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July
5
5
Homeowners: Get Your Home Ready for a New Cat
Whether you've been looking at some gorgeous Victoria homes for sale or White Bear Lake homes for sale, you may have been thinking about how nice it would be to get that kitten you've wanted, too. What a great idea! But remember, moving is stressful, even moving into a new home. Imagine how frightening it must be for that tiny creature to leave its mother. Taking just a few simple steps can alleviate some of its fears and help it acclimate to its new environment.
- "Kitten-proof" your house
Start by making sure your new pet is safe and secure. Make sure there are no escape routes like open windows without screens, vents, or even hiding places where it can become trapped. Electrical cords should be out of reach, as well as insect traps that contain poison and items that could be choking hazards. Provide safe toys like catnip mice, small balls, and climbing trees, which double as scratching posts. - Create a safe space
It won't be long before they can launch themselves over them like gazelles, but kittens can usually be secured behind pet gates. A quiet hallway or corner in a spare room are perfect spaces for a home base, especially if there are other pets or small children that might be a little scary to the kitten at first. Cats love boxes. A towel or baby receiving blanket lining a cardboard box will make a far more welcoming bed than any you could buy. - Stock up on proper food
Contrary to popular belief, cow's milk is difficult for cats to digest, so don't supply milk. The best thing to give them to drink is fresh, clean water. Many cats are content with a simple dish of water, but if you find your kitten dipping paws and splashing water on the floor, your cat wants water that moves. That's one reason cats drink out of the toilet. You can avoid that by providing a drinking fountain. Your cat will love you for it. Pet food is labeled to help you choose what is appropriate for the cat's age. If possible, continue providing the food the kitten was already eating. If you must change it, mix the old and new food in a 50-50 ratio to aid digestion. - Provide a litter box
You'll be amazed that even very young kittens find the litter box with little to no training. Just set the kitten in the box to show it where it should go. For older cats, enclosed litter boxes are preferable to the cat and much easier for you to maintain a clean area. Smaller kittens have difficulty navigating larger boxes, so select a plastic container it can jump in and out of easily. They love to dig, so it's a good idea to put a disposable mat underneath the box for easier cleanup. - Arrange the "furniture"
It's probably no surprise that cats don't want their litter boxes too close to their food. You may not know, however, that they don't want their water close to their food, either. Try to provide enough room to space out the elements of the cat's environment a few feet from each other.
Call today if you're still dreaming of that perfect home for a new kitten. Our real estate professionals will be happy to help you find it.