Top Tips for a Smooth Move-In for Your New Kitten

For cats, happiness is all about having a clear and orderly living environment, one that is also clean and tidy. Any disruption, such as moving furniture or coming home later than usual, can cause them distress and even anger. Cats are fiercely loyal to their routines, so to build a strong bond with your feline friend, it's essential to establish a structured daily routine from the moment a new kitten joins your home.

Decide on specific times for waking up, feeding, playtime, and areas that are offlimits. Set boundaries for what is and isn't allowed. Paying attention to these small details can save you a lot of trouble in the future.

Items to prepare before bringing a kitten home:

Cat beds and nests. Cats generally prefer semienclosed nests, but creating the perfect resting spot is key. Many cat owners invest in numerous nests, only to find that their cats don't like them. It might be that you've placed the nest in the wrong location. Consider placing it at a slightly elevated position for a sense of security and a view, but avoid noisy areas with high foot traffic. A quiet, wellventilated spot is ideal, and avoid soft surfaces. For the sake of your cat's hygiene, choose a nest that is easy to clean.

When the weather turns cold, you can also prepare a small electric heating pad and a convenienttoclean blanket.

Food and water bowls. Opt for ceramic or stainless steel bowls with nonslip bases, and elevate the bowl to boost your cat's appetite. There are also various automatic feeders on the market that make controlling their diet easier. Fresh flowing water is more appealing to cats than still water in a bowl, encouraging them to drink more.

Cat litter box and litter. Place the litter box in an easily accessible location for the new kitten. If your home is large, consider having two litter boxes placed diagonally from each other.

Cat trees and scratching posts. Scratching is a very comfortable behavior for cats and helps keep their claws clean and healthy. Having scratching toys can also prevent your cat from damaging furniture. Choose sturdy, simple, and easytoclean options.

Feeding your cat a healthy diet:

A healthy diet is crucial for your cat's wellbeing. Most people feed their cats dry food, but choosing the right type is essential for their digestion and to prevent diseases, ensuring they grow up healthy.

Cats have different metabolisms from humans and require more protein, minerals, and vitamins. A proper diet can boost their immunity and maintain healthy skin and fur.

The main ingredients of cat food: protein, carbohydrates, and fats.

Protein: The cat food should contain 25% to 40% animal protein, with kittens needing less than 30%.

Carbohydrates (calories and sugars) can be quickly converted into energy for cats during periods of high physical activity. These are usually derived from grains in cat food, and a small amount of cooked and heated potatoes can be included daily (no more than 20% of solid food to avoid weight gain).

Fats: They determine the taste of the food and how much your cat enjoys it, as well as aid in digestion and help expel fur. A suitable fat content is 25% to 40%; too much can lead to skin issues and obesityrelated fatty liver.

Always have cat grass on hand.

Snacks should be low in calories.

Scientific cat care involves more than just feeding dry food; it's about ensuring your cat looks and feels their best.

Cat grooming:

Cats are very clean animals, and cleanliness is a necessity for them. Cats particularly dislike having food particles around their mouths, so if you notice your cat's mouth area is dirty, it may indicate that they are unwell.

Common grooming tools include finetoothed combs, nail clippers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cotton swabs. For flatfaced cats, which tend to have more tears, keep tear stain powder (or baby powder as an alternative) and tear stain water on hand.

Longhaired cats can use talcum powder and combs to keep their fur fluffy and prevent tangles.

Regularly check for external parasites and perform regular external deworming.

As the day you're scheduled to bring your new kitten home approaches, your heart is undoubtedly filled with excitement. Just thinking about this fluffy little creature can warm your heart.