Bringing Home a New Kitten
You have chosen the perfect kitten for your family.
The time has come to bring your baby home!
Now what?
Can My Cat Get Poisoned?
There are so many things we do not think about when it comes to our feline family. For example, did you know cats lack certain liver enzymes because they are carnivores? This means if they eat certain things, harmful chemicals can build up in their systems. Or, did you know that you can induce vomiting in dogs with hydrogen peroxide, but if a cat ingests hydrogen peroxide, it is fatal? In fact, there is no safe method at home to induce vomiting in cats. Cats are not like other animals. This is why It is so important to understand what is safe for their environment when bringing a new kitten home. Please use the following links for helpful information that you need to know about common household poisons you may not even think about:
Where should my kitten stay when I first bring her home?
In 30 years of raising kittens, we have seen a lot of various ways of introducing a kitten to a new home and family. From experience, we have determined the best way for a successful transition from our home to yours. When bringing your new kitten home, you will need to have a safe place set up for her. A small bathroom is the ideal safe space for several reasons. It is most important for your new kitten to feel secure. They have just left all they have ever known, their home, their mom, their siblings. It is normal for their to be insecurity in this new place. A small room provides a place where they can quickly adapt as they can know all that is within their four walls. As soon as they feel safe, their focus can change to bonding with their new family.
For the first two weeks, they should be in their safe room with no free run to explore. The initial focus should be bonding with their new family. You can hold your new little one on the couch while watching a movie, carry her around the house with you, or even sit on the floor and play with a wand so she can interact with you. However tempting and cute it may be for her to explore her new home, please do not permit her to leave you. There will be plenty of time for exploring after she is bonded with you. While she may appear to have no anxiety, as our kittens are very adaptable and socialized well, there is still stress in transition, much like when someone starts a new job or moves to a new place. It is exciting to have a new experience, yet also stressful. RagaMuffins mask their stress well, so please follow this advice for the sake of your new little one. An excellent foundation leads to an excellent life with your her new family.
A gradual transition to a new home does not only reduce stress for your new kitten. Other very important benefits to starting your kitten out in a small area are safety and litter box habits. While your kitten has been using her litter box for more than half of her life now and is very good at it with no accidents, a new environment poses new possibilities. She will be seeking confirmation of where the appropriate place to potty is and having a litter box close by will help her with this. A bathroom is an ideal place because they flooring is typically tile or wood; hence, there is no other absorbent place other than the litter box. Additionally, kittens will want to test out their new surroundings and be very curious. A small space is a safe space where they cannot get into things that can harm them. While you may have had time to prepare for bringing your little one home, this initial two week period allows you more time to make sure the remainder of your home is safe too. We recommend gradually increasing your kitten’s territory over time.
If you just took my kitten to the vet, do I really need to take them as well?
Even though your kitten was already seen by our veterinarian, it is still important to have him seen by your veterinarian for a few reasons. First, we want both you and your veterinarian to know that you brought home a healthy kitten. Second, two professional opinions are always good to have. Three, we want to ensure a proper plan for vaccination and alter is set in place from the start. We understand how busy life gets, time flies by, and life surprises us with the unexpected. Before you know it, you may have missed the window for the next required vaccination. The kitten booster vaccines must be given in a 3 to 4 week window from the prior vaccination for effectiveness. These are some of the reasons we do require you to take your new kitten to a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of bringing him home.
How can I tell if my kitten is not feeling well?
A kitten’s health is our top priority. There are things we can prevent, and things we cannot. While we DNA test for all genetic health defects through Optimal Selection, maintain proper veterinary care and vaccinations for our cats and kittens, and keep an indoor only, clean environment, some health issues are out of our control. Kittens are living creatures and only God above has total control over their health. Thus, it is important for you to be able to recognize when your feline family is not feeling well.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But, if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.” (Matthew 6:22-23) For many years, eyes have reflected health and this is no different when it comes to your kittens. Their eyes should be clear, bright, and alert. If you notice a change in the “look” in their eyes, or any discharge, please take your kitten to your veterinarian right away as this is a sign of illness.
While RagaMuffins are very calm and laid-back, they should still be playful and alert. If you notice your kitten feeling lethargic, inactive, disinterested in play, or too sleepy, please contact your veterinarian to see what the cause may be. You can check also their gums to make sure they have a nice pink color as a white appearance would indicate anemia.
Being familiar with the signs and symptoms to look out for will make a big difference for your kitten’s health.
Are my cat toys safe?
If I go to a Pet store and head to the cat toy section, I can choose any of the toys for my new kitten…they wouldn’t sell an unsafe toy….right? Wrong. Many cat toys are actually not safe for young kittens and some not even for adults. How can you know what toy is safe? Here are some helpful points to consider:
- Cats love feathers! Yet, feathers on toys can be chewed off and can cause digestive issues or become lodged in their throats. A safer option is to choose a wand with feathers that is used only with your supervision and not left out where your intelligent kitten can find it. If you do choose a toy with feathers, please do not leave your kitten alone with this toy.
- Bells that are free, such as at the end of a mouse tail or that can come loose easily or be chewed off during play, are not safe.
- Loose strings or even drawstrings are so fun to play with, but please watch your kittens because they may start chewing on them and swallowing them (sometimes just as a reflex) and they can become tangled in their digestive tract. This can be fatal. Please read this article for more information on string eating in cats.
- Please examine toys for parts that are loose or can fall off and discard any broken toys to keep your feline family safe.
- Baby toys! Check out the baby toy section at your local stores or online. Most of the toys made safe enough for a baby, are safe for your kitten too. And, they love crinkle baby toys!.
- Please make sure to have a scratching post, corrugated cardboard, or sisal rope objects that I can use for scratching. RagaMuffins are very good about using these items if you provide them.
- Your kitten will love to find things around your home not intended to be toys that can be dangerous such as rubber bands, paper clips, plastic bags, ribbon, or dental floss.
The litter box...it is pretty straight forward, right?
Well, yes and no. Yes, it is a simple matter that there is litter in a box and your kitten is already potty trained. Conversely, an accident outside of the box is no matter to be taken lightly. Many assume because a new puppy has accidents, it is no big deal if a kitten does. This is not the case. A habit can form quickly with a new kitten as they are in a new environment and seeking to know which places are appropriate to use for potty time. We ask that you let us know right away if there is an accident, as waiting and allowing multiple incidents could allow for bad habits to be forming. It is important to figure out why this happened in the first place.
Cats use other areas besides the litter box for three primary reasons: environmental, medical, and sexual. We can immediately rule out the latter if your kitten is spayed or neutered at an appropriate age. The medical concern can be addressed by your veterinarian and a possible cause is a UTI which causes your cat to associate pain with the litter box. However, at a young age, the main reason is typically environment. Questions to consider are: is the litter box too far from my kitten? Am I using a litter type that my kitten is not used to or does not like? Is the litter box in a place where my kitten does not feel safe venturing to, or used by another cat that my kitten feels insecure with? Many environmental roadblocks can affect a kitten’s use of their litter box.
First, lets address the issue of security. Sometimes a kitten is overwhelmed by the transition and is too afraid to go to the litter box. This issue can be immediately addressed by keeping your kitten in a small space when first coming home. Secondly, your kitten is young and just as any potty trained child can start playing and forget s/he has to use the potty, so can your kitten. During playtime, periodically take your kitten to his box and set him in it as a reminder. This will only need to be done in the early stages. Also consider where your litter box is located. If on a different floor of the house, upstairs or in a basement, this is too far away for your kitten to find in a timely manner. Lastly, consider the type of litter that you are using. It is important not to change the litter when first bringing your kitten home. If you want to change the litter type, you can mix 50/50 or you can set another box with the new litter type next to their first litter box and allow them to make the transition as they are ready. It is also important to consider that as your kitten matures, he may not like the first litter type he was given. There are many types of litter: clay. wood, pine, clumping, non-clumping. In rare cases, it may be necessary to give your kitten options and see which he takes to. While the litter box should not be a complicated issue, it is always best to be prepared before an issue arrises.
Kittens are all unique and have unique needs. Their litter box is no different and is just as important as the food you choose to feed. No one wants a cat who does not use the litter box properly and all of the time. Cats who have issues can often be passed from home to home, or put outside which is a tragedy and often a terminal diagnosis. Thus, it is crucial for a healthy long life that proper litter box habits are maintained. You can show love to your feline family by helping them in this area. A wonderful book that we recommend is Cat Conundrums by Gary R. Sampson.
What about cat food and water?
In 1826, Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.” We have heard over and over, you are what you eat. The importance of diet is critical to a healthy life and this is true for your feline friends especially. Cats lack certain liver enzymes, so their diet is even more important so that chemicals do not build up in their system. Cats are obligate carnivores so maintaining a high protein diet with minimal carbohydrates and a moderate amount of fat is important. Their dietary needs will be different during their first four years of life, until they reach maturity. We choose to feed Go Cat Food and Royal Canin Kitten food based on our cats needs and the research we have done. Regardless of the food you choose, please research and/or talk with your veterinarian to decide on a food that is best for your kitten. Consider their different life stages, as not even an all-ages cat food is truly best for all ages.
Another consideration is wet or dry cat food. A benefit of dry food is cleaning plaque off of teeth. We ask that our kittens be free fed dry food, this means the food will always be available for them to graze on. In our experience, this prevents obesity as your kitten learns that food is always there and overeating is not necessary. Wet food is a wonderful supplement to dry food as it has a higher water content, which is good for the kidneys, and it is lower in carbohydrates. It is often thought that a wet food diet is best based for the kidneys and maintaining weight. We recommend a combination of wet and dry food for your cat’s diet. Brennen McKenzie said in the article, Canned or dry food: What’s better for cats?, “Overall, concerns about the health effects of dietary carbohydrates in cats are typically exaggerated, and the dry diets should not be avoided on the basis of the idea that they have too much carbohydrate and promote obesity and DM. The diet’s specific nutrient and calorie content is more important than the form in which it comes.”
RagaMuffins have a fat pad in their lower abdomen and this is normal for the breed and should not be confused with obesity.
What about cat treats; they are all safe, right? Actually, this is not true. Recalls on cat treats occur more often than for cat food. Treats are a common source of illness in cats. It is very important that you check the ingredients of the treats you choose to give. We recommend freeze dried chicken as a treat. You can check here for up to date information on cat food and treat recalls.
Water is so important! Often, we do not think about the contents of the water we give our pets. For example, have you considered if your tap water has softening salts? These salts are not ideal for your feline friends. We recommend giving filtered water with no softening salts for your cat’s best health. It is extremely important for your cat’s diet to include ample water intake. Please make sure the water is replaced often, especially when kittens are younger and more messy. Also, please make sure the water dish is cleaned daily with hot, soapy water, which is the recommendation of the CDC. The bacteria inside of food and water dishes can not only make your cat very sick, but make you sick too! Pet fountains are also great tools for increasing your cat’s interest in drinking water, much like running water in nature. Please do what you can to ensure your cat is drinking plenty of clean water.
How much rest do I need when I come home?
Kittens need more sleep than an adult cat, just like children need more sleep. It is important to remember that the transition to a new home, while exciting and wonderful in many ways, is still stressful for a new kitten. Stress lowers the immune response and sleep restores the immune system. Hence, sleep is very important in a developing kitten. Please make sure play time is limited to short stints of 30 minutes or less when you are bringing home a new kitten. It is good to play with your kitten often as this aids in bonding, but too much play can be detrimental to their health. Make sure you do not mistake this need for sleep with lethargy, which indicates a medical problem. When your kitten is awake, she should be playful and energetic, with bright and clear eyes, and have an interest in their toys. An increase in sleeping or indifference when awake should be noticed and brought to the attention of your veterinarian right away.
What are the differences between a male and a female?
The differences between male and female cats vary among different breeds. Across most breeds, males are known as the lovers; conversely, the RagaMuffin breed blurs the distinction in this area. Male and female RagaMuffin cats are both very affectionate, at least with our lines. Our females, as well as our males, are extremely loving and are attention seekers. The most noticeable difference between males and females is size. Male RagaMuffin cats are typically 15-20 pounds and females fall in the 10-16 pound range. A common misconception is that all males spray or that only male cats spray. In fact, females can spray, or mark their territory, as well as males. The main factor affecting whether a cat sprays is when the alter takes place. The spay, for a female, or the neuter, for a male, should take place before sexual maturity to prevent the desire to mark territory. More important factors in your cat’s behavior are breed and environment, not gender.