SUPPLIES FOR YOUR NEW KITTEN
THE PROCESS
Congratulations! You are on your way to obtaining a new kitten. You may be visiting several foster homes to view kittens. Once you have decided on your kitten, please contact ALL the foster homes you have visited and let them know if you want or don't want their kitten. (otherwise the foster home may be holding the kitten and waiting needlessly) Find out what the kitten is eating and what litter the kitten is using at the foster home. Decide with the foster which location is most convenient to fill out the paperwork and pay the adoption fees.( you may be told to call Karen 418 4008 or Elizabeth 2991517 to get an ok to take the kitten and do paperwork following day)
PICKING THE CAT UP
Before you pick up your kitten, please have food and litter ready in your home. Take your adoption papers with you and show them to the foster.( if done already) You must have a carry kennel to take the kitten home. Make sure the kennel will be large enough for when your kitty is an adult, as you will need a kennel for taking your cat in for spaying/neutering and future vet visits. We do not let kittens go home in cardboard boxes for safety reasons. Kennels with plastic doors do not last .
FOOD
Keep your kittens litter and food the same when you first take them home as it makes the transition easier for them. The canned food we use is "Wellness". It can be found at Tisols, Bosley's and some smaller pet stores. If the kitten is eating raw food, you can purchase it from Karen at: or look on the Club Canine website: http://www.clubcanine.net/contact.shtml to find a supplier in your area. We have found Club Canine to be a great food for cats at a good price. The recipe includes all necessary ingredients to keep them healthy and is liked by most cats. Not all raw diet food is alike.
We highly recommend the above diets and never kibble. Too many cats suffer from urinary tract disease, and this has been connected to the feeding of dry kibble. If you do end up feeding any kibble it should make up no more than a quarter of the meal. More on food choices is in our handout. Metal bowls or China are best for serving food and water; do not use plastic at all. A dollar store is a good place to find them for a low price. Please ask the foster home how much and how many times a day the kittens are eating.
LITTER
The best litter we have found for odor reduction and ease of use is Pine Pellets. You can scoop & flush small amounts (scoop the solid waste). It can be purchased at Rona (sold as Stove Pellets) for $5 for a 40 lb bag whereas at other stores the price is about $18 for a 40 lb. bag. DO NOT USE CLUMPING LITTER or Crystals. If accidentally ingested, it can cause intestinal blockage. We recommend getting a big, deep litter box (8 to 12 inch sides) rather than spend a lot of money on fancy litter boxes. If your kitten is very tiny you may need to use a lower container such as a plastic dishpan for a short time. A sturdy litter scoop is better than the brittle ones that break fairly easily. If the kitten is not used to a cover on the litter box, don't use it immediately.
The only safe clumping litter we recommend is Pine Fresh. Corn or wheat products are also safe, but we have found that a lot of kittens tend to eat them, they are goopy when wet and they are expensive.
TOYS & OTHER STUFF
There are lots of toys for cats, other than those n pet stores. Paying lots for toys that will fall apart or end up under the couch is unnecessary. Ping pong balls, paper bags, scrunched paper, toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes with holes, are all much loved toys. The dollar store is also a good choice for sturdy plastic toys to bat and carry around. We do not recommend catnip in toys for kittens, they're wacky enough as it is and it tends to affect them badly. The only toy that really works and lasts is a Cat Dancer. Get the one without a sticky hand and just close the end in a drawer or cupboard. This is bouncy nirvana for a kitten. A wand with a strip of fleece also works well and lasts a very long time. Do not buy toys with elastic string. They chew through them and can ingest.
A scratching post is essential - they come in cardboard, carpet or sisal. Cosmic Cat cardboard scratch boxes are great for kittens; just take the catnip bag out. Later on, be sure to have a good sturdy scratch post, preferably something tall, that doesn't tip, and with different levels. This is the most important thing for your kittens’ happiness. We have a contact who makes driftwood posts that are really lovely..and he will give us a donation if we send him customers. His name is…
A collar is imperative, we recommend a stretch elastic collar called "Tenth life"; it has a reflective strip on it where you will write your phone number in permanent ink, also add “Indoor Cat” on the strip. You will be given a longer info sheet with your adoption papers. The collar should not be on kitten when it is alone at home for awhile.. They can get hung up on things.
Please have your kitten stay in very small area at first..the bathroom is ideal. Have litter box , toys etc in there. Make it the safe room for when you can’t be with the kitten. They are often very young and too large an area is frightening to them…as well as too much of an opportunity for not getting to the litter box on time..If a kitten gets into the habit of going out of the box it is very hard to stop it….so back in small room if any accidents!!!
This list is just to answer the basic questions on what is useful to have before the kitten is brought home.
Please also have all members of the family read through our new kitten info also attached..