Adopting my kitten, Artemis (now seventeen months old), was one of the best decisions my fiance and I have made together. He makes us happier, encourages us to think critically about our living space, and provides us with comforting cuddles in exchange for our love. He’s a really great cat and I would recommend the adoption of a kitten to anyone. If you’re looking into adopting a kitten, here are some tips to making the transition for you and your furry family member as smooth as possible.

Check With Your Landlord.

Most apartments have rules about pets. When my fiance and I were in the middle of our apartment hunt, we knew that someday we wanted to adopt a cat, so we looked for cat-friendly apartments. These apartments usually say up front that they allow cats, but if for some reason they don’t, this is important to ask. Also, be prepared to pay the required fee and turn in any necessary paperwork. We had to give our landlady a copy of Artemis’ adoption papers, list of vaccines, and a picture of him should he ever escape the apartment.

Consider Rescuing.

There are hundreds of cats out there who have lived in homes before who, for one reason or another, have been removed from those homes and are brought to shelters to find new homes that are better suited to their needs. We adopted Artemis from the Animal Humane Society of Minnesota. They have a neat system where they show pictures of each animal (they have more than just cats!) and talk about their demeanor and background. For example, our kitten was brought to the shelter shortly after being weaned from his mother. The owners couldn’t care for so many kittens. So on his listing, it said this and also that he had lived with other cats before (important because we know that we would like to adopt more cats in the future and other animals) and that he would do well in a house with moderate activity. He fits in perfectly. Some rescues even have systems in place where if you adopt, they will provide a month’s worth of food and also a small supply of any medications your kitten might have been on in the shelter in order to facilitate a smooth transition into your home.

Make Sure You Can Care For Your Cat In All Situations.

Vet visits are not something pet owners look forward to necessarily, but nevertheless, they are essential to keeping your newest family member alive and well. Make sure you can get them to these visits.

Have The Right Supplies Beforehand.

Don’t let your kitten go without the essentials for a night. Make sure that they have everything they need the moment you arrive home so they can begin getting used to what it’s going to be like living with you right away. Part of the supplies also includes a variety of hiding places and having places that they can climb. This is especially important during the first couple weeks as they get used to their living space.

Slowly Introduce Them To Their New Home.

I think this is easier to do in an apartment than it is a house because you have maybe 500 square feet or so of living space as opposed to 2,000+ square feet. You don’t have as many rooms in the house. We kept our kitten in the bedroom of our apartment for a day or two and then left the door open to explore the rest of his new space on his own terms. Important: Don’t pick up your kitten and force them to go to other parts of the house.

Adopting is an awesome and rewarding decision to make, but it’s important to take the needs of your newest family member into account. Taking these things into account will help you grow your family with as little drama as possible so that everyone can be happy.