The Foundation

Is this the right home? A gentle check-in

Bringing a kitten home is the start of a 15–20 year friendship — one of the longest you'll have. We're not here to gatekeep; we just want every kitten landing in a home where they'll be truly happy, and every adopter walking in with eyes open. Here's a soft version of the fit reflection. The fuller list lives in the PDF.

This life probably fits if you:

• Think of cats as family members — little roommates with opinions
• Are excited to feed mostly wet or raw food (we'll show you how)
• Don't mind a quick daily litter scoop and 20 minutes of play
• Are open to a fragrance-free, low-tox home (easier than it sounds)
• Are taking a bonded pair, or already have a friendly cat at home

It might be worth pausing if you:

• Are hoping for a "set it and forget it" pet
• Travel constantly and don't yet have a sitter plan
• Aren't sure about a long-term feline companion yet

None of these are deal-breakers — just things worth thinking about. If you're nodding along, we'd love to welcome you to the family.

Adopt in pairs — or have a buddy ready

This is the one thing we feel strongest about. Kittens really do thrive with a buddy: they play-fight (which saves your ankles and your furniture), groom each other, settle each other when you're at work, and teach each other cat manners in ways we can't. Honestly, two kittens is barely more work than one — and so much more joy. If you already have a friendly cat at home, that counts too.

Kitten-proofing your home

Kittens are tiny chaos demons with no concept of mortality. Do a slow walk through your space at their height. The high-risk basics:

• Cords and cables — bundle, hide, or use protectors. They chew everything.
• Open windows and balconies — falls from height are a real emergency. Screens or supervision only.
• Strings — hair ties, ribbon, dental floss. The worst offender for swallowing.
• Reclining furniture & dryers — kittens get crushed or trapped. Always check first.

The hidden toxins most adopters miss

This is the section we wish someone had handed us. It's not just food or cleaners — it's everyday personal-care products and medications that transfer from your skin to your pillowcase to your cat's fur. Many are lethal in tiny amounts.

The lethal topicals

• Minoxidil (Rogaine) — extraordinarily toxic. Cats have died from licking a few drops off a scalp or sleeping on a Rogaine pillowcase. No antidote.
• 5-Fluorouracil, calcipotriene psoriasis creams — rapidly fatal from minimal exposure. (Merck Vet Manual)
• Permethrin dog flea & tick products — never on a cat, and don't let your cat groom a recently-treated dog.

Oral meds matter too: a single Tylenol pill can kill a cat (NIH case report); ibuprofen, ADHD meds, and THC edibles are all dangerous. Keep all meds behind closed cabinet doors. The PDF has the full list.

Essential oils — a dedicated warning

You'd think "natural" oils would be safer than synthetic fragrances. They're not. Cats can't process the compounds, so even small amounts accumulate and can cause liver damage, seizures, and death — including diffusing into the air. Per Pet Poison Helpline, Merck Vet Manual, and PetMD, there are no essential oils reliably safe to diffuse around cats. We just don't.

The shopping list (start here)

Here's a quick list of essentials we actually use — a little starter kit to get you going. Nothing here is gospel; just what worked for us. The full list (play, grooming, home, litter) lives in the PDF if you want to go deeper:

• Viva Raw — raw, frozen, the most complete brand we've found
• Americat 18/8 stainless bowls (set of 4) — food-grade, whisker-friendly
• Purina Tidy Cats BREEZE — the litter system we landed on
• Full canonical plant safety list: ASPCA Toxic & Non-Toxic Plants