What is a cat run?

A cat run is an outdoor, free-standing structure or pen.  It provides a safe environment in which a cat or cats can enjoy the opportunity to explore and bask in the sunshine, fresh air and provides a peace of mind for us  cat lovers.
What are the benefits of a cat run?  A cat run offers security and protection for vulnerable cats, for expensive pedigree cats, for cats in high urban feline population, cats in areas with a high density of road traffic and cats in areas with a feral cat population.
Feral  cats often carry diseases such as cat flu, fleas and worms.  Some toms and feral cats can also be territorial and aggressive towards house cats.
A cat run ensures that cats are guarded against road traffic and aggression from other outside cats.

Note:  Photos from The Cattery and Shalyn Cattery

Kitten Bed

A kitten would really not have much difficulty in finding a cozy place to sleep even if a kitten bed is not provided.  They can cuddle up and sleep anywhere - in the cupboard, sofa, human bed or even under the cars.

But it is still a good idea to provide a kitten bed because it will be there where most hairs will be shed.  It would be better for cat or kitten hairs to be shed in the cat or kitten bed rather than in one of your family beds, isn't it?

Allow your kitten to explore

A confident kitten is more likely to explore and taste new substances than an adult cat.  Older pets have already learned what is safe, what should be avoided while young animals are more active and curious.  A kitten will meet more new aspects in a home than an adult cat.

The kitchen is probably the most dangerous area for any cat.  This room is also attractive to animals because it where the food is prepared.  However, the kitchen also includes hot surfaces and pans filled with boiling water.  Sharp knives, plastic bags and rubbish bins, detergents are also found there.
The kitten should not be allowed to roam into your kitchen!  It would be wise to install a child gate covered with a mesh barrier.  Any detergents, medicines and poisonous plants should be removed away from the kitten.

Before you allow your kitten to outside, it should be given all the necessary vaccinations first.

About Stroking Your Kitten

Although it is important to have a positive contact with your new kitten, this should be done correctly without developing dependency on the side of your kitten.  A small kitten may be scooped up with one hand holding its hindquarters and the other hand gently holding its body.  A cuddle session will encourage it to take a cat nap.

When a kitten cries, should you go immediately and pick it up?  Our instinct is to go to it and check the kitten because our maternal or paternal human behavior is stimulated and that would be directed towards the kitten.
You must know that a young kitten can easily learn to manipulate the owner and could cry at every whim -- from being hungry to being wanting attention.  Over-dependency  should not be encouraged at all.

Learn to identify the different types of kitten cries the same way as that of our babies.

Genuine hunger cry - associated with feeding patterns
Attention-seeking cry  - if the kitten has just been fed and comfortable
Distress cry - if it is a high-pitched cry

By learning how to distinguish these different cries, you will know the appropriate response - whether the kitten can be ignored or it really requires attention.

Introducing a kitten to other pets

The most likely a pet kitten will get to know in your home is a dog.  If your pet dog is friendly towards cats, play a retrieval game with the dog in the same room while the kitten is exploring.  However, if the dog shows aggression or hyperactivity towards cats, the dog should be muzzled as a precaution. Reward your dog with food treats if it displays positive behavior towards the kitten.

It is not good to keep a dog and a kitten/cat permanently separated in your home.  There will always come a time when they might accidentally be brought together, and this might bring about disastrous and umpleasant consequences.  For this reason, "controlled socialization" with food with both kitten/cat and dog for good behavior is done.

Introducing A Kitten To Your Existing Pet Cat

This would depend on the nature of the existing adult pet cat that is already a member of your family.  It your pet cat is confident, non-aggressive and contented, then it will not find the presence of a new kitten as threatening.  But as the kitten develops into maturity, this may change.

The meeting between the kitten and the cat should be supervised calmly.  If everything is okay, the kitten may even curl up to the cat (as replacement for its litter mother) or the adult female cat may become maternal towards the kitten (replacement offspring).

An insecure and nervous adult cat will view the kitten as an intruder and a potential rival for attention from the loving owner and a competitor for food and territory.  This unfriendly adult cat should be exposed to the kitten slowly and carefully over a period of time with close supervision.

Introducing Children To The New Kitten

Infants and small kids should be supervised during encounters with a new kitten.  This will avoid the possibility of rough handling and accidental aggression or undue attention by either party.

Once you are confident that your new kitten has begun to settle, you encourage other family members to enter the kitten's room.

This method of introducing the kitten to new people will make this less scary and less stressful for the new kitten.  After a couple of days when the kitten begins to be more sociable, subsequent introductions can be less formal.

How can you help your new kitten to settle into your home?

Once home, place the cat carrier and the kitten in the room that has been chosen for the first night.  A small room would be less daunting to a disoriented kitten.

It is important to close any windows, doors that may be open because they might offer the frightened kitten an opportunity to escape.

The most important thing you can do is avoid exposing your kitten to everything and to everyone all at once.  Ideally, the kitten should be allowed to rest in the initial 24 hours.  It should be allowed to explore in one room that is secure from other animals.  It should be visited only by few persons at a time.

Basic Equipment For The New Kitten

There are few essential items that are needed for the new kitten in its new home.

Food bowl
Water bowl
Litter tray
Collar
Cat bed

For grooming:  Comb, brushes, hand glove brush, soft cloth or chamois

Optional equipment:  claw clippers

How should a new kitten be transported to its new home?

Cats and kittens should be transported in a special cat carrier.  A warm towel placed inside the carrier will create a safe place for the kitten, which will have no real concept about the journey or its new home.
It is important to use a cat carrier because a frightened kitten may panic when first placed in a vehicle with someone unfamiliar.

Pick up the kitten gently by supporting its bottom with one hand and place it in the carrier.  Clopse the carrier quickly and secure the fastener.  Place the carrier on your or your helper's knees to prevent any sudden movements which may cause the carrier and the kitten to be thrown about.

It is important not to leave the kitten unattended while it is inside the carrier.  It is also vital to make sure that it cannot become either too hot or too cold.

This trip is usually the first time that the kitten has travelled in a car and that is probably frightening for a kitten.  This is also the first time that the kitten is separated from its litter siblings.

What cat accessories are needed in transporting a kitten to its new home?

The basic need that is essential is a cat carrier.  A clean towel and newspaper on the bottonm of the carrier is necessary to soak up any mishaps that may happen.

It is a good idea to take someone with you, whose job it is to concentrate on the needs of your new kitten while you drive (or your companion can drive and you take care of the kitten.

What is the ideal age for a kitten to leave its litter mother?

The ideal age for a kitten to be passed to its future pet owner is between 7 to 9 weeks, but many cat breeders release the kittens at 12 weeks because they say that the kittens are much more socialized to other kittens and are already handled by humans.

The kittens' learning process continues for as long as the litter mother remains with them. Extended time with the litter mother and sibling kittens improves socialization with and tolerance towards other cats. This is important in later life.

Basic skills developed by extended interaction with the litter mother include stalking, pouncing, and prey-kill behavior which are learned through feline activity. Kittens should be introduced to as many aspects of human life as possible to help in future socialization with their new owners.