What a kitten needs in an apartment: a complete list

Carrying

In order to transport a kitten from a breeder or its previous owner, a carrier is required. Don’t think that it’s easy to carry a cat in your bosom: he may get scared of something on the street, break free and run away. In the future, this accessory will help you when visiting a veterinarian or an exhibition, or when traveling with your pet. There are two types of carriers: plastic and fabric.

You should choose a hard plastic one if you are going to fly with your pet, as this is what the rules for transporting animals require. This type of carrier is also safer for transporting an animal by car. However, such a carrier will have to be insulated separately.

Soft fabric is more convenient if you plan to carry the cat yourself, on foot or by public transport. The disadvantage of this type of carrying is the need for washing.

What to prepare for the arrival of a kitten at home

Study the shopping list for the kitten and make a plan for preparing the apartment for the arrival of a little tenant.

What to buy at a pet store

Carrying. You should not choose a carrier “for growth”: give preference to a small box, otherwise the kitten will feel uncomfortable. Over time, you will be able to buy a larger carrier.

Note. Think in advance why, in addition to the trip from the breeder to the new home, you will need boxing? If you are planning long trips with your pet, choose a frame plastic carrier. When traveling short distances, it is more convenient to use a box made of thick fabric.

Bowls for food and water. You will need three containers: for water, wet and dry food. For dry food, a “storage tank” is perfect, which can be immediately filled with a large number of “crackers”, which are poured into the tank in portions. The drinking bowl should be large enough so that the kitten always has access to water.

Feed. Ask the breeder in advance what kind of food the kitten is currently eating. And, even if you don’t agree with the choice and plan to change the product, at first stick to the diet that the kitten is used to.

Please note: A sudden change in food can lead to intestinal colic, vomiting or diarrhea, so simply mix the new food with the usual one, gradually changing the ratio in favor of the food you want to switch your pet to.

Tray. Give preference to a small tray so that the kitten feels comfortable. Remember that cats tend to scatter litter while burying, so pay attention to closed litter box models equipped with a cat door.

Tray filler. From all the variety of fillers, make a choice based on the principles of pet safety. For kittens who love to taste everything, wood filler is suitable: it absorbs odors, does not require frequent changes and is safe for the pet. Over time, you can choose a different type of filler if you want.

Cat tree. Many people decide to hold off on this purchase, but a cat tree immediately solves many problems: its “trunk” and “branches” are made of material suitable for the point of the claws, and numerous levels and steps will give the kitten the opportunity to splash out energy without risking the condition of family valuables like loved ones vase

Toys. Very soon the kitten will be left at home alone. Provide him with fun all day long by leaving plenty of different toys. Balls, mice, and a “cat maze” are suitable - toys that not only entertain, but also develop dexterity, jumping ability and strength.

Shampoo. Although cats are not the biggest fans of water, sometimes they still need to be bathed. Human shampoo is not suitable for this, if only because cats and I have different skin pH.

Brush. Kittens do not shed until they are six months old, but it would be wise to immediately accustom your pet to grooming. Choose a soft brush or a mitten brush.

What should be done to make the house comfortable and safe for the kitten?

Take care of your safety. All windows should be equipped with a strong protective mesh to protect your pet from falling.

Get a shoe closet. The kitten will not resist the temptation to taste your favorite shoes. To protect your shoes and the kitten itself, which can catch an infection brought from the street on the soles, put your shoes in a closed space.

Consider the placement of the tray and bowls. The toilet and food should not be located in close proximity to each other. When choosing a place where the tray will be located, remember that this room should always remain open.

Prepare the "first room". To make it easier for the kitten to adapt to its new place of residence, first place it in an isolated room. Place water, food and a litter tray here. After an hour and a half, when the kitten gets used to the new smells a little, he can be allowed to explore the entire apartment.

Do you already have older pets? Or will the kitten get to know your children? Then you should find out how to properly introduce a kitten to your neighbors.

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Bowls and food

You will need a bowl for water and two more for food. The bowl for water should be deep, for dry food - medium depth, for wet food you can choose flatter bowls. However, do not buy bowls that are too deep - it will be difficult for a small kitten to eat and drink from them. The bowls you buy for your baby should under no circumstances be plastic: they are absolutely not hygienic.

First of all, you should buy high-quality dry food for kittens. You can feed the kitten only wet food, but it is more expensive: if the kitten doesn’t finish it, you will have to throw everything away. It is recommended to mix wet and dry food in the diet in a 1 to 1 ratio: for example, give wet food for breakfast, and feed dry food for the rest of the day.

The water in the bowl should not be stagnant: it must be changed every day!

Special projectsCat House: How to prepare an apartment for the arrival of a pet

Lyusya Tsivileva and Natalya Krikunova

founders of the animal welfare fund “Pick a Friend”

It seems to everyone that setting up an apartment for a cat is simple: just let her into the house and the job is done, she will organize everything for herself. We approach this task much more seriously. A cat by nature is a congenital introvert. This is not scary, an introvert can be sociable and responsive, but he definitely needs his own place where he can be alone and relax. Living in a hostel is torture for an introvert; he would rather deny himself many things, but he will rent an apartment. For a cat, its own place is also very important: a bed, a house or a protected corner. And if you don’t take care of this, then she will find such a place herself, and, perhaps, where you are not at all happy.

So, first of all, you need to give your pet his own sleeping area and personal territory where he will feel at peace and safe. Typically, cats choose a hard-to-reach place to sleep on a hill, so that they can observe the situation, and with a backup for escape in case of danger.

Very often cats lack a play area. Do not forget that by nature a cat is a hunter; it needs to move a lot: jump, run, climb somewhere. People don’t take this into account, and then they are surprised that the cat starts destroying the apartment. Cat muscles are designed to work in an instantaneous manner. If hormones have spilled into the blood for some reason, force must be applied immediately, here and now. A cat is not biologically suited to wait until you are taken out to a walk or area where you can relieve tension.

Therefore, the apartment where the cat lives should be equipped with special shelves, hammocks, durable and functional scratching posts, there is even a running wheel for cats. You need to create a special place in the house where the cat could play for fun, sharpen its claws, sleep, or simply hide and spy from a hiding place. Then the cats will be happy and the house will remain intact.

For food you need two bowls at the same time: a feeder and a drinking bowl. If the animal eats mainly dry food, the drinking bowl or water bowl should be larger than the feeder, as the animal will drink more often and more. Under no circumstances should the bowl slide across the floor or tip over. It is not recommended to buy bowls with low sides for both cats and dogs. Animals do not use spoons and forks, so food often flies out of such bowls. The most common place for feeding cats is, of course, the kitchen. But everything is very individual. If there is a dog in the family, it is better to place the bowl high so that the cat does not eat it. But you need to keep in mind that cats love to play with bowls, which means you can’t avoid a noisy fall.

And one more very important point: if you have a cat, forget about open windows, they should always be kept closed. They can be opened only in one case: when the windows are protected by a reliable mesh. Often, regular mosquito nets may not support the weight of a cat, so be sure to check them and strengthen them.

side cat 1

Tray and filler

You can choose any toilet for your kitten from the variety that can now be found in pet stores. For shy cats, a closed toilet is more suitable; for those who like to throw litter, a tray with high sides is more suitable.

If your pet is not quite a baby anymore, there is no point in buying a small litter box - kittens grow quickly, and very soon the litter box may become too big for them. If your kitten does not know how to use the toilet, find out how to train your kitten to use the litter box in our article.

It is better not to buy mineral litter for kittens, as the kitten can eat it and get a blockage in the digestive tract. Sand ones are bad because the little friend wants to play and scatters it. Give preference to wood or silica gel.

Where to start arranging a kitten in a new home

Before you bring a kitten into your home, buy a litter tray and two bowls for water and food. Buy a tray with low edges so that your small pet can climb in and out on his own. Install it in a quiet place.

Most often, the tray is placed next to the toilet.

Buy refill. It is best to choose one that absorbs moisture and odors. Buy a toilet training product. You will also need a spatula to remove the used filler.

a food bowl made of high-quality and safe material. It needs to be washed after each feeding. Water must be freely available and clean.
Buy a couple of toys , you don’t need to buy a lot right away. Over time, you will see what your pet likes.
Be sure to purchase a scratching post to immediately show your animal where to sharpen its claws. You can spray it with a special product so that the kitten gets used to it faster.
Buy a wool brush . It is necessary to comb cats at least once a week, for long-haired cats more often.
a sleeping place near a heat source so that the animal can relax.
The carrier will be needed for doctor visits and when traveling.

From the first days, the kitten will need a tray with filler.
Decide what you will feed the kitten: natural food or ready-made food. Find out how the previous owners fed it. Currently, there is a large assortment of balanced feeds taking into account the characteristics of the breed. If you want to cook your own food, it is important to maintain a balance of essential vitamins.

Take care of the safety of your apartment or house: remove and hide wires, chemicals and detergents, put small items higher up.

When buying a kitten, be sure to find out whether it is vaccinated or not. If yes, then take his vaccination certificate and get vaccinated on time. If not, then you should definitely visit a veterinarian to have your pet examined.

Care accessories

From the first days a kitten lives in the house, it needs to be taught hygiene procedures. Showing your kitten that it's no big deal will help you with future health problems and veterinary visits. Such events will help your pet stay healthy and beautiful.

To maintain hygiene, a kitten needs:

Accessories for hair care depending on its length;
Zoo shampoo for kittens;
Claw clipper.

This is a minimum set of tools: you can purchase the rest as needed.

How to bathe a cat without tantrums and injuries

How to behave better?

When you bring your cat home in a carrier or box, you don’t need to take it out yourself. It is best to place the carrier on the floor and open the door. By their nature, cats are very curious animals; he will definitely come out in the near future and begin to gradually explore his whereabouts. The baby will explore all the nooks and crannies that are sometimes out of reach of the owner and may fall asleep there. That is, if a kitten gets lost in the house in the first days, there is no need to panic and noisily search for it. These actions will make the kitten even more frightened and hide in a corner.

As a rule, on this day the kitten eats little; this is related to the stress that the baby experiences. Don’t be alarmed about this, 2-3 days will pass and everything will return to normal. It’s better to sit down with a bowl of food more often, talk to him kindly, and caress him. In the first days of the kitten’s arrival in the house, you need to feed it the same food as in the old home, this way it will be easier for him to adapt to the new place. Then you can gradually include new food in your diet. It would be nice to create conditions for the baby to have fun, receive positive emotions, and stop being afraid.

scratching post

Unfortunately, even if you trim its claws, the cat will still have a desire to sharpen them - this is an instinct. Therefore, if you are not ready to give up your furniture to be torn to pieces, your kitten needs a scratching post.

In a pet store you can choose a scratching post for every taste - from simple boards with carpet to entire play complexes. Start teaching your kitten to sharpen his claws in the right place as early as possible.

Toys

Kittens love to play! Adult cats usually don't mind either. And what owner would refuse to have fun with his pet? It is not necessary to buy expensive toys: the kitten may not appreciate the purchase, and some entertainment can be done with your own hands. Popular toys for kittens:

Bow on a string;
Fishing rod with a feather;
Catnip Mouse;
Balls.

It should be remembered that not all toys can be left for the kitten to play independently, as he may get entangled in them, get hurt, or try to eat them.

How to make the adaptation period smoother?

On the first day, the kitten will meow often; he misses his mother, his sisters and brothers. You need to leave him alone and give him time for an adaptation period, allocate a space for development, for example, a room, and try not to interfere with his getting used to new objects and smells. There is no need to pick him up again, let him get used to it. It is better to show the pet a tray, a place for feeding, and there should not be any “kiss-kitties”; you must immediately call the baby by name. Cats are smart animals, he will quickly figure out who Barsik is here.

There is no need to take kittens under 2 months old; they are still fed on their mother's milk and will experience separation from their mother for a long time.

It would be nice to bring a cloth from the previous home with the kitten on the same day and put it on the baby’s bed, so it will be easier for him to get used to his place. You can put a heating pad wrapped in a fur cloth next to the kitten, it will replace its mother. To prevent the kitten from using all its energy on pampering, you need to play with it more often. In this way, he will not only realize his energy, but also learn to hunt. During the game, the cat undergoes a period of socialization, he gets used to the new place.

You should not feed your kitten from the table because it will constantly beg. It is better to fill the cat litter with the same litter that the previous owner had. It’s better to bring some used litter with you and add it to the tray, so the baby will know exactly where to go to the toilet. If your pet gets dirty, you don’t need to yell at him; just wipe the area with a cloth soaked in vinegar, this will remove the smell of urine. The cat should be immediately accustomed to the scratching post so that it does not perform the necessary action on the carpet or sofa.

When a kitten finds itself in a new home, it experiences fear and stress. This is a completely normal situation. A little time will pass, the baby will get used to the house and will give joy to everyone in the household.

Shopping list for a kitten

We have made a convenient shopping list for the future owner of a kitten. You need to purchase the following items:

Carrying - hard or fabric;
2 bowls for food and 1 for water;
Tray;
Cat litter;
Nail clipper;
Special shampoo for kittens;
Slicker, if the kitten is long-haired;
2 combs - with frequent and rare teeth;
House, bench or play complex;
scratching post;
Several toys.

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List of basic items a kitten needs

The acquisition of a small furry creature always evokes bright, joyful emotions.
It should be taken into account that a kitten is not a toy and requires the creation of full, safe living conditions. First of all, buy the animal:

Bowls. It is recommended to purchase 3 pieces at once - one for food, two for drinking.
A tray that functions as a cat litter box.
Filler. Natural, completely safe substances are selected for children.
Products for hair care and hygiene procedures (combs, shampoo, nail clipper).
Scratching post. This device helps protect property from scratching. You can buy it at a pet store or make it yourself.
House. The cat accessory will serve as a sleeping place and will help to avoid falling asleep in undesirable places.
Carrying bag. The accessory is indispensable when visiting the veterinarian, exhibitions, and while traveling.

The person who becomes the owner of a furry baby takes responsibility for his life and health. Good nutrition for the animal, care, entertainment, rest, and sleep will be mandatory. To ensure that adaptation to a new place goes without problems, it is best to buy all the kitten’s supplies in advance.

Cat bowls

It is convenient for kittens to eat from a bowl that has medium depth. It is better if the drinking container is deeper. It is undesirable to use plastic utensils. Firstly, such devices are not hygienic, and secondly, they sometimes cause allergic reactions.

First of all, steel or ceramic bowls are considered. They are safe and easy to clean. These bowls have considerable weight, which prevents them from tipping over.

Dishes need to be cleaned daily. You will need to ensure that the pet always has access to fresh water, even in the absence of its owners.

Tray selection

The tray is placed in secluded places. This will help the baby overcome his fear of a new toilet and adapt to it faster. The first tray for a kitten should be shallow or have a recess.

It is useful to consider the following:

for shy animals it is better to purchase a closed toilet;
For those who like to turn over the filler, a tray with high sides is suitable.

It is not advisable to purchase expensive options. The cat will grow up quickly, and the owner will soon need to buy a device for an adult.

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The cat litter is updated daily. It is washed thoroughly every week. After washing, rinse the tray well and dry it. If you don't keep the litter box clean, your cat will refuse to use it.

Toilet filler

The rule that animal owners adhere to first of all is to use a litter that is already familiar to the kitten. However, if its cost turns out to be too high, an absorbent composition from among less expensive analogues will do.

It is recommended to avoid mineral filler. If the kitten eats it, the risk of blockage in the digestive tract increases. Also, you should not purchase sand options. Many cats love to throw sand and create a constant mess.

It is best to buy cat litters that have good absorbent properties and can absorb unpleasant odors (silica gel, wood). They also use improvised means (sawdust, newspapers). However, these compositions are not able to fully absorb odors, and become only a temporary option.

Care products

Having the right accessories and other tools will help you always see your cat looking beautiful and healthy. An important point is the choice of comb. First of all, you should choose double-sided brushes made from natural bristles.

The animal needs to be brushed regularly. This will help avoid the appearance of tangles and improve the condition of the coat and skin. If the baby has long hair, the procedure is carried out 3-5 times during the week. Representatives of smooth-haired breeds need two or three brushings.

Human shampoo is not suitable for cats. You can only buy a suitable bath product for your kitten at a veterinary store. The frequency of water procedures is once every two weeks. Sometimes (if there is heavy pollution on the street, during molting, or if it is infected with parasites), your pet should be bathed more often.

A nail clipper is a special veterinary device used to trim cat claws. For cats with thin claws, nail clippers or scissors are suitable.

scratching post

Having a scratching post has obvious benefits.

This device helps a growing cat:

relieve accumulated stress;
expend excess energy;
reproach claw renewal.

Regular use of the scratching post helps your pet maintain physical fitness. In the absence of an accessory, the animal can sharpen its claws on sofas, armchairs, and carpets, upsetting the owners.

Pet stores offer different models of scratching posts. First of all, choose flat products. Scratching posts-toys in the form of cylinders that roll on the floor are also used. If a cat often visits a certain corner, its owner should buy a wall-mounted corner scratching post and arrange it here.

cat house

Having a personal house will give the kitten a feeling of comfort, security, and help cope with fears. The presence of such an item will help avoid the widespread appearance of wool.

When choosing an accessory, consider the following:

the structure must be stable;
you need to choose products with a base made of natural materials;
the house is placed low, as close as possible to the floor surface, from where the cat can easily penetrate it;
It is worth equipping the accessory with additional elements that arouse the animal’s interest (hammock, tunnels, hanging toys, baskets).

On the shelves of pet stores you can find many such structures (wooden, wicker, cardboard, nesting houses, multi-story options). If the financial condition of the owners prevents them from purchasing a finished house, they make it themselves.

Carrying bag

When leaving its usual habitat, going on a hike or a trip, a pet always experiences excitement. He experiences severe stress when meeting strangers, animals, or during his first visit to the veterinarian. The carrier allows you to comfortably transport the kitten, without stressful experiences.

The carrying bag must be spacious, have a hard bottom, viewing windows, and adequate ventilation. It is welcome to have strong handles and reliable locks that prevent the animal from escaping or falling out. In order not to scare away the cat, choose products made from materials without a strong specific odor.

Today, a variety of carriers are produced. For long trips and protecting your pet from snow, wind, and rain, you should first of all buy a plastic version. Fabric and wicker bags will become indispensable when hiking in summer or spring.