Kitten Season
Brought to you by Inside and Out Pet Care
Kitten season is approaching. Have you been considering getting a new kitty? Does your heart melt when you pass by kittens for sale or up for adoption and you fight yourself on whether it is an option or not? There are many things to consider before taking the plunge and adding one of these adorable fuzz balls to your family.
Are you ready? Granted kittens aren’t as much work as puppies, but you will still have your hands full. They do tend to train themselves to use the litter box. You just need to make sure they know where it is and keep it clean enough that they will want to use it (and the smell wont bother you). They are playful little buggers though. Be prepared to get scratched! Kittens tiny claws and teeth are razor sharp, and they will use them. Be cautious in that delicate blouse…if they get scared or decide it’s playtime, it’s snag city. They love to play and have no concept that they are hurting anything when they go after your hands or feet as their playmate of choice. And their instinct to play can turn on randomly and suddenly, so be prepared. If they’re on your bed with you, be mindful about moving your foot under that sheet…it might get pounced on…and it hurts. You can help the issue by stocking up on fun toys…the choices are limitless, and range in all different styles, prices, and sizes. And it can be quite an amusing pastime to play with a kitten. And they do calm down in between play sessions for frequent naps, so usually you can get in some cuddle time. But it’s usually on their terms.
Kittens also tend to be rather fearless. They’ll try to play with kids, dogs, other cats…anything that moves. So make sure that the rest of your household is on board. Are your kids too young to know when to let the kitten go and not squeeze too hard? Is your dog friendly with cats and tolerant of other animals in their home? Do you have other cats that would have to adjust to a new playmate whether they like it or not? Female cats usually tend to take better to new cats then males do. Also, introducing a female cat to a male cat works better than 2 males, especially if you don’t want to deal with the cat(s) marking their territory. In general, most animals will instinctively be more tolerant and gentle with a new animal when it is young. It’s built in them to understand that the little devil doesn’t know any better. They may growl or hiss to warn them to back off. You may see the older cat take a swipe or two at it’s new companion, but in general they’re not usually overly aggressive. Still be cautious with aggressive breads of dogs. Always hold the new kitten for the initial introduction so that you have the ability to remove them quickly if the other animal does get aggressive. With any luck, your babies will become great friends and be happy about their new playmate in time.
And of course, always remember when getting a new pet that you will permanently have the new expenses of their food, toys, litter, and vet bills. Don’t overlook this crucial detail when tempted by those bright, adorable eyes luring you in to take them home.
When you’re busy, it’s hard to give your dog the care they need. Dog walking and pet sitting can be expensive, and there are only so many hours in a day. That’s where we come in. Contact Inside and Out Pet Care LLC.