What do you do if you rescue a kitten and decide to keep it? What if you never had a kitten or cat for a pet? Do you panic, “freak out,” call your mom, or all the above? The kitten is scared because it was out in the cold stormy night, and you are scared as well. A kitten is like having a newborn child. You maybe clueless as what to do. If your mom is nearby then all you have to do is pickup the phone and it will be “mom to the rescue.” Unfortunately, if your mom is out-of-state then you must rely on the internet, local animal shelter (they rescue animals all of the time), or veterinarian.

Having a kitten who will grow up to be a cat is a huge responsibility. Cats can live up to 20 years! Be prepared to spend about $400 a year! Before you make the decision to keep the kitten, ask yourself if you are ready. Will you be able to handle the financial responsibility? What about time? Kittens love play time and each type of kitten is different. Read all you can about kittens and cats if you decide to keep your little treasure!

The 10 Essentials for Rescuing a Kitten

Find a good veterinarian. A good veterinarian will be interested in you and your kitten. Look for someone who is compassionate and kind. After all, it’s not just about your kitten. It’s about you as well.

Purchase kitten food. Do you prefer organic, natural, or any brand? Canned or dry food? Shop at PetSmart for kitten products. For natural and organic products, visit Halo Purely For Pets and Only Natural Pet Store.

Food and water dish. Do not give a kitten milk! Look for a dish that will be easy for your kitten to use. You may want to start with saucers and then upgrade.

Litter. All litters are not the same! Fresh Step clumps when your kitten does it “business” but it has a strong scent. Also, it will stick to your kitten. Gross! Plus, it’s not biodegradable or flushable. If the environment and conservation are important to you then look for natural and organic litters. Try World’s Best Cat Litter or Feline Pine.

Litter Box. Buy a litter box that your kitten can get in and out of with ease. You could buy an adult box. Be prepared to buy a stool so your kitten can get in and out of the box.

Kitten magazine and or book. A magazine or book is essential if you no nothing about kittens and cats. It will benefit you and your kitten. Read, read, read!

Toys. Kittens love to play! Purchase toys with catnip in them. Balls, teething toys, and feather sticks are a great way to develop your kitten’s skills.

Grooming Supplies. Does your kitten have short or long hair? Combs, brushes, and gloves are essential. Purchase the right equipment for your kitten. Shampoo. Organic, natural, or store brand? If you care about the environment, conservation, and your kitten, purchase a natural or organic shampoo. Other shampoos have many chemicals in them.

Stain and Odor. Accidents do happen. Try an all natural stain and odor remover. Visit OdorZOut to learn more about “Dr. Stink” who has a PUhD in Stinkology.”

Lots of love and attention! Your new kitten appreciates you very much! And, it’s a two-way street. Before you know it, your kitten will be the greatest friend you could ever have. Love your kitten and he will love you back!

Bonus!

Ask questions!! If the kitten is your first then you probably have questions such as:

1) How old is the kitten?
2) Does the kitten have worms?
3) What kinds of shots does the kitten require?
4) How often is the kitten to be fed? Which is better canned or dry food?
5) Do you have to register your kitten?
6) Can the kitten have a toy that contains catnip?
7) When can you start to bathe your cat?

On Thursday, May 22, artist Steve McGarva was featured on the Ellen DeGeneres show to speak about his rescue efforts to help dogs on what is known as “Dead Dog Beach” in Puerto Rico. As of March 2008, Steve has been the Vice President of Island Dog which is “changing the way animals are treated in the United States Caribbean Islands.” Island Dog works “beyond the rescue aspect and are moving forward with a spay/neuter program for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Steve was also featured in the April 28th issue of People Magazine. His story goes something like this. One day Steve planned to go kite surfing and found a remote beach in Yabacoa. As Steve was unloading his gear, he spotted a dog that he believed to be dead. Steve approached the dog. The dog raised it’s head and wagged its’ tail. Unfortunately, Steve found more dogs that suffered from neglect. It was that incident that inspired Steve to begin his mission to help the dogs. Steve fed the dogs, gave them medications, stitched wounds, and reset broken bones! Talk about being a “Florence Nightingale” and guardian for the dogs. Animal rescue groups (Save a Sato) assisted Steve with rescuing hundreds of dogs. Steve is an inspiration!

All About Pets

Halo Purely For Pets. Ellen DeGeneres is part owner of this all natural pet care products organization. Halo’s mission is to provide people with honest information and wholesome products for their pets.

Only Natural Pet Store. Your source for healthy supplies for your dog or cat. Try a holistic approach to pet care.

Shop at PetSmart.com. PetSmart is the largest specialty retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. They offer a broad range of pet products.

Animal cruelty is horrible. If people neglect animals, just think about what they do to human beings. Of course, if you watch the nightly news then you already know what happens.

p.s.
On a personal note, I rescued a kitten (maybe 5 weeks old) today. This was totally unexpected. My family has never had cats. We had dogs, rabbits, birds, and fish. The kitten I rescued (still nameless) is the first for my family. As the saying goes “there’s a first time for everything.” Also, remember what Bob Barker always said “have your pet spayed or neutered.”