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Before Getting a Cat - consider... article by hkh "when it comes to animals, actions speaks louder than words - listen" CATS Getting a Kitten Getting a kitten means you inherited a curious little shadow that wants to be where you are and see exactly what you are doing and participate by being right smack in the middle of what you're doing if he/she can. When choosing to bring a new kitten into your life, think of it as if you were bringing home a new baby - cuz you are - and if possible, try to be home the first 72 hours (a weekend) when bringing home a new pet member - it'll make things a whole lot easier for the both of you and certainly break the ice. Animals tend to get eerie if you bring them home and then leave for any length of time. Even if they hide, as long as your presence is there, you're still getting acquainted - by not interfering and allowing the kitten to take it's time and feel it's way around in it's own time - on your turf - cause to animals that's what it's all about - who's turf it is, so once a kitten feels "safer" about it's new surroundings and more secure in the fact that it's not stepping on anyone's toes or turf, it'll come out of hiding and be a little cautious for a bit. That's your cue to be soft spoken and attempt to pat and make the kitten at ease. Now hey, don't get me wrong, sometimes, you just get the kitten that hits it off with you and doesn't care where you bring it, as long as it's with you, so going home - is the best part where the new member gets to explore what it already feels - is safe turf. Child-proofing your home is a must for awhile and just like an infant or toddler, a kitten will get into everything - energy - energy and more energy - they are full of life. So watch out for garbage, plants, plastic bags, fish aquariums without top lids, medications, alcoholic beverages left in a glass by the kitchen sink to be washed, people food left on plates to be washed, food on the stove or counter, cigarette butts, open windows without screens, toilet bowls (close the lids) and even more importantly, watch out when closing doors. All too often kittens get hurt (even fatally injured) because the buggers are trying to sneak out the door with you. When doing laundry check for things like your kitty in the dryer before you close it and turn it on, the statistics on kitties in dryers would floor you, so please watch out around open lid washing machines and dryers before closing the lids. Will you be home all day - partial day or work only a few days? Consider how much you're at home when looking for a kitten - and while I'm at it, if you're going to be at work all day, then get two kittens. They'll keep each other company, snuggle together and clean each other and by the time you get home, don't worry, they'll still have plenty of energy for you! Kittens require alot of attention while growing and can sometimes create more havic than puppies! They are energetic and their hunting instincts make them seek out things that move or make noise - to play with - especially if you only get one kitten.

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That could mean that the chain link switch on your favorite corner table lamp, becomes a cool new object of moving interest and "somehow" suddenly your table lamp falls over and breaks. It could mean a total disaster with paperwork you've left out on a desk so you can start where you left off - but a kitten will change that for you with one pounce. I say this because there are so many who get a kitten and after 3-4 weeks, they are pulling their hair out and looking to "get rid of" the kitten. To understand kittens traits, is to understand your new "family" member. To understand that a kitten needs time with you to learn about life, is to bond with and raise a family pet member to respect your house rules and fit in. "when it comes to bonding with your kitten, remember, actions speaks louder than words, so listen. A kitten will always let you know what they want. Whether it's play, food, lovins or even a cleaned litter box, they'll let you know. When it comes to litter training, get them near a litter box asap, gently take your kitten to the litter box location, pat it and then place a paw in the box and do 2-3 scratches, pat the kitten then leave. Yep, turn to leave and almost every kitten I've ever dealt with has immediately gotten the message and learns their way around the house from the box - any kittens that were born in the shelter, were always given a 2" high tupperware container with litter in it by the time they hit 3-4 weeks, otherwords walking relatively wobbly but good, they will go into the box and try to do their business. If a kitten is old enough to do it's business alone without the help of mom, it is old enough to wobble into a litter box - I kid you not. The best part, is when they are introduced to a litte box at a young age, they become incredibly clean animals. If your animal's habits are to be clean and suddenly one day, you find mishaps (stools or urine) around the house, you'll know immediately that "something" is wrong with your pet. (more on pet health here) Sometimes, that "something" can be attitude, a stranger that the kitten meets for the first time that is abrupt or other that the kitten feels threatened by. (more about feline behavior here) When considering a kitten and you're not always home and you like to leave things out in the open, maybe considering an older cat, would be more suitable to your lifestyle. There's some pretty sweet 2-3 year olds, who'd love a place where they'd be "at home", be loved and respected. Tamed and loving older cats/kittens that need homes and would be most appreciative to be your best friend.

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