Some advice on bringing a new kitten home. you will ideally be at home for several days after you collect your kitten to help him settle in, and have a warm room ready where he can feel secure for the first few days, rather than giving him the run of the house initially. Make sure he has a comfy, safe hideaway, food and water, positioned away from a litter tray (providing one per kitten, plus one extra), and a scattering of toys for him to play with. It may take a while before he is confident in the same room as you, so be patient. His natural curiosity will soon have him exploring, so just allow him time to adjust. Creating a safe environment for your kitten When your kitten is ready to explore further, usually after about four weeks, check around your house, seeing it from a kitten’s eye view. Tidy away small things that might be chewed or could get your little one into trouble and follow these tips: Tidy cables and cover them with conduit in case he is tempted to chew Keep windows free from Venetian blinds or net curtains that your kitten could get caught up in Keep potentially harmful cleaning fluids out of a kitten’s reach Chocolate is toxic to cats, so don’t leave any half-eaten bars lying around Feather toys and toys on string/elastic are great for interactive play but should not be left out when your kitten is on his own in case he chokes on the feathers or gets tangled in the string/elastic Keep the bathroom door shut when you run a bath and make sure the toilet lid is kept down to stop your inquisitive kitten falling in Keep windows shut to stop your kitten escaping outside before he’s ready Keep the doors of all your household appliances shut or you could find your kitten curled up in your tumble dryer — or worse, being inside when it’s turned on Keep small, easily swallowed items away from your kitten’s reach Make sure your kitchen bin has a cat-proof lid Have a fireguard permanently in place to prevent him venturing up the chimney Certain cut flowers and houseplants can be poisonous to cats, particularly lilies. Vases are also easily pulled over and broken.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:52:13 +0000