Costs of purchasing and maintaining a kitten
The cost of adopting a mixed kitten from a shelter is around $30-$50, depending on where you live. If you decide to adopt a purebred kitten, the price can reach over $1,000. You also have to take into account the money you will need to spend on kitten food, kitten toys, cat furniture, kitty litter, spaying and neutering, grooming, etc.. Expensive, full-breed kittens can cost even more to provide for than mixed-breeds because of their likelihood of acquiring an illness based on their breed (full-breeds tend to get ill more often).
Preparations before adopting
Approximately 25% are allergic to cat and kitten dander, and living with a kitten when you have an allergy can be a miserable experience, especially if you adopt an indoor kitten. Most people who suffer from allergies are also allergic to cats, so be wary when adopting a kitten if you already have strong allergies. Visit your local shelter and spend some time around their cats before you buy. This way, you can test yourself to see if you are allergic.
Make sure that if you're renting a house, that your landlord allows pets. Some apartments and rental homes do not allow pets, so make sure to check with your landlord to see if you can adopt a kitten beforehand.
Buy the kitten supplies before you adopt. If you have an indoor kitten, then you're going to want a litter-box before you bring the kitten home. Buy a supply of kitten food (make sure you buy kitten food and not cat food in order to provide the right texture of food and nutrients that your kitten needs). Depending on the kitten's age, you may still need to bottle-feed. Most shelters and stores do not sell kittens when they're at the nipple-feeding age, but if some people who give away kittens may. You can buy an alternative to cat milk in most animal stores or online.
If your kitten is older that two months when you adopt it, make sure that you get it spayed or neutered and updated on its shots. Some pet stores and shelters provide spaying, neutering, and shots.
When you finally bring the kitten home
Research the characteristics of your certain kitten's breed in order to accommodate to it's lifestyle. Some kittens prefer to live outdoors and some prefer indoors. Some are friendly while some prefer to be left alone. By researching your kitten's breed, you may be able to find out what kind of lifestyle it likes.
Have lots and food and water available for your kitten, especially water
Make sure to train your kitten everything it needs to know early on, like how to play properly without scratching or attacking your hands and where the litter-box is (most kittens instinctively use the litter-box once they know where it is).
Kittens require an abundance of attention and playtime, so make sure to take some of your free time to spend playing with your kitten.
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