Essential Tips for New Cat Owners: A Beginner's Guide

Abandonment can be devastating for a kitten. It may lead to immediate distress, or the poor little creature could wander aimlessly for 23 years before ultimately succumbing to the elements.

Before welcoming a cat into your home, whether it's your first time or you're about to adopt a new feline friend, there are several essential preparations to make:

Firstly, it's advisable for beginners to choose a kitten over two months old, one that can independently eat cat food and use the litter box.

It's best to wait until you have more experience or in emergency situations to consider fostering a newborn kitten.

1. Health Check

Before bringing your new pet home, ensure it's in good health. It's wise to have a trusted vet conduct a simple examination. Online group buys can be quite affordable, with packages starting at around $100.

2. Selecting the Right Transport Tool

Options like pet carriers, small cages, or cardboard boxes (covered with fabric to prevent distress during transport) are suitable. For larger cats, avoid cardboard boxes to prevent them from escaping out of fear.

3. Provide a Quiet and Free Environment

Cats are known for their sensitivity and slow acclimation to new surroundings. Upon arrival, place the kitten in a quiet room away from disturbances to allow it to acclimate to its new environment.

4. Safety Precautions

Like young children, kittens are prone to jumping and exploring. Store away sharp objects, glassware, and anything your cat shouldn't touch, including chocolate, coffee, lilies, medications, and various household cleaning agents (to prevent ingestion). Also, keep mothballs, pesticides, and furniture varnishes out of reach. Always keep windows and balcony doors securely closed to prevent accidents due to curiosity. Remember, the myth that higher is safer for cats is false; they lack the experience to handle high falls, especially kittens.

5. Bathing

After a vet check, inspect your kitten for fleas or other parasites. Avoid bathing kittens under three months old due to their low immunity. For older kittens, bathing should be done with care, especially in a new environment, as it can cause stress. Always close windows, use a hairdryer to dry them quickly, and prevent colds.

6. Deworming

Flea life cycles are about 14 days, while ear mites take 16 days. Follow the deworming medication instructions when you find fleas or ear mites on your cat. For indoor cats, deworming every three to six months is typically sufficient. Puppies should be dewormed at 6, 8, and 12 weeks, then every three months thereafter. It's recommended to space deworming treatments and to schedule vaccinations and deworming separately. Deworming can be done one week before vaccination, and 57 days after. Wait 72 hours after deworming before bathing. Cats fed raw meat should follow these guidelines with shorter intervals.

ps: On Estrus

Some owners inquire about letting their cats roam outside during estrus, thinking it's kind. However, it can be quite dangerous. I've seen many cats injured during territorial fights, injured from mating with wild cats, or even worse, lost or poisoned. Since domestic cats are not adapted to the harsh conditions of the wild, they lack the ability to survive without food and water, and they're not equipped to handle the challenges of wild territory.

Therefore, out of responsibility, it's crucial for pet owners to consider window sealing and spaying (the spaying section explains how to do it in detail) to keep their cats safe from unaware dangers.