If you have been thinking of getting a new kitten, have you considered all the options available to you? The obvious choice people make, when considering a new kitten is to go to a specialized kitten breeder. A good kitten breeder will be able to sell you a kitten that has been checked for genetic problems, diseases etc. and will very often provide you with a high-quality pedigree kitten that should be free from problems that plague a lot of kittens.
This is ideal for a lot of people but of course will come at a price. There is an alternative – adopting a kitten.
There are lots of kittens that are without homes at animal shelters or humane societies. These animals are often a victim of circumstance. Either an owner has died, or an elderly person cannot cope any more. Sadly, through no fault of their own, they have ended up homeless. Adopting a kitten, may be a great way to offer a loving home to one of these kittens.
A lot of people are concerned that they may end up with an unhealthy kitten, or a kitten that may be aggressive by getting one from a shelter. Most animal shelters will check a kitten for good health and good temperament, so if there are any problems you will be told about them. Also, a lot of shelters offer in-house training to increase the chances of a kitten finding a new home. Which is great for everybody!
When looking to adopt a kitten, explain to the staff there, what kind of kitten would suit you and your family. Bear in mind that if you have very small children, getting a large kitten may not be a good idea. Similarly, if you have an apartment, maybe think about getting a small kitten that doesn’t require vast amounts of exercise. A bit of forethought will make finding the perfect kitten for you that much easier.
When you bring your new kitten home, try and imagine things from her perspective. Your new kitten has probably been through a lot in the past so bringing her to yet another new home may well be overwhelming. The best thing to do is keep her on a leash at first, and gradually introduce her to your home letting her sniff each room until she has got a feel for her new surroundings. Also take her to relieve her bladder outside if she has been on a long car journey with you.
Once she has settled down, allow her to walk freely off the leash inside your home (not outside off the leash yet). This will give her a chance to find ‘her’ spot. By this I mean her favorite place. We all have a favorite spot where we like to go, kittens are no different. If you have bought a new kitten bed or blanket for your new arrival, this may be the place to put it. She will naturally go to that spot so having a comfy new bed there will help her settle in.
Your new kitten may be very quiet for the first few days but don’t worry, this is part of the settling in process. After a short while your kitten will be a fully settled in new member of the family.
Adopting a kitten is a great way to get a new companion and a great way to make a new and happy future for your kitten.
