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Introducing a pet into your home is an exciting experience. Having a pet can complete your family and enrich your life. However, there is no denying that getting a pet is a big responsibility and not a decision that should ever be taken lightly. If after careful consideration, you feel that getting a pet is the right choice for your family, it is time to start the exciting process of choosing a kitty and preparing for your new cat’s arrival.
Here are some essential factors to consider to help you ensure that your new pet has a smooth transition to your family:
Choosing Your Cat
There is a vast number of cat breeds available, and if you have a specific breed in mind, you may decide to contact a breeder. Before you do this, it is essential to ensure that the breeder is reputable and that the cats are kept in the best conditions. Alternatively, you may want to see if any local pet rescue centres have this breed of cat available. Re-homing a cat is a great way to rescue an abandoned animal and to provide it with a loving, forever home. If you have kids, then you will need to check with the rescue centre to be sure that the cat is fine with children before you introduce it to your family.
You may want to consider getting a slightly older cat if you are looking for a more laid-back pet rather than an energetic, playful kitten. It is worth considering whether an older cat or a kitten is the best choice for your family.
Shopping for Essentials
Shopping for all the essentials that your kitty will need is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for your cat’s arrival in your home. There are plenty of bits and pieces that you can buy to help your cat feel comfortable along with all the essentials. Here are some of the items that you will need to buy before you bring your new cat home for the first time:
Cat bed – if you are buying a kitten, you may want to choose a smaller cat bed to start with to help them feel more secure, and then upgrade to a large cat bed once they grow.
Food and drink bowls – plastic food and water bowls for cats are the cheapest options, but as they are lightweight, they are more likely to get accidentally knocked over by your kitty (or the kids!). You may want to buy a wipe-clean mat to keep under your bowls too, to protect your floor.
Collar – getting a collar with your phone number engraved onto it is a great idea to ensure that you can be contacted if there is an issue while your cat is out of the house.
Litter tray and cat litter – having a cat litter tray is essential, but not all litter boxes and cat litter products are the same. Choosing from the best cat litter boxes will help to keep odours and mess under control.
Cat food – choosing cat food that is appropriate for your cat’s age and their stage is vital. The breeder or rescue centre should be able to advise you on the cat food that your pet has been eating so far so that you can stock up on it ready for when you bring them home.
Prepare Your Home
Safety is a priority when you bring your new cat home, so preparing your home for your new cat’s arrival is vital to protect them. There are many safety measures that you can take to protect your kitten from harm at home. Here are some of the ways that you can keep your kitten safe:
Keep cleaning products tidied away and clear up any spillages immediately to prevent your kitten from ingesting them.
Read the labels carefully before using chemicals both inside and outside the home. Products such as carpet cleaners and weed killers can be extremely harmful to pets, so before you use them make sure that they are not a risk to your pets.
Keep electrical cables tidy and out of sight to prevent your kitty from being tempted to play with them.
Get Ready to Welcome Your New Addition
Welcoming your new pet to the family home is an incredibly exciting experience. Having everything that you need ready and waiting for your cat’s arrival will help you to make the most of this experience and enjoy getting to know your new family member.