Before Your New "Baby" Comes Home: (Tips to "kitten proof" your house)
In most aspects, you will treat your Savannah or Bengal kitten the same as any other breed. However, hybrid kittens tend to be a little more mischievous at times... you know, the way puppies chew and get into things. You should go through your home as if you were preparing for a crawling or toddling baby.
In most aspects, you will treat your Savannah or Bengal kitten the same as any other breed. However, hybrid kittens tend to be a little more mischievous at times... you know, the way puppies chew and get into things. You should go through your home as if you were preparing for a crawling or toddling baby.
- Put away all plastic bags, as they can be chewed, and cause intestinal blockage. Remove all small objects such as rubber bands and chewable rubber toys, ribbons and string. Check toys often and throw out any that are very worn or broken. Feather toys should only be used while supervised.
- Lock away medications (even Tylenol and aspirin can be fatal to a cat), poisons, and cleaning products.
- Move heavy objects, vases, and other valuables to an area where your kitten will not be injured, and your precious possessions will be secure.
- Close toilet lids and keep your kitten away from bathtubs or sinks filled with water, as it could jump or fall into the water without being able to escape.
- Be cautious with rocking chairs, recliners, and hot stove surfaces.
- Make sure all small crawl spaces are blocked, floor vents included. A curious Savannah or Bengal will want to explore and can get trapped where you can't reach them.
- Watch when opening and closing doors, including refrigerator and freezer, washer and dryer doors.
- Always try to keep electric cords out of reach, but especially when you aren't home, because kittens love to chew on them.
- Check the plants you have in your home, as they could be poisonous if ingested by your kitty.
Quarantine:
Your new fur baby will likely be scared and confused from being removed from it's mother and siblings. Then adding the travel to your home (either by plane or long ride in vehicle is about the same) can be an overwhelming day. Since your kitten will be stressed during this transition period, their immunity is generally weakened, and they are more apt to catch a simple "bug". It is common for an adult animal with a strong immune system to carry viral strains that do not affect them, but a kitten with a weakened immune system exposed to the same virus, could easily contract the virus. So keeping your kitten separate from ALL other pets for a minimum of five days is extremely important!
Take Time to Bond:
When it comes to bringing your new kitty home, bigger is not better. You should start them off in a very small room where there is no place to hide and food, water, and litter box are all easy for them to find (such as a bathroom). This also aides you in the bonding process with your new baby, since you will be able to find them easily. I recommend sitting on the floor with them, as you would to interact with a small child. If you need to lure the kitten from the carrier when he or she first arrives, feather teaser toys work wonders! Be sure you connect with him or her before introducing them to your other pets (and after the quarantine period), or they could bond more closely than you. Once you have established your kitten's trust and affection, you are ready to extend their territory into a larger room (master bedroom & bath are perfect for this). Then gradually extending to the rest of the house if you wish.
Tips and Pointers:
- It's important to have plenty of litter boxes. A good rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one extra (for 2 cats you would want 3 litter boxes). Also remind the kitten where the box is located frequently the first couple weeks by placing it inside and gently scratching a paw in the litter. It is imperative that you keep it scooped at least once every day to reduce chances of them refusing to go in it.
- Behavior issues should be dealt with right away to "nip them in the bud". A great way to discourage undesirable actions (jumping onto tables, scratching furniture, biting hands, etc.) is by spraying them with a squirt bottle. It may not sound nice, but I've found that a quick squirt (water only) in their face does the trick. It is not harmful, and they learn quickly when you are consistent. Always easier to break bad habits before they are formed.
