ADVICE | U P FRONT
Kitten 101 How to prepare for a feline family member BY AMY SINATRA AYRES
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hat better companion could you ask for than one that’s playful and purring? Whether it’s your first pet or the newest addition, there’s a lot to learn if you’re considering welcoming a kitten to your household.
Kitten Essentials
GETTY IMAGES; PROVIDED BY THE COMPANIES
Petstages catnip chew mice cat toy, $3.86,
Signature Housewares fish cat bowl,
Fresh Step multicat scoopable cat litter, $14.39
petsmart.com
$3.90 to $6.99, chewy.com
for a 25-pound bag, target.com
Petmate Simple Sifting cat litter system, $29.99,
Mr. Peanut’s airline-approved, soft-sided carrier, $38.99,
Bond & Co. red plaid kitten bow tie collar, $9.99,
petsmart.com
chewy.com
petco.com
The first big piece of advice from Ari Zabell, director of client advocate support for Banfield Pet Hospital, might surprise you. “You might want to consider getting two kittens at the same time,” he says. “It takes a lot of the pressure off of you, the pet owner.” Having two kittens means they will play together and provide comfort and socialization for each other.
CHOOSING YOUR KITTEN Whether you go to a shelter, rescue or breeder, choosing a kitten is much like choosing a puppy. “You want one that’s going to be more sociable, one that’s going to be less afraid to come over to you,” Zabell says. “You want to be cautious about the kitten that kind
of sits in the corner and tries to hide as compared to the other ones that are coming out and looking to interact.” As for the kitten’s age, it’s best for them to be weaned from their mother, but still young enough to be socialized. “You have a much shorter window of time with cats to really socialize them to the point that they actually like people,” Zabell says. A kitten who’s 8 or 9 weeks old would be ideal, he says. If they get a lot of interaction from you, they’ll look at you as “someone who they enjoy, someone who gives them food, someone who plays with them, someone who’s part of their family, as opposed to this big, scary person that dominates the house when they >
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