kitten-proofing

Kittens have tons of energy—and twice as much curiosity. Go through your home carefully to get rid of any toxic plants, bits of string, or forgotten rubber bands on the floors. It’s also a good idea to fix any loose window screens.

entertainment

Give your kitten toys to play with and make sure they don’t have pieces he could swallow. Although your kitten might think a piece of string is the perfect toy, you should skip it. If he ingests the string, it can be deadly. Consider a climbing structure or even a secured fish tank to entertain him.

claws

With the right training and regular nail trimming, it’s not usually necessary to have a cat declawed. Plus, if your kitten goes outdoors, he may need his claws to climb a tree to safety or defend himself.

outdoors

If your kitten will be going outside, get him microchipped first so he’ll be returned in case he gets lost. If he’s got a collar, be sure it’s the “snap-off” or “breakaway” kind. That way, if it gets snagged on a branch, it will break away and free him.