Kitten for Christmas?

[Anonymous]

Prepare a space in a bedroom with you or the kids when you bring the kitten home. You want her to bond with you and stay in one room for the first few weeks unless supervised. Kittens can get lost easily and fit in tiny spaces. Babyproof your house by looking for nooks and crannies where the kitten could squeeze. Either block them or ensure that the kitten is monitored when they can access the space (such as behind a TV cabinet). Plenty of toys and a very nice scratching post are necessary as well as good quality dry and wet kitten food. A low entry litter box is best when the kitten is young. Dr. Elsey's has a great kitten-specific litter that is helpful to ensure that the kitten uses the box. Don't freak out if the kitten has an accident once or twice after you bring her home. Make the litter box comfortable, accessible, and reasonably private. A soft bed or very soft stackable blankets will be necessary. A kitten will also like a soft stuffed animal to kneed with her paws. It's a comforting technique that kittens need especially in the first year. Teach the kids to be gentle with her and to play gently. Do not punish your kitten- show her what you want her to do and distract her from things that she shouldn't do. Enjoy and love her! Kittens are great fun. We adopted one last Christmas. She's a year old now and the kitten days go so fast. Don't plan any vacations for six months or so after you get your kitten to give her time to adjust. Pandemic life is a great time to adopt a kitten!

[Anonymous]

Big +1 to kitten room with hiding places blocked off--I would say your bedroom or study. NOT kids' room. Kitten will be lonely but you'll have to supervise kids with kitten at first.