I am getting a kitten in a couple weeks and have a few things I would love advice on from people who have experience with cats! I have never had a cat and I have been doing a ton of research but there are still some areas where I am a bit unsure.
First thing is litter. I have read a bunch about types of litter, and I am wondering whether I should go for a clumping litter or something like pine or other wood pellets? From what I understand, pellets are much cheaper but I don’t quite understand how they differ from clumping in terms of maintaining the litter box. I am a student and I work part time, so I would definitely prefer something that does not take too much work to maintain. I know I will have to scoop the box daily either way, but I would rather have something where I can dump and clean the entire box less often. I also live in a 250 square foot studio, so I absolutely would like something that smells as little as possible. What are people’s experiences with different types of litter? And could anyone recommend a good type for either?
Second, food. The woman I am getting the kitten from has been feeding the kittens Purina cat chow for dry food and fancy feast for wet. I looked into it and these don’t seem to be great ingredient wise. I probably can’t afford the most high stuff, so I am looking for recommendations for affordable but healthy dry or wet foods. Which brings me to my second question of whether to feed her wet vs. dry food. I like the idea of feeding both wet and dry plus it would be more affordable than just wet but I have seen a lot of people completely against dry food and others saying that a diet of all dry food is fine? Also, I am worried that when I bring her home she won’t eat if it is not the food she is used to. Should I start by giving her the cat chow and fancy feast or should I introduce new foods right away?
Third, allergies. I am pretty allergic to cats, but I love them so much that I am just going to deal with it. Please don’t tell me to just not get a cat, I have been thinking about this seriously for almost a year and I know I want to do it. My allergies are also not life threatening, just very itchy eyes and a lot of stuffiness and sneezing. She is a Siamese, which I have heard may be less allergenic but I’m not sure if there’s any truth to this. I have lived with my friends’ cat who I am super allergic to for a few months, so I know I will be fine, but I would love some tips from any cat owners who are also allergic. Any OTC allergy medicines that have worked especially well for you? I am looking into some sprays for dander, are there any that you have found effective? I also heard that bathing your cat regularly helps, is this true? I know HEPA filters and vacuums are good but I can’t really afford both because they are pretty pricey. I think I’m gonna go with a vacuum, does anyone know of a relatively affordable one?
Lastly, I would love to just get some general tips on raising a kitten and introducing her to my apartment. I’ve already got a tree with a scratching post, a couple toys that she can use on her own and a few I can use to play with her, and a bed (as much as I’d love to let her sleep in my bed it seems this is probably the worst thing I can do for allergies). I have a harness as well as I’d like to take her outside eventually but I probably won’t do that until she is a few months old. Are there any other things I should have before I bring her home? I’ve heard that when you first bring a kitten to a new home you should confine it to one small area, but is this necessary if I live in a small studio? Finally, this may sound silly but I really want to raise an friendly and smart cat. What can I do to get her to be outgoing and cuddly? I know they are naturally pretty smart but what can I do to work and sharpen her mind if that’s even possible? And what can I do to keep her entertained when I am not home, do cats really like TV or music?
TLDR looking for any advice on cat litter, food, allergies, and just tips on raising a kitten in general! Anything is much appreciated
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/csbvsu/questions_from_a_about_to_be_first_time_cat_owner/
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