A Comprehensive Starter Kit For Kittens

Are you welcoming a new kitten into the family? First of all, Congratulations! Secondly, you need to start preparing. Before you drown in the cuteness of the tiny kitten, there are certain things you need to do. Raising a kitten requires you to be prepared with all the essentials for kittens. Since you are responsible for the growth and development of the tiny creature, you need to be ready with all the essentials from the get-go. To help you in this process, we have gathered information on all the essential items you would need to raise a kitten in this article.

What Essentials Do I Need For a New Kitten?

You need these basic essentials to ensure that your kitten can grow in a healthy environment. While they might seem similar to the basics you need when taking care of a puppy, raising a kitten is completely different.

• Bed
• Food bowls
• Litter
• Toys
• Food and nutrition
• Grooming equipment
• Health supplies

The list seems fairly simple but there is a little more to it. Kittens can be very cuddly and cute but they have a mind of their own and can be surprisingly independent. Your job as the owner is to get the supplies and equipment that they will be comfortable with as well.

Collars and Accessories

One of the first things your kitten will need is a collar. You may think that it will be easy to take care of your kitten at home but you are dealing with a smart animal. Kittens though young have the cunning ability to hide around the house. So, if you don’t want to lose your kitten in or especially outside the house a collar with a bell would be a great idea. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a bell. You can always attach a pet tracker to your cat’s collar.

The accessories for the collar should ALWAYS include an ID tag. Even if they have a pet tracker hanging on their collar, an ID tag is necessary. Just in case, your kitten decides to wander off and your pet tracker is not working, an ID tag can help anyone who finds your precious pet to return them to you.

Snuggly Home

While kittens would love to walk around the house, climb on multiple things and sometimes lay flat on the ground, they need to be given a small snuggly bed of their own. Just like they curl up into a tiny ball on your lap, a round bed or a cave bed would provide them with similar comfort and warmth. Your kitten will be very particular about their personal space, so if they show particular interest in a certain spot in the house, place their bed and food bowl there. Along with the bed, you need to ensure that your kitten has a blanket of its own as well. They like to keep warm which is why they seek the sun whenever they can. An easy-wash blanket that is not too heavy should do the job.

Food Bowls

Feeding your kitten is very important. But where you place their food bowl is also important. Kittens usually like a comfortable setting, so if they prefer lazing around in a certain area in the house, that is where you should place their food and water bowls as well. Additionally, don’t get them plastic bowls because it is a cheaper alternative. Get something that is durable and sturdy. Ceramic bowls work very well both for food and water. They don’t trap the smell of the food and are easy to clean as well. Just make sure they have a rubber base to prevent them from moving around when your kitten is eating from them.

Litter Tray

Getting this right is very important. Cats are very hygienic animals and some kittens already know how to use litter and litter trays. Make sure that you keep the litter tray as far as possible from the food bowl. You have the option of purchasing a covered or uncovered litter tray. However, choosing the right one won’t actually depend on you. As we have mentioned before cats are smart animals and hence can be a bit fussy as well. So, to be safe you should buy a litter tray that is just the right size for your kitten but there is a possibility that you might have to change it a couple of times.

Litter Tray Accessories

Tray liners are an excellent way to dispose of the kitten’s droppings. These liners are placed on the litter tray and then the litter is put on top of it, making it easy for you to bag the entire thing at once. Additionally, a scoop is also an important tool to have.

Toys and More

With kittens, you have to be aware of their choice. While there are a lot of toys available online that you can buy, we would recommend getting only one or two in the beginning. You don’t have to purchase expensive toys, instead, you can invest in a scratch post. Scratch posts offer your kitten the much-desired activity of climbing up and clawing on things. The structure of the scratch posts allows your kitten to jump around and stay active while having fun.

Tip: Kittens enjoy interactive toys as it keeps them on their feet.

Food and Nutrition

You don’t have to worry too much when it comes to food. But always get the best quality food for your kitten and start slow. Newborn kittens need to be fed kitten formula, so always make sure you get the one recommended by the vet. Later on, we recommend starting out with dry foods and gradually incorporating wet foods into their diet. Do your research before finding the right food that provides the essential ingredients for your kitten’s breed.

Treats are often recommended for when your kitten has grown a little older. Treats don’t offer too much nutritional value to your kitten hence are not recommended during their growth period. However, once your kitten has grown a bit and is a lot more active, you can consider giving them treats.

Grooming Your Kitten

There are a couple of things you need to consider when it comes to grooming. The first is that cats do not enjoy the water. So, bathing them would be an interesting experience. However, this is not true for all cats. Cats are generally very clean and like to stay that way, so make sure you get the right grooming tools.

Brushing Tools

You need to help your kitten keep its shiny coat intact. This requires your assistance and a brush that is right for the length of your kitten’s coat. Finding the right brush is essential, so you should either ask a professional groomer or do your own research before making a purchase.

Nail Clippers

The reason we recommended scratch posts is because kittens like to scratch and claw on things. So, instead of your furniture and you being scratched, a scratch post seems like a better idea. However, you cannot have your kitten’s nails grow too long. Animal nail clippers are a handy tool to have and also a great way to get your kitten into the habit of getting their nails clipped at home regularly.

Dental Tools

It should not come as a surprise that your kitten requires dental hygiene tools. From a special brush made for kittens to the right toothpaste, you will need it all.

Cleaning Products

Shampoos and conditioners are an obvious choice when it comes to bathing your kitten. You will need special shampoo and conditioner for your kitten. But more importantly, you should always have some cleaning wipes available all the time. As we have mentioned earlier, kittens like to keep things clean. So, if you want to clean them up but they don’t really require a bath, a cleaning wipe would do the job.

Health Supplies

Whether your kitten goes outdoors or not, there is always a risk of ticks latching onto their coat. The worst part is that these parasites are not easily visible either. So, the best you can do is to clean up your little kitten regularly and have some medicines specifically targeting such parasites with you at all times. Additionally, regular visits to the vet are always recommended.

With all these things, you will be ready to welcome a new kitten to your family. Shower them with love and cuddles and most importantly, enjoy their company.