Thinking of adopting a kitten? Here is what you need to know before you adopt!

Here is your essential instruction and supply list for kittens!

First we have to say that kittens need to be adopted in pairs unless there is a friendly cat already in the house. Cats are social animals and it is the very rare cat that wants to be alone. Kittens are full of “kitten play” and need a playmate to wrestle with and burn energy. Otherwise they will make your hands and feet the object of their attention and start nipping, swatting and biting! DO NOT let them as you will train them to attack your hands and ankles for the rest of their lives.

FOOD – kittens must have kitten wet can food up to 8-9 months in order to get the extra fat and calories that kittens need to grow healthy and strong. Kittens need to eat 3-4 meals a day which will equate to approximately 3 small cans. Never “starve” a kitten thinking that they have had enough food. If they cry for food, just feed them! And never serve your kittens (or cats) cold food from the fridge. They are temperature sensitive – and it is important that their food is at least room temp, if not even warmed up in the micro – 15 seconds.

The kitten wet cans cost anywhere from $2.39 to $2.99 each for “human grade” quality food. It is important to realize that starting kittens out on the higher quality food (even if it is more expensive) will lead to a healthier life and stave off all sorts of diseases from kidney, urinary and irritable bowel disease and big vet bills.

Variety is the spice of life for kittens and cats. Practice protein rotation and texture rotation. What does that mean? Expose your kitten to 4-5 different proteins such as poultry, beef, pork, fish, venison and rabbit for example. Textures are shreds, pates, mousses and loafs.

Do not let your new baby fixate on one protein or one texture. Cats needs to be excited by their food just like us humans. We believe that cats should not know what they are having for dinner based on what they got for breakfast. There are all sorts of toppers available that can “dress-up” our kitty’s meal and provide that extra zip that they will crave!

All the pet food (wet and dry) at the grocery stores and much of the big box stores are like going to McDonalds every day. Low quality ingredients including “feed grade” meat by-products and addictive additives – all made by giant Wall Street companies. Giving our cats a steady diet of that kind of food will definitely lead to big vet bills in the later years.

Speaking about dry food and kibble, it was created for humans’ convenience and not our pets’ nutritional needs. We say that cats must have 90% WET CAT FOOD…only 10% dry food – literally a tablespoon only. Look for gently-baked or air-dried with high quality ingredients like whole muscle meat protein and maybe a few fruits and veggies. Absolutely no wheat, soy, corn or grains. On a side note, cats do not have molars and have no ability to grind and actually chew dry food. So they swallow it whole! You will know this when the “scarf and barf” kitty throws it up – it all comes back up whole.

We strongly suggest that clients serve their cats freeze-dried raw food instead which has never been cooked or processed – and is a better choice “stand-in” for kibble – providing “some crunch” which some cats like.

And speaking about the raw food – commercially prepared frozen wet raw is very affordable and a kitten can eat raw food safely – and it is much less expensive than even wet food cans, about $3.50 a day for 6-8 oz of food a day.

FYI - when your kitten transitions to adult food, there will be many more choices of the wet can food to select from and more choices price-wise starting at $1.80 for a large can. The raw food in the freezer start at $1.10 a meal. And they will generally eat 2 main meals a day – 12 hours apart.

It’s just in the beginning they need “richer” food – high calorie concentration so that they grow up strong and healthy. Remember kittens are burning energy 24/7 and we have to keep them well-fed with high quality food and hydration.

Let’s talk about hydration – cats are desert animals and have a low thirst drive by nature. In the wild, they get all their hydration from the blood of their prey. We have to “replicate that lifestyle” by hydrating their food with warm water. Start with a tablespoon of warm water and build up over a month or so to 1/3 – ½ cup. Flavor it with cat bone broth for extra vitamins and minerals. If you do this in every meal, your kitten will be well hydrated and you will help prevent kidney and urinary issues later on! More hydration in their food also can act as “weight-management” since the fluids will fill them up too.

Vets have filmed cats drinking water and they would have to “lap-up” 2000 times to drink ¼ cup which they are definitely not doing! It is just easier to put the water in the food!

Food Bowls – we only recommend stainless steel or glass…and the bowl must be wide and shallow – 6” wide and 1” tall or thereabouts. The benefit of glass is that it can go in the microwave.

Water bowls should be the same glass or stainless and the same dimensions. Bowls cost $11.95 – 12.95.

LITTER…we recommend plant-based litters that are sustainable...the wood litter/18.8 lbs or the grass litter/20 lbs – $32.95 – 35.95 range – will last 2 – 3 months for 2 cats.

Litter pans – you will need 2 pans for 2 cats, and many experts recommend 1 extra for good measure. Do not line them up next to each other. Scatter them around your home is the recommended positioning. Today you can buy furniture that the litter box goes in and no one would know that there is a box in there…like side cabinets, etc.

Litter pans are $24.95 – 34.95 for the most part. A lot of people want the stainless ones and they are more expensive, but antimicrobial.

Litter scooper - $11.95 - 18.95

Cat bed – they range from $39.95 – $79.95 for a decent one.

Carriers – $50 - $150 range – each cat will need it’s own carrier, but with kittens – 2 can go in one carrier when they are little.

Supplements  - mainly all kitties should take a probiotic every day. A $29.95 jar will last you at least 2 months or more for 2 cats.

Grooming items like brushes, nail clippers, etc… none are terribly expensive. We recommend that each household needs a “rake brush” and nail clippers. Start “playing” with your kittens paws to get them used to you cutting their nails.

Speaking of grooming – let’s not forget dental care. Start putting your fingers in your kitten’s mouth to get them used to you handling their mouths. Consider dental wipes, dental chews and dental powder to stave off dental disease. Tooth brushing is the gold standard but very hard to consistently maintain unless you start when they are kittens.

Toys and enrichment activities – cats are “cheap dates” and are happy with a box or even a paper shopping bag as long as you cut open the handles so they can’t get their heads caught in there! Lately there are many more options to excite your kitten and cat with puzzle feeders, hide and seek toys, snuffle mats and scratch mat tracks with balls.