New Kitten Tips
There is nothing like bringing home a new kitten! Everyone is excited and ready to play with the new addition to the family. The transition can be a stressful time for the little one so our biggest advice is to take it slow. If you plan ahead, the transition will be much easier for everyone. Below are some important tips to consider followed by a supply list.
· Make sure you bring a pet carrier for the kitten to ride in. Resist the temptation to hold the kitten in the car. While our little ones
have plenty of experience with road trips, remember that you are a stranger to him still and he may be nervous and scared. An
unrestrained cat in a car can be a driving hazard.
· Make an appointment with your vet. If possible, schedule it so you can go there immediately after picking up your kitten.
· Once you get home, set up your kitten in a quiet, confined location that doesn't have too many places for him to hide. For
example, a utility room is not a good idea – a kitten can get behind the washer/dryer and may not come out.
· Keep the kitten isolated from other pets for at least one week. The stress of the move can lower the immune system making
your kitten more susceptible to getting sick. Additionally, the recent vet visit could have exposed him to something that you don't want introduced to the rest of your household.
Another reason for keeping your kitten isolated is to ensure bonding to YOU before he is distracted by everything else your
household has to offer. Spend as much time with your kitten as possible while he is in isolation. Bring a laptop or book and just
sit still. Initially, your kitten may be hesitant but will eventually want to be petted and played with. Don’t rush him.
And, isolation makes it easier to ensure your kitten is eating the right food the first week. Change in domicile is stressful and
rapid changes to food and water can upset their little tummies. This could lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
Understand that these are not signs of an unhealthy kitten. It just takes a little time to acclimate.
· It is important to move over to your brand of food / water slowly over a week. Each day, add a little more of yours and a little
less of ours to get your kitten switched over. If you follow these instructions and after 10 days your kitten is still having
gastrointestinal issues, please bring your kitten to the vet. See the list below for additional information on food / water.
· Show the kitten where the litter box and food / water is located. Place the food / water away from the litter box.
· Kittens feel more comfortable in a new home when they have something near them that smells like their old home. We will
provide you with some familiar and favorite items.
· If you have small children, have them come into the room one at a time to pet and play with the kitten. Show them how to gently
stroke the fur and play nice. Make certain that children understand that they are not to make loud noises, chase the kitten, hurt
him or bother him while he eats, sleeps, or uses the litter box.
· If there are no other pets, you can let your kitten begin to explore the rest of the house in a few days. Watch him closely to
make sure he knows how to get back to the litter box.
· If you have other pets, after the first week, introduce your kitten to the other animals slowly. Keep a close watch. Hissing and
growling is normal behavior. Give them time to work it out. Do not leave them together unsupervised until you are comfortable
that they will get along.
· Once everyone is getting along and your kitten is acclimated to his new surroundings, you are well on your way.
Kitten Supply List
· The number one thing to give your cat is YOUR TIME! We cannot stress enough how important it is to spend quality time with
your kitten. Devon Rex cats do not like to be alone. And even if there are other animals in the house, your kitten will want
human attention. We make a point to play with our cats for at least one hour every night. Running up and down the stairs is a
favorite pastime. We get our exercise and so do they.
Your kitten will follow you all over the house and try to help you in any way possible. Sometimes, this can be a tad annoying and
other times very dangerous. For example, another hobby we have is glass fusing. We take every precaution to make sure the
cats do not get into the room where the kiln and glass is located. They will cry at the door. There is nothing that a Devon Rex
cannot stand more than a closed door.
If you need to do something delicate or could be dangerous, make sure you put your kitten in a room first. After a little while, the
cries should stop.
· Cat carrier - something sturdy with good ventilation
· Cat bed - kittens love to snuggle in a nice bed. We allow our cats to sleep in bed with us. Devon Rex cats make great
snugglers and we love having them with us. Their body temperature runs very warm making them awesome to sleep with. Like
little heaters… you will get spoiled quick!
Having cats sleep in bed can be a challenge as they may wake up at 3 am ready to play. We found that exercising them prior to
bedtime helps us all get a good night’s rest.
· Food and water dishes - ceramic or stainless steel. Do not use plastic. Plastic can accumulate bacteria, which sometimes
causes "cat acne" around the cat's mouth and chin. Whatever you use, wash it regularly.
· Food / Water - we will provide a week's worth of kibble and water. We feed Royal Canin cat food (dry kibble and soft). We leave the kibble out all the time and give each cat a few ounces of can for breakfast.
The water is from our tap. There is nothing special about our tap water. It is just what our cats are used to. Devon Rex cats
seem to drink lots of water. Make sure you give your kitten fresh water every day. For some reason, ours seem to like it cold
and are known to lick the condensation off a glass every chance they get.
· Litter Supplies –
Litter box - We like the booda dome litter box with the stairs. It is easy for little ones to use and reduces tracking litter all over the house. Whatever you use, regularly clean it thoroughly.
Litter - we use clumping clay litter. If you are planning to use anything other than a scoopable clay litter, please plan on buying
some to start off with. Like the food / water, it is best to transition litter slowly.
Litter disposal - we keep a litter locker next to each box. Products like the litter locker sure do a good job of keeping the litter
odors at bay and make litter scooping easier.
Hand broom / dustpan - There is no such thing as a litter or litter box that contains everything. If litter around the house bothers
you, a cat is probably not a good pet for you.
· Scratching posts and nail clippers - be prepared to trim your kittens nails weekly. Our babies are used to the routine and none
put up a fuss and don’t need any special restraining. It always helps to do it while they are sleepy. If you have never clipped
nails before, there are numerous videos on youtube – this is a decent one – link.
In case you cut into the quick, you will want to have styptic powder handy. You can get this at any pharmacy.
· Other Grooming Supplies - luckily, Devon Rexes are very low maintenance as far as their coat is concerned. An occasional bath or a good rub down with a cat wipe is about all they need. Their ears and eyes do require some attention.
Eyes - eye “crusties” are normal. Wipe these away daily with a clean, warm cloth or cotton pad. Check eyes for any unusual
discharge or redness. Seek vet attention if you notice anything unusual.
Ears - in case you haven’t noticed Devon Rex cats have really big ears! And, they can produce lots of ear wax. You will need to
regularly clean their ears. We use a moistened Qtip and clean pretty much like we clean our own ears. Be careful not to poke
too deep!
· Toys - Cats will play with pretty much anything. You can spend lots of money on fancy toys or none at all and play with just a
shoestring. Cats really don’t care. Boxes are a favorite to jump in. Some cats will fetch, others prefer to chase. We will tell you all about your kitten so you know what he prefers.
There are certain toys that should be played with only under supervision. These are ones that have small parts that can come
off. For example, it is not wise to leave the mylar teaser toys or sparkle balls unattended. Your kitten may eat some of the
stringers and get sick.
Be careful around Christmas time with tinsel.
· Water spray bottle - we have effectively used a spray bottle to discipline our cats. Do not yell or make loud noises; all you will do is scare your kitten. Keep a spray bottle around and when you see a behavior you don’t like, give him a quick squirt.
· Book(s) on cat healthcare and behavior - there are lots of good resources out there. We recommend The Book of the Cat.
· Make sure you bring a pet carrier for the kitten to ride in. Resist the temptation to hold the kitten in the car. While our little ones
have plenty of experience with road trips, remember that you are a stranger to him still and he may be nervous and scared. An
unrestrained cat in a car can be a driving hazard.
· Make an appointment with your vet. If possible, schedule it so you can go there immediately after picking up your kitten.
· Once you get home, set up your kitten in a quiet, confined location that doesn't have too many places for him to hide. For
example, a utility room is not a good idea – a kitten can get behind the washer/dryer and may not come out.
· Keep the kitten isolated from other pets for at least one week. The stress of the move can lower the immune system making
your kitten more susceptible to getting sick. Additionally, the recent vet visit could have exposed him to something that you don't want introduced to the rest of your household.
Another reason for keeping your kitten isolated is to ensure bonding to YOU before he is distracted by everything else your
household has to offer. Spend as much time with your kitten as possible while he is in isolation. Bring a laptop or book and just
sit still. Initially, your kitten may be hesitant but will eventually want to be petted and played with. Don’t rush him.
And, isolation makes it easier to ensure your kitten is eating the right food the first week. Change in domicile is stressful and
rapid changes to food and water can upset their little tummies. This could lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
Understand that these are not signs of an unhealthy kitten. It just takes a little time to acclimate.
· It is important to move over to your brand of food / water slowly over a week. Each day, add a little more of yours and a little
less of ours to get your kitten switched over. If you follow these instructions and after 10 days your kitten is still having
gastrointestinal issues, please bring your kitten to the vet. See the list below for additional information on food / water.
· Show the kitten where the litter box and food / water is located. Place the food / water away from the litter box.
· Kittens feel more comfortable in a new home when they have something near them that smells like their old home. We will
provide you with some familiar and favorite items.
· If you have small children, have them come into the room one at a time to pet and play with the kitten. Show them how to gently
stroke the fur and play nice. Make certain that children understand that they are not to make loud noises, chase the kitten, hurt
him or bother him while he eats, sleeps, or uses the litter box.
· If there are no other pets, you can let your kitten begin to explore the rest of the house in a few days. Watch him closely to
make sure he knows how to get back to the litter box.
· If you have other pets, after the first week, introduce your kitten to the other animals slowly. Keep a close watch. Hissing and
growling is normal behavior. Give them time to work it out. Do not leave them together unsupervised until you are comfortable
that they will get along.
· Once everyone is getting along and your kitten is acclimated to his new surroundings, you are well on your way.
Kitten Supply List
· The number one thing to give your cat is YOUR TIME! We cannot stress enough how important it is to spend quality time with
your kitten. Devon Rex cats do not like to be alone. And even if there are other animals in the house, your kitten will want
human attention. We make a point to play with our cats for at least one hour every night. Running up and down the stairs is a
favorite pastime. We get our exercise and so do they.
Your kitten will follow you all over the house and try to help you in any way possible. Sometimes, this can be a tad annoying and
other times very dangerous. For example, another hobby we have is glass fusing. We take every precaution to make sure the
cats do not get into the room where the kiln and glass is located. They will cry at the door. There is nothing that a Devon Rex
cannot stand more than a closed door.
If you need to do something delicate or could be dangerous, make sure you put your kitten in a room first. After a little while, the
cries should stop.
· Cat carrier - something sturdy with good ventilation
· Cat bed - kittens love to snuggle in a nice bed. We allow our cats to sleep in bed with us. Devon Rex cats make great
snugglers and we love having them with us. Their body temperature runs very warm making them awesome to sleep with. Like
little heaters… you will get spoiled quick!
Having cats sleep in bed can be a challenge as they may wake up at 3 am ready to play. We found that exercising them prior to
bedtime helps us all get a good night’s rest.
· Food and water dishes - ceramic or stainless steel. Do not use plastic. Plastic can accumulate bacteria, which sometimes
causes "cat acne" around the cat's mouth and chin. Whatever you use, wash it regularly.
· Food / Water - we will provide a week's worth of kibble and water. We feed Royal Canin cat food (dry kibble and soft). We leave the kibble out all the time and give each cat a few ounces of can for breakfast.
The water is from our tap. There is nothing special about our tap water. It is just what our cats are used to. Devon Rex cats
seem to drink lots of water. Make sure you give your kitten fresh water every day. For some reason, ours seem to like it cold
and are known to lick the condensation off a glass every chance they get.
· Litter Supplies –
Litter box - We like the booda dome litter box with the stairs. It is easy for little ones to use and reduces tracking litter all over the house. Whatever you use, regularly clean it thoroughly.
Litter - we use clumping clay litter. If you are planning to use anything other than a scoopable clay litter, please plan on buying
some to start off with. Like the food / water, it is best to transition litter slowly.
Litter disposal - we keep a litter locker next to each box. Products like the litter locker sure do a good job of keeping the litter
odors at bay and make litter scooping easier.
Hand broom / dustpan - There is no such thing as a litter or litter box that contains everything. If litter around the house bothers
you, a cat is probably not a good pet for you.
· Scratching posts and nail clippers - be prepared to trim your kittens nails weekly. Our babies are used to the routine and none
put up a fuss and don’t need any special restraining. It always helps to do it while they are sleepy. If you have never clipped
nails before, there are numerous videos on youtube – this is a decent one – link.
In case you cut into the quick, you will want to have styptic powder handy. You can get this at any pharmacy.
· Other Grooming Supplies - luckily, Devon Rexes are very low maintenance as far as their coat is concerned. An occasional bath or a good rub down with a cat wipe is about all they need. Their ears and eyes do require some attention.
Eyes - eye “crusties” are normal. Wipe these away daily with a clean, warm cloth or cotton pad. Check eyes for any unusual
discharge or redness. Seek vet attention if you notice anything unusual.
Ears - in case you haven’t noticed Devon Rex cats have really big ears! And, they can produce lots of ear wax. You will need to
regularly clean their ears. We use a moistened Qtip and clean pretty much like we clean our own ears. Be careful not to poke
too deep!
· Toys - Cats will play with pretty much anything. You can spend lots of money on fancy toys or none at all and play with just a
shoestring. Cats really don’t care. Boxes are a favorite to jump in. Some cats will fetch, others prefer to chase. We will tell you all about your kitten so you know what he prefers.
There are certain toys that should be played with only under supervision. These are ones that have small parts that can come
off. For example, it is not wise to leave the mylar teaser toys or sparkle balls unattended. Your kitten may eat some of the
stringers and get sick.
Be careful around Christmas time with tinsel.
· Water spray bottle - we have effectively used a spray bottle to discipline our cats. Do not yell or make loud noises; all you will do is scare your kitten. Keep a spray bottle around and when you see a behavior you don’t like, give him a quick squirt.
· Book(s) on cat healthcare and behavior - there are lots of good resources out there. We recommend The Book of the Cat.