New Kitten Care and Critical Information A message from Misty and the kitties… Congratulations on your new kitten from KukiuCoon Cattery! I'm so excited for you and your new kitten. When I started breeding Maine Coons in 2019, I had to learn a lot through trial and error about keeping them happy and healthy. Now, I want to make it easier for you, so you can enjoy your precious kitten from the very start. To help you on your journey, I’ve handpicked the products I trust and included helpful tips for caring for your new kitten. No need to spend time searching – everything you need is right here. Below, you’ll find easy-to-follow instructions to guide you through prepping your home and supporting your kitten through these early stages of life. I’m so happy to be part of this exciting milestone with you and your new kitten! • Preparing Your Home: *Quarantine Space: For the initial 7-day quarantine you will need to find a small space where the kitten can easily find its litter box. *Litter Box: No hooded litter box, because it can deter the kitten from using it. You can add a hood after approximately 2 weeks when you’re sure the kitten knows where the litter pan is. *Scratching Post: Avoid scratches that will leave shavings for them to eat. Providing a scratching post early on can help your kitten develop positive scratching habits that will last throughout their life. Plus, it’s an easy way to keep them entertained and happy! Other reasons for scratching posts: *Natural Instinct: Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It helps them stretch their muscles, especially their back and shoulders, and keep their claws sharp. Kittens will start scratching as soon as they’re old enough to explore, so providing a scratching post allows them to do this in a healthy way. *Protecting Your Furniture: Without a scratching post, your kitten might decide your furniture, curtains, or carpets are the perfect place to scratch. Having a dedicated scratching post will help keep your home safe from claw marks! *Mental and Physical Stimulation: Scratching helps your kitten burn off energy and can be a fun activity for them, especially if the post is tall enough for them to climb or perch on. It’s a great way to keep them engaged and prevent boredom. *Marking Territory: Cats have scent glands in their paws, so scratching also helps them mark their territory. It’s a way for your kitten to feel more secure in their new home! • Pet Poison Control: For quick reference, here is ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435. The Pet Poison Helpline is 855-764-7661. *Household Products: Certain household products and cleaning agents can be harmful to your cat. Visit ASPCA.org for more information about household products to be mindful of and/or avoid. *Plants: Put your plants in unreachable areas until you can check them for toxicity on cats. Visit ASPCA. org for an extensive list of plants toxic to cats. *Toxic Scents and Other Safety Info: PreventiveVet.com is a great website for safety information for your cat. Visit their website and search as well for a list of toxic odors (Lily plants are a big no-no!). *Top 5 Toxic Foods Cats Ingest: -Raw meats -Onions/garlic -Chocolate -Xylitol, including Xylitol gum -Alcohol *Top 5 Toxins Cats Ingest: -Plants/Lilies -Human medications -Household cleaners -Flea/tick medications -Rodenticides *Other Unexpected Dangerous Items: There are other everyday items in your home that can be dangerous to your cat. Here is a list of some of the top ones: -Hair ties -Button batteries -Rubber bands, hair ties, and other small objects -Pen caps -Small refrigerator magnets -Coins -Q-tips -Styrofoam -Packing peanuts -Orbeez -Nerf bullets •Fleas and Flea Prevention/Treatment: NEVER USE FLEA TREATMENT INTENDED FOR DOGS ON A CAT! *The only exception is the product called Revolution (Selamectin), provided both animals are the same weight. You can get the generic Revolution, called Revolt for about half the price on AlliVet.com. Both of these require a prescription. In my experience, this product is far superior to any other available. •Hairballs: Hairballs can happen, especially in long-haired cats. Brushing your cat regularly can definitely help with prevention. While mostly harmless, hairballs can be fatal if lodged in the wrong spot. If you see your cat coughing/hacking, Tomlyn Hairball Remedy Gel is one great solution. Visit my Amazon shopping page to see all of my favorite things. (Link is on this page) • Grooming: *Brushing: Maine Coons need assistance to keep their long coat in good healthy shape. Coons can only clean the top layers of their fur. If you don’t take care of your kitty regularly, their undercoat will become matted and dirty. It’ll also tug on their skin, causing various problems from rashes to inflammation. Besides looking unappealing, skin and coat issues can be painful for your cat. Brushing their fur 2-3 times a week can prevent matting and hairballs. *Nail Clipping: Besides a scratching post, clipping your cat’s nails weekly can make life more comfortable for you and your cat. A good time to clip your cat’s nails is when they’re napping. I prefer the clippers you’ll find on my Amazon storefront (link below on this webpage). Note: Be careful while trimming your Maine Coon’s nails—you should only clip the very tip of their nail. Pay attention not to reach the sensitive nerve endings. Styptic is a great product to keep on hand in case you clip too short. *Teeth Cleaning: Dental hygiene is a very important part of properly caring for your Maine Coon’s health. Untamed.com has a great section on grooming and dental care. *Bathing: We bathe our kittens every 2-3 weeks, so that they are accustomed to it. It is ideal to bathe your Maine Coon once a month to prevent matting and hairballs. • Trupanion Health Insurance: Pet health insurance is a great thing to have. As a breeder, I am able to provide you with the first 30 days free coverage for kittens from our cattery.