Basics

What to have ready when you bring your new kitten home
What are Devon Rex cats like?

 

What to have ready when you bring your new kitten home


  • Carrier. You will want to own a carrier to transport your cat home in and also to use as a transport for vet visits. We prefer the soft carrier instead of the hard plastic carriers. They are more comfortable for your cat. There are so many different kinds to choose from. We choose ones that can be used in the car and have a strap attached so that it can be secured with a seat belt.
  • Kittens like toys! You should have a ball and a stuffed mouse as a minimum for toys. Another favorite is a box that they can play in.
  • Kittens need a scratching post of some sort! Cats have a need to scratch so it’s best to have a designated place which is just for that when they come home. This will lessen their desire to scratch your furniture.
  • Small bed or blanket. Cats will choose a favorite place to rest. Often times they will choose a cat bed or blanket.
  • Litter Box and litter. You will need to decide on the size of litter box and whether it will be a covered one or not. If you are using scoopable litter, you will also need a scoop. Please see our page on Litter to see what we recommend.
  • Food and water bowls. Some cats react adversely to plastic. It’s best to use metal or ceramic bowls.
  • Nail cutters. You will have to clip your cat’s nails about every two weeks. Look for cat specific ones at any pet supply store.
  • Eye cleaning wipes and Ear cleaning wipes. These are not necessary, but very convenient. Your kitty will inevitably have some accumulation of eye dirt and ear wax. These wipes can be used when needed. Please be very careful when cleaning ears and eyes. The eyes are sensitive and if you don’t buy wipes specifically for cleaning them, you can use a clean cotton pad moistened with warm water. Don’t wipe too hard in the corners of the eyes. This can cause them discomfort or can even injure them. Cotton balls are not recommended because they do shed fibers which can get in the eyes. Ear wipes are great and are recommended over using q-tips (cotton swabs). Unless you are familiar with the anatomy of a cat’s ear, you shouldn’t endeavor to use a cotton swab. You can go too far into the ear canal and cause damage to your cat’s ear.
  • Food and water. We send our kittens off with a starter amount of food. If you decide to use something different, please slowly taper them off of the food we sent you with. Cats can get an upset stomach or diarrhea if their food is completely switched to a different one without slowly introducing the new one. Please see our page on Food to see what we recommend for feeding and why.

What are Devon Rex cats like?


  • A Devon Rex is a loving companion! They have been described as being part cat, part dog, and part monkey. They have the smarts, looks, and agility of a cat; they will follow you around the house and often play fetch like a dog; and they are mischievous and sometimes like to climb their people to locate a perch, which can be someone’s shoulder, like a monkey. They may sit there for hours.
  • They don’t like to be home alone all day, so if everyone in the home is gone all day, most days, this may not be the right breed for you.
  • They need a lot of attention and play time. They usually want to sleep with their humans and most will sleep through the night as long as they are with you.
  • They are generally pretty verbal, like a typical Siamese cat, expressing themselves with many different meow, chirps, and trills. They are very expressive.