Bowls
It is recommended to purchase at least three pieces: one for water and separate containers for dry and wet food.
When choosing, you should pay attention to the material from which the dishes are made. It is best to use metal, glass or porcelain bowls. They are hygienic and safe. It is recommended to avoid plastic utensils. This option is the least hygienic: harmful bacteria and microbes easily grow on plastic, which can lead to kitten poisoning and other digestive system problems.
Filler
A properly selected mixture will effectively eliminate unpleasant odors, the appearance of which is inevitable. There are several types of tray fillers:
- Absorbent
. Consists of natural substances and minerals. There is no need to replace it every time the kitten goes to the toilet; - Clumping
. Consists of small clay granules. When liquid gets on them, they begin to form lumps that need to be thrown away; - Woody
. Also composed of natural substances, usually cellulose. This type of filler decomposes when exposed to moisture and can even be thrown into the toilet; - Silica gel
. It consists of a dried gel, the granules of which perfectly isolate moisture and unpleasant odors. This filler is considered one of the modern and highest quality, but is not sold everywhere.
Place to sleep
This could be a special bedding, basket or house. The main thing is that the pet is warm, soft and comfortable there. A comfortable bed will also help if the pet needs to be weaned from the bad habit of sleeping in the owner’s bed.
Care should be taken to create maximum comfort in the part of the room where this place is located, because a kitten, especially a small one, sleeps a lot.
Starting list
From the first day in the house, the kitten should feel that he has a home, that he is cared for, protected, provided with personal space and that no one will encroach on his freedom. The places where the cat will rest, eat, and relieve its needs must contain the essentials. The primary set includes the following items:
- food bowls, a mat for them, food;
- carrying bag;
- cat bed;
- scratching post;
- toys;
- care products.
Everything is purchased in a specialized store, having studied the assortment. But some things are made on their own, investing a piece of their soul and saving money. This could be a cozy bed, bedding, trinkets, or a designer scratching post. The list can be expanded at the owner’s discretion (leash, harness), but the basics are included.
Toys
One of the most significant things in the life of any kitten. Rubber balls and squeakers in the shape of various animals are perfect for your pet.
At the same time, toys with small parts that are easy to swallow should be avoided. Objects with long ropes pose a certain danger, in which the kitten can become entangled and suffocate. It's better not to leave him alone with such fun.
Many of the items listed are purchased more than once and can even last the animal a lifetime, so you should choose them responsibly.
The appearance of a kitten in the house. Essential measures.
09/03/2019 You have a kitten - a cheerful, playful baby. You enjoy his company, cute games and affectionate purring, and he trusts you and hopes that, in addition to reciprocal feelings, you will provide him with everything he needs for a pleasant and calm life in his new home. To do this, you don’t need much, but, nevertheless, you need to approach the choice of things for a kitten with all responsibility. Therefore, serious breeders, when selling a kitten, provide its future owners with detailed instructions on what to buy for it, and some even give the buyer a gift in the form of a bowl, tray or favorite toy suitable for the kitten. There is nothing to worry about if you did not receive such instructions. In this article we will talk in detail about what a kitten needs to have. Bowls and saucers for feeding cats First of all, a kitten needs bowls for different types of food and water. Dry food is poured into a shallow bowl, but for water you need a deeper and larger bowl. Bowls can be glass, metal, porcelain or earthenware, but never plastic. Plastic bowls are a good place for all sorts of microbes and bacteria to live, which can contribute to the appearance of spots and blackheads on a cat’s chin. And although they do not pose a serious threat to the health of the animal, they significantly affect the appearance, especially of a light chin, and it is very difficult to remove them. In addition, in some cases they itch and cause discomfort to the cat. Bowls made of glass, metal and porcelain are much more hygienic. And of course, do not forget to wash the food bowls at least once a day (preferably twice) (if the cat eats wet food, then this should be done more often, after each feeding) and change the drinking water. After all, germs that are so dangerous for our pets multiply in stagnant water and dirty bowls! Litter box for cats The next most important item in a cat's household is the litter box. Long gone are the days when a box of sand or a photographic cuvette was used for these purposes. Now in pet stores there are trays for every taste and budget - from modest low ones without bars to closed dry closets. Which one to choose is up to you. Just remember that this kitten is now very tiny and, it seems, that tray with high sides will be too huge for him. However, baby cats grow up very quickly, and by three months, when they usually move to a new home, they are old enough to use a large litter box. And after three to four months, a small tray for an older animal may become too small and will have to be replaced. Usually a regular open litter box with fairly high sides is sufficient, but if the cat likes to dig around and scatter litter all over the floor or is very shy, then a closed litter box is more suitable for her. You should buy a scoop for the litter box for easy cleaning, and also consider whether you will use litter for the litter box or leave it empty. Read about the different types of litter in the article “Choosing cat litter.” The filler greatly simplifies the care of the tray, while the empty tray will have to be washed quite often, after each cat’s trip to the toilet - firstly, due to the smell, which is not absorbed by anything, and secondly, it is very rare that you come across cats who will agree the second time go to the tray where there is already something. Next, the kitten must have a place to sleep. Whether you will let him sleep on your bed or not (I would like to see how you will not let him in when he comes at night, looks at you with his huge eyes and purrs, moving his paws), a place where the kitten could rest alone, he needs it. It is possible that he will prefer a completely different place, but you should still take care of his own crib. This can be either a lounger purchased at a pet store, or a comfortable low box or basket with soft and warm bedding. It should be in a warm place, preferably as quiet as possible, not in a draft. Many people are afraid to get a kitten because it will sharpen its claws on wallpaper and furniture. In fact, this problem is easy to avoid. Just do not declaw your cat under any circumstances! Do not succumb to the persuasion of dishonest veterinarians who, for the sake of profit, are ready to perform this operation, which is now being banned throughout the world. Such an operation will make the cat disabled for life, moreover, an animal without claws will be constantly exposed to increased danger even in the home. Such a cat would not be able to survive on the street. Nail cutter Claws simply need to be trimmed as they grow. This is done using a special nail clipper. Some nail clippers are equipped with a limiter that will prevent you from cutting off more nails than can be cut off. You can do this with regular nail scissors. It is important to teach a kitten to cut its claws from childhood, and then the procedure will not cause him discomfort, and he will not resist you. Claws should be trimmed only at the very tips, otherwise you can damage the blood vessels that pass through them. In light-colored cats, the vessels are very visible and difficult to touch. In dark cats, it is better to cut less, but more often, than to make the cat suffer, especially since damage to the vessel is fraught with inflammation. Scratching post Of course, a cat will still sharpen its claws, even trimmed ones. To prevent damage to furniture and wallpaper, there are special scratching posts or scratching posts. You can make them yourself by covering a small piece of wood with carpet or furniture fabric and attaching this structure to the wall. In a pet store, you can choose a scratching post for every taste - from a small one attached to the wall to a huge multi-story structure from floor to ceiling, equipped with shelves for lying on and toys. This design can be matched to the color of the room’s decoration, and then it will fit harmoniously into the interior. Some scratching posts are impregnated with animal-attracting substances, such as catnip. This is done to make it easier for your cat to get used to the scratching post. It will be enough for a small kitten to show several times where it is necessary to sharpen its claws and where it should not be done, reinforcing the explanations with treats if the kitten did everything correctly, or with a slight increase in voice and light spanks with a newspaper if not. When the kitten remembers where to sharpen its claws, it is worth praising it for some time when it sharpens its claws in the right place. Combs for cats Cats are used to keeping their fur clean themselves. However, this does not mean that owners should not help them with this. You need to take care of your kitten's fur into your own hands, because licking alone will not be able to keep even short fur in good condition, not to mention long. To do this, you need to have at least one comb, or better yet several. These should be tools designed specifically for animal fur, not human combs or massage brushes. Plastic combs are completely unsuitable for cats: they strongly electrify the fur, and the cat, having received several shocks, begins to associate combing with something unpleasant. Next time she is unlikely to allow you to brush her hair with impunity. It is better to use a metal comb with wide teeth, and after brushing the hair with it, switch to a more frequent comb or brush with metal teeth. It is convenient to use the brush on the handle, which fits onto your hand. You can use it to brush your cat's hair using stroking movements, and this will be pleasant for the animal. Try not to use slickers (slickers). They are needed only at exhibitions to lift the animal’s fur, but this must be done extremely carefully. Nevertheless, they are so often found in pet stores and even on market stalls of pet supplies, where they are sometimes the only type of comb for cats, that many people buy them, which greatly damages the cat’s fur. The longer the cat's fur, the more often you need to repeat brushing. Long-haired dogs are scratched daily, semi-long-haired dogs - once every two or three days, maybe less often, or more often - it all depends on the texture of the coat. Shorthaired dogs can be brushed once a week. Only short-haired rexes are not scratched at all (they remove dead hairs with a rubber brush with blunt teeth or simply with a wet hand) and naked cats. But they need to be bathed more often, although all cats need to be bathed. Therefore, in addition to all of the above, the kitten will need to buy a special shampoo. This should be shampoo for cat hair, since human shampoo is not suitable for animals. It is better to buy a more expensive shampoo, since it has a beneficial effect on the cat’s fur and skin, and its consumption is much less than buying one bottle after another of a cheap one, which will make the coat look far from ideal. To save on shampoo, apply it to the animal's fur in a slightly diluted form using a foam sponge. This way it will be used much more economically, and one bottle will last for a very long time. You need to bathe your cat as the fur becomes dirty, no more than once every two weeks (for sphinxes, you can do it more often). Usually once a month is enough. You need to accustom your cat to bathing from childhood, then as an adult, she will already know that there is nothing wrong with this procedure, and will not interfere with it. In addition to shampoo, you need to have special towels for cats in the house - waffle towels are best suited for this purpose. In addition to hair care, it is necessary to care for the kitten's eyes and ears. To wipe them, if necessary, you need to stock up on cotton swabs and pads. A kitten is the same child, only a cat. And every child needs toys for harmonious development. In games, the kitten practices skills that will be useful to him in adulthood. And most adult cats don’t mind playing. The choice of toys for kittens and cats in pet stores is very large, but it is worth remembering that not all of them are safe. With most toys, a cat should only be allowed to play under the supervision of the owner, because the kitten can, for example, get entangled in a rope from a fishing rod with a mouse or swallow feathers or small plastic parts. Only a few can be left for the kitten to play alone. These can be rubber balls, mice that do not contain easily torn parts, or plastic ringing balls. In general, kittens play with everything they can get their hands on, so special toys bring joy mainly to their owners. And the kitten often doesn’t pay attention to the mouse just brought from the pet store (the one hundred and tenth one in a row), because a bus ticket fell out of the owner’s pocket, and it’s so fun to chase it down the corridor! Sometimes it’s not even clear what the kitten is playing with, and after a long observation it turns out that these are specks of dust in a ray of sunlight that fell on the floor through the window. However, not all kitten games are safe for them and for the owner’s things: who wants all the pens and pencils in the house to play and roll under the sofas? The kitten must have at least a few of his own toys, and whether you buy them or make them yourself is up to you.
