It’s always exciting when you think about adding a new member to the family and in this case, a kitten! Before you take the leap it’s important to make sure you really think it through and consider certain things before you bring the new kitten home.
Costs involved
Before you even think about getting a kitten, and the cost of buying or adopting one, you should consider the long term costs. If you’re interested in getting a kitten then you’ll need to be prepared to pay out for the injections they need to start with and then every year going forward. There’s also the cost of neutering or spaying within the first year or so if you don’t want any more kitten in the future.
Insurance
You never know what’s going to happen in the future so you should think about getting your new kitten insured from the very first day. Do some research into what kind of coverage you might need as this could make a big difference into how much you’re paying out each month. Indoor cats are less likely to have as many accidents compared with cats who are allowed to go outside when they like.
Holiday cover
If you’re a family that likes to go on holiday you’ll need to think about what to do with your kitten while you’re away. Catteries are an option and there are usually a few options at least available in most areas. Another option is hiring someone to come into your home while you’re away to feed the cat and change the litter tray etc. Do some research into reputations and experience and be sure to go with someone you think you can trust.
Company
Although cats tend to sleep a lot both during the day and at night it’s still not a good idea to leave them at home all day on their own. Will someone be around during the day or will everyone be at work or at school? Cats can cope with being on their own quite a lot, and more so than dogs, but a new kitten will want to bond with it’s new humans and be able to get to know their new surroundings safely.
Indoor or outdoor
Decided about whether your cat is going to stay inside all of the time or whether they’ll be able to go on adventures. If you opt for the latter then you will probably need to install a cat flap and maybe get a microchip collar so only your cat can come in and out. If you want your cat to be an indoor cat you can do things to enable them to enjoy the outside. You could build a cattio in the back garden, which is a bit like a huge kennel on your patio that attaches to a big window. This will allow your cat to be outside in the fresh air safely!