While it is very easy to find and adopt a kitten, whether from a friend, your local pet store, or online, it is a huge responsibility that should never be taken lightly. Taking the time to learn what a young kitten needs to grow into a healthy, well-rounded adult will save you a lot of worry and disappointment in the long run.

Choosing your kitten knowing where it comes from is very important. Good breeders are involved in socializing the kitten when it is still with them, ensuring that it will grow into a sociable and balanced adult cat. Kittens are typically removed from their mothers and siblings when they are nine weeks old (never before 2 months), and their first weeks and months of life are the most critical.

A cat’s window of socialization ends earlier than that of a dog, usually between two and eight weeks of life. During this time, they must be manipulated, socialized through play, and stimulated by the environment. They should be exposed to other animals and to people of all ages. Without it, they will be afraid of people and find it difficult to thrive as pets in homes.

Once you’ve decided that you have enough time, space, and the means to adopt a cat, it’s time to prepare your home. While cats are fairly low maintenance, there are a few basic things they need.

A cozy bed

Kittens, more shy, sometimes like to take refuge in a bed with a roof and walls. For the first few nights it can be helpful to have a t-shirt or plush from the breeder’s house so that he can sleep with a familiar scent. In addition to getting these essentials, it’s a good idea to designate a specific place in the house where the kitten can sleep and relax when she needs a break that she won’t be bothered with.

Food and water bowls

Water should be disposed of away from food because, in nature, water found near a food source would not be drunk in case it becomes contaminated. For this reason, most cats tend to avoid water bowls if they are next to their food.

A supply of kitten food

Ideally, stay at the start on the brand and the range given by the breeder, to avoid stomach aches. You can then make a transition over a few days.

A cat litter box and litter

There are all kinds of bin designs and litter types out there, and it can sometimes take a while to find the right ones. Avoid tubs with a high rim (or top entry) that little kittens may have difficulty getting into.

A soft brush

Even short-haired kittens may require brushing and it is essential to get them used to it from an early age, so a soft grooming brush is a wise purchase.

A selection of toys

These don’t have to be fancy or expensive, even a cardboard box and old rolls of toilet paper can provide hours of entertainment.

A cat tree

Your little one might not know what to do with it at first, but as they get older and start to explore, they’ll likely want to scratch. To support this behavior and protect your furniture, a scratching post is very useful.

A necklace

If you plan to let your kitten out when she is older, it may be a good idea for her to wear a collar from a young age to get her used to it. Be careful, however, to choose a necklace that slides easily if it remains hooked, to avoid a dramatic accident.

Health insurance

Although none of us like to think about it, cats can get hurt or get sick. Having pet insurance provides peace of mind that if anything should happen to it, you will be able to treat it without the cost of treatment ever being an issue.

Much like toddlers, kittens love to explore with their mouths, and it’s important to make sure a home is a safe place before they arrive. There are some things that will need to be removed before the four-legged monster arrives on the scene.

Eliminate toxic and dangerous products

You need to eliminate all potential toxic sources around them, such as certain houseplants (lilies in particular), human medications, and cleaning products.

Some kittens like to chew on yarn, wool, or pendant lights, so try to keep these tempting items away, at least for the first few months.

Check open windows and toilets

While you may not have realized it, your home probably has a few escape routes, like that little window that is always left open in the bathroom or the patio door that is often kept ajar in the summer. Kittens will quickly escape through any available space if given the opportunity and may not know how to find their way back.

As funny as it sounds, close the bathroom door and close the toilet lids. Large “bowls” of water can be very tempting, and your favorite furball is best not trying to take a bath in the toilet.

Store your precious and fragile items

Anything that is expensive, like a precious rug or a glass vase, should be put away in the closet until you know you can trust your kitten not to scratch, chew, or knock things over. The time this can take is quite variable.

Avoid overdoing it, it is better to refrain from having a small welcome party. Kittens are easily intimidated and can panic if all of your friends show up to meet them. Remember, they just left the only home they’ve ever known and this is probably the first time they’ve been away from their moms, brothers, and sisters. Everything looks and smells different, and they are momentarily out of their comfort zone.

Let them breathe, letting them come towards you rather than chasing and grabbing them. If they need some time alone, maybe in bed, give them that opportunity. It is best for other pets and young children to wait a few days before being introduced. Consider having a pheromone spray in the room, such as Feliway, which can help reduce their stress levels.

Kittens are quite independent and certainly don’t need to be snuggled up in your bed with you at night (a bad habit that could lead to accidents). They can sleep outside of your bedroom, and when they are still young, should be confined to a room to prevent them from doing anything stupid while you are not watching them.

Since they used to sleep with their siblings, they will appreciate having a warm bed and some soft toys to snuggle up on. It may be nice to prepare a hot water bottle for them wrapped in a towel; just make sure it’s not too hot.

Some kittens may cry the first night or two as they get used to being alone. As long as you provide them with a safe and warm environment to sleep in, they will quickly find that there is no need to complain.

As mentioned above, you should initially offer the same food that the kitten used to eat, as a sudden change in diet can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and bloating. If this food is a complete food that the kitten likes, it can continue. However, if you want to change his diet, do so gradually over 5-7 days, slowly mixing the new food and reducing the portion of the old food each day.

You can choose to use a wet, dry or mixed feed. Wet diets are good for kidney and bladder health, while dry diets are cheaper, easier to store, and better for dental hygiene.

Water should be left aside at all times and changed at least once a day. Despite a well-established belief, kittens do not need and should not receive milk after weaning.

Many owners choose a cat over a dog because they work and are unable to stay with their pets all day. While adult cats are very self-sufficient and independent, kittens need more time and attention. This is why it can be good to take a little time when the kitten first arrives.

Kittens can be left alone for short periods of time, but never more than a few hours. After that, they may get bored and do some destruction, which means that you will find in your home a sofa with scratch marks scratched on it! The older they get, the more they can be trusted to be alone because they will rely less on you to keep them company.

Nowadays there are innovative products on the market that allow you to monitor and communicate your pet while you are away. All it takes is a camera or two and an app on your mobile phone.

Kittens are incredibly playful and love it more than anything when you level up and start a frenzied game. They absolutely don’t need expensive toys and gadgets, and can easily play around with items found around the house, such as packing materials, ping-pong balls, ropes, and feathers.

Here are some great ideas that don’t cost a lot:

• They naturally love to hunt and pounce, so watching them stalk a laser pointer or mechanical mouse can be fun. If you use a laser pointer, sometimes point it at a stuffed animal, allowing your cat to grab its prey. Then give them a delicious treat so they can feel the satisfaction of a “successful” hunt;
• Cats are natural explorers, so why not turn this behavior into play? Hide kibble in various cardboard boxes around the living room so they can learn to sniff and catch treats;
• Throw a ping-pong ball (or any small, light ball) around the room and watch them as they enthusiastically try to catch it and keep it from moving. You might find that you enjoy this game as much as they do.

Whether you plan to keep your adult cat outside or not, all cats under six months old should be kept indoors. This is because they lack the common sense to avoid vehicles and heights. It is also because they will not yet be sterilized and therefore they risk contracting sexually transmitted diseases and, even from just four months old, of becoming pregnant for females.

If you want to get them used to the sights and smells or if they are constantly trying to get out and driving you crazy, you can use a harness and let them roam around under your supervision. Not only is this a great way to get them used to the big bad world, but they’ll generally appreciate the opportunity to get some fresh air and experience a new adventure.