3

Kittens usually know how to use the box by learning it form mom, this shouldn't be an issue.

If you do adopt a cat/kitten, I suggest going to the shelter, we're getting towards the end of kitten season however (April-Oct) so kittens are harder to find in the winter.

Get your cat spayed/neutered when the time comes. It adds 2-3 years to your cats life, and cuts down the risk of cancer.

Buy a higher quality food, more good stuff = less waste.

Start grooming routines early, even if you have a short haired cat, brushing is still a good idea. Starting this as a kitten is a really good idea.

Make sure your cat has a 'safe place', it's own little hidey hole (sold at all pet stores and wal-mart type stores) where it can go, and know it won't be bothered.

Buy a variety of toys, cats like to be stimulated, a variety is a good way to find out what your cat likes and what s/he doesn't.

Your kitten will probably be scared, it will likely hide most of its first 24 hours home. Don't pressure the kitty to come out if its hiding, it will only stress him/her out. You make the transition an easy one.

Answer 4

Here's an even better idea: Go to your local shelter and adopt a cat that's older. Everyone wants kittens and the older cats don't have a chance at having a good life. Chances are, he or she will already be housebroken and have it's shots already. But remember: having a pet is a big responsibilty and they depend on you for everything! And keep it indoors! There's too much danger in leaving a cat roam free. Be a good owner and take the best of care of it.

Answer 5

You might want to start with an older kitten that has already been box-trained. When you bring the kitten home, show him where the box is (preferably somewhere out of the way but accessable). Cats are usually pretty good about rememberring where the box is, unless something is wrong.

You'll need to make arrangements for keeping the box clean, of course. And you will want toys for your kitten. There are the little jingle balls, but our cats will also play with paper wads, tennis balls, and there is a little squishy ball I bought for them long ago that still gets plenty of use.

When your kitten is about 6 months old (more or less), you should take him to the vet for fixing, and for a check-up and the kitten shots. If nothing else, get the rabies, distemper, and feline leukemia shots.

One thing you might want to do is train your kitten to stay indoors. There are too many nutcases who will try to carry your kitten off or deliberately run over him, and I don't think you want that. Not to mention your kitten will be less likely to get fleas if he never goes outside.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Depends on how old they are, but most use the litter box right away.

Be prepared to kitten proof your home & then see your efforts proven ineffective as the kitten happily destroys every thing in its path. They climb, dig, claw, chew, chew, chew everything. Mine has a thing for knocking over water cups. He also loves to run out the door like he is escaping & give us a heart attack.

Kittens are alot of work, but they are tons of fun. Just remember that a cat is a long commitment. They live between 15 - 20yrs. If you can't commit to that, don't get a kitten to have to get rid of it when the kitten is no longer convienent or whatever reason people rationalize getting rid of an animal for.

Make sure the cat is spayed/nuetered.

Answer 7

cats are naturally drawn to go in the litter box. first thing you do is put the cat in the litter box, let it scratch around. change the litter as often as you can. at least every other day, cause cats dont like stink either. if someone is mean to a cat , the cat will forever pee on something that belongs to that particular person, such as their bed. if you get a kitten, you will need to get a cat brush, and brush it every day, or it'll get nasty patches of dead skin. have a place where your cat can climb up to a high place in the house. you will have to kindly remove the cat from the kitchen table, kitchen counter a thousand times to make it understand....

Answer 8

I think depending on where you get the kitten it should be litter trained. Get one from the pound because they tend to already be litter trained, and usually have they're first shots and some are even fixed. So that can save you a good bit of money. My advice is to make sure you put every thing you don't want broken away...they climb alot...and male cats tend to be more affectionate than female cats, at least that's my experience.

Answer 9

If you are getting two cats I suggest that you put 3 litter boxes in your home. One of the first things you should do when you bring the cats home is show them where the litter boxes are, or set them in there and let them navigate their way around your house from a litter box, so they always know where their bathroom is. Of course they need food and fresh water daily. They should always have fresh water available. I don't suggest giving them any human food or they can develop this annoying habit of getting up in your face when you are eating. I prefer not to ever let my cats outside, but if you must, wait at least a couple of weeks, or longer if you think they need more time to settle in. Be sure that they at least have a collar with your address and phone number on it. Be aware that going outside on their own means they are at risk of getting run over or lost or abducted or shot or poisoned. What I do with my cats is put leashes and harnesses on them, and tie them on the door so they can be outside and get some fresh air and enjoy themselves, but they can't go far enough to get into trouble or get hurt. My cats used to go outside but they don't anymore, and they are just fine being inside. If they go outside (and possibly even if they don't) they are at risk of getting fleas so you might want to have some Frontline or Advantage just in case, or give it to them as a prevention. That's all I can think of. Let us know if you have more questions. Oh! Get their medical records if they have any, and take them to the vet for a check up if they are due for one.

Answer 10

We adopted two 4 month old kittens from an animal shelter, and I couldn't believe how easy it was. All we had to do was show them where the litter box was and they took it from there. They adjusted to our home so easily. We have had them for 8 months without any major issues. You pretty much just need to feed them and give them water, scoop the litter box (best done daily to keep it from smelling), brush them periodically, and give them attention. The relatively minor investment in time and money is well worth the reward. They are tons of fun and never cease to cheer you up!