Getting ready for a Kitten’s Arrival: How I Prepped for Ivy

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Each week, we share a narrative from one in every of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Crystal and her soul cat, Ivy.

Hello Catsters!

When you’ve learn my introduction, you’ll know a bit about how I adopted Ivy and the way uncertain I used to be that I used to be able to tackle such a giant duty.

At this time, I’m going to be taking you thru how I ready for Ivy’s arrival.

Having by no means owned a pet alone, saying that I used to be nervous is an understatement.

First Issues First: The Cat Provider

After Ivy needed to be taken away from her unique household (storytime on that to come back!), she was staying with a woman who had her personal rescue shelter.

Ivy needed to be vaccinated and spayed earlier than I may decide her up – one thing that I wholeheartedly agree with.

I used to be requested if I had a cat service and, unusually sufficient, this was the very last thing I had considered. I’ve thought of cat meals, bowls, beds, scratchers, litter bins, however not the precise factor I’d use to get her to my home. (This may inform you numerous about how I’m as an individual, haha!)

The woman expressed that the cat service is of utmost significance – it shouldn’t be a type of primary, plastic cat carriers which might be discovered round each nook. It wanted to be sturdy, ideally have a metallic gate/door, and have the ability to lock securely. It might even be preferrred if it couldn’t be opened from the highest. All of this to ensure she wouldn’t escape throughout the 2-hour journey to my home.

This led me on a journey and a half of attempting to find a service that may tick all of those bins, in a approach that I may afford. I couldn’t imagine the costs of those carriers in our native pet outlets. I finally ended up shopping for a second-hand, barely used cat service from a really candy outdated girl. I completely washed and sun-dried the service and acquired approval from Ivy’s momentary foster mother.

Cat service: examine.

Subsequent Up: The Bowls

Now this was approach earlier than I knew about cat whisker fatigue and their dislike for having their water proper subsequent to their meals, so no judgment, please!

I settled for 2 primary metallic bowls. Straightforward to scrub and never needing as frequent changing as plastic bowls.

Meals and water bowls: examine.

The Cat Mattress

So, I knew that cats had a fame for not essentially sleeping of their beds the identical approach canine do. In every single place in the home is honest sport – together with the sink!

However once I noticed the cutest plaid, spherical, pink cat mattress, it was a no brainer. I thought of all the cat snoozes she may take, curled up in her cute little mattress. (Yeah, proper. That was not the case in any respect.)

However nonetheless: cat mattress, examine.

The Litter Field and Litter

I had been doing a number of analysis within the days main as much as her arrival, and truthfully, it wasn’t sufficient.

I knew the litter field’s measurement was actually vital, however I didn’t actually understand how huge/small she was. I settled on a really primary, normal litter field and non-clumping, extremely absorbent, biodegradable cat litter.

Litter field and litter: examine.

Final Up: Toys & Equipment

I, as soon as once more, foolishly believed that she would love all the toys extensively out there at each pet retailer. Little squeaky mice, light-up balls, and even a self-moving mouse.

I’d later discover out that no, she really hates all of these.

Out of all the toys I acquired for her, the one actual winner was the wand toy! (Regardless that that curiosity didn’t final lengthy.)

I additionally acquired her a collar and a nametag together with her title and our quantity on, simply in case.

I additionally acquired her a cat tree made by yet one more very candy girl, who I discovered on one in every of our Fb teams. Granted, it wasn’t the prettiest or the sturdiest, but it surely must do for the primary couple of weeks. Oh, and we additionally stored each single field we had from buying our first kitchen home equipment, as one does.

And that checked off the final on my checklist: toys & equipment.

This was the lengthy and in need of how I prepped for Ivy’s arrival! I used to be somewhat misinformed on the time, and my judgment might have been clouded by my pleasure. However the fundamentals acquired us by way of the primary few weeks!

Since then, we’ve upgraded huge time.

Ivy now has:

And this checklist retains rising, each single week. As a result of truthfully, she deserves it!

How did you put together to your cat’s arrival? Are there some stuff you want you knew beforehand? What are some stuff you’ve modified or acquired additional since then?