Welcoming a kitten into your home can be the most exciting and rewarding experience but it won’t be without its challenges. We chatted to Absolute Pets vet, Dr Cooper, and asked her advice on some common kitten challenges and how to solve them.
What to do if your kitten is chewing
The first thing you need to know is that it is natural for a kitten to want to chew. They might chew cords, shoes, fingers, plants and more… but they are doing so because they are teething! Teething is an uncomfortable experience for kittens and to soothe those sore gums, they chew.
The solution? Provide them with chew toys that are especially designed for kittens and help soothe any discomfort (soft rubber toys are great). Also remember to kitten-proof your home. You don’t want your kitten chewing anything dangerous like food or plants that are poisonous or electrical items.
View our full range of cat toys here.
What to do if your kitten is scratching
As with chewing, scratching is a natural behaviour for cats. They scratch so that they can shed their nails. If they don’t do this, their nails often end up growing into their paw pads. They also scratch to stretch and to scent mark.
If your kitten is scratching the couch, the curtains or anything they shouldn’t be (and even if you haven’t noticed this behaviour yet), it is highly recommended that you invest in a few scratch posts. We recommend ‘a few’ as some cats like twine, some like carpet, some even like cardboard, so you won’t know what’s best for your kitten without trying.
See all Absolute Pets scratching posts for cats here.
What you need to know about catnip
If you are new to being a cat parent, you might have heard a lot about catnip. Catnip is a herb that some cats love. When used in toys, it can encourage your kitten to play, and help stimulate them so that they are not bored. Catnip doesn’t have any negative side effects but some cats will be totally indifferent to it, others will become hyperactive and some will become relaxed and more lethargic.
As mentioned above, use catnip to encourage play. You can also use it to make the likes of a scratch post that much more appealing.
See all Absolute Pets catnip products for cats here.
How to encourage good litter tray etiquette
Kittens are far more attuned to good toilet behaviour than puppies. Often, a kitten will already have learnt the litter tray basics from their mother or at the rescue centre or breeder prior to you welcoming them into your home.
It is important to consider the litter that your kitten is used to. Try and stick to the same litter at first before introducing a new litter slowly later on. For example, if a kitten is used to sand, they will not use a litter tray with a totally different type of litter to what they are used to. If your kitten or cat is used to the outdoors, start filling their litter tray with sand and move on to crystals gradually.
We recommend scooping the litter at least once a day - clumping litter makes this super easy- as cats far prefer a clean litter box (if it is not clean, they may very well choose somewhere else). Depending on which litter you choose, it’s likely you will need to top it up weekly. We recommend a full litter tray clean once a month but make sure you use unscented detergent.
How to get your kitten used to travel & the vet
You might often hear how when a cat gets wind of a vet visit, they will run away and hide. This is not ideal and you should try and make the travel and vet process as easy and as comfortable for your cat as possible; and start from an early age. The trick is to turn the cat carrier into a ‘happy place’. Don’t keep the carrier up on a shelf in the garage, ready for that vet visit. Rather, make it comfortable and have it around the house for your kitten to get used to.
You can also start developing a relationship with your vet. Many vets are happy to welcome your kitten into their surgery just to say hello (no scary check-ups etc.) in order to create positive associations.
If your kitten is uneasy, you can investigate natural calming remedies. Follow the package instructions and take at least an hour before a stressful event.
Above all, be prepared to welcome your kitten into your home
The best thing you can do is to be prepared before your kitten’s arrival. If you already know that your cat is going to live indoors, make sure you have everything in place so that you are not trying to kitten-proof your home when they arrive. Kittens need consistency, care and calm.
To find out more:
Ask the experts
A huge thank you to Dr Cooper for sharing her expertise with us and helping us put together this article.
And remember, we are also here to help so, visit your local Absolute Pets store or get in touch with us online, or on Facebook.