Kitten Availability
As Theodora is a small cattery we only have a limited number of kittens available each year. Once a litter has been born we will take reservations for the kittens of that litter. At that point a non-refundable deposit will be required to hold a kitten.
It's important for kittens to have plenty of time to socialize and develop with their mothers and siblings so Theodora will not place kittens in new homes until they are around 14 weeks of age. At this point they will aso be spay/neutered, have their first two sets of vaccinations and be de-wormed.Current Litters
Zee and Theo welcomed their first litter to the world on August 2, 2024. An adorable little girl and boy. These two little ones have been nick-named "Summer" and "Ethan" after two of Canada's celebrated Olympic champions. Growing like weeds, if you’d like to follow their progress please join Theodora’s Facebook page.
Tips on bringing a new kitten home.
Kittens are absolutely adorable and there’s lots you can do, as the new kitten guardian, to make the transition to the new home a smooth one.
Things to do to get ready for the new kitten arrival:
- Have a dedicated room ready for the new kitten to stay in when they arrive. This will be there “safe place” as they transition to the new home. This will give them the chance to get used to the new sights, smells and sounds of the new home and still be secure and safe during the transition.
- Do some kitten proofing. Kittens get into anything and everything, so make sure there are no cupboards of cabinets with toxic chemicals in them that little paws and mouths can get into. It's also a good idea to put away anything breakable that a kitten can knock over.
- Get some stuff. Litter box, litter scoop, food bowl, water bowl or fountain, scratching post, cat tree, cat carrier and of course toys toys toys!
- Get some of the same cat litter and food that the breeder uses. This will make it easy for the new kitten to know where to use the litter box, and the food will not upset the kitten’s tummy. If you plan to use different litter and food than the breeder, make the transition slowly so the kitten has a chance to get used to it.
- Make sure you have an appointment scheduled with your vet to get a homecoming check-up done as most breeders require this when you get a new kitten.
Some additional things to consider when you bring a kitten home.
Things that could be harmful to a new kitten.
- Be mindful of the chemicals you use around the home. Because little fur feet are so much closer to the floor than us humans, they are more exposed to floor cleaners etc . If you must use cleaners, consider non-toxic ones, safer alternatives that are pet friendly.
- Some plug-in air fresheners can be quite toxic to pets. Essential oils, which are included in many air freshener products, can be very toxic. It’s better to not use these products at all, but I you must please read labels carefully to make sure the ones you use are safe. The PetMD site has more information on how air fresheners can affect your pet.
- Check to make sure the plants around the house are pet safe. There are lots of plants that are not good for cats, so do some extra research as the list below is not exhaustive. Some common plants that are toxic include;
- Lilies (true lilies, or Lilium), daylilies (Hemerocallis), and peace lilies (not a true lily, Spathiphyllum).
- Poinsettia
- Aloe
- Cyclamen
- Marijuana
- Snake Plant (Sansevieria, Mother-in-law’s Tongue)
- Check out the ASPCA's site for an extensive list of toxic plants to all pets.
Food
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they must have an appropriate meat based diet. Plants simply do not meet a cat’s needs for nutrients as they are unable to digest plant material properly. Many animals that are predators are not necessarily obligate carnivores and can have plants in their diet, such as dogs, bears, humans etc. Cats on the other hand must have a meat diet in order to thrive. If you wish to feed you cats a vegan diet, then it might be better to get a different pet as a companion as a vegan diet will be extremely unhealthy for a cat. Did you know that dolphins are also obligate carnivores? Obligate carnivores are also called hypercarnivores and require at least 70% of their diet to be meat. Plants, fungi, and other nutrients make up the rest of their food.
Cats also require a lot of hydration in order to stay healthy so a wet food diet is far preferred over a dry food one as the main staple of your kitten or cats diet. Having some dry food available so they are used to it is not a bad idea, but the majority of the diet should be wet food. Dry food is convenient for people, but not necessarily healthy for your cat. Dry food has also been shown to have a correlation with obesity in cats as it is higher in carbohydrates and is more often free fed so the cat can eat almost constantly. The higher levels of carbohydrates in the dry food may also mean you cat does not feel as satisfied with it’s meal and wish to eat continually to feel full. A wet food diet with higher meat and water content will make you cat feel more satisfied and help keep them at a healthy weight.
Your Cats Home - Toys and Other Fun Stuff!
A cat shelf installed near a window and up high so the cats can look outside or over the houshold. Cat shelves up high also allow a cat to escape from other pets such as dogs and little hands when the cat needs a break.
Your new kitten or cat should be considered a new member of the family, not a decoration or a status symbol. As such, it’s good to make their new home as enjoyable to them as it is for you. Toys are a part of this and a little extra catification can go a long way to making your new fur family member feel right at home.
Cat trees, shelves, running wheels and catios can go a long way towards making a cat feel comfortable in their home. Being able to look out the window, get up high, or enjoy some outdoor fresh air are all ways to enrich the environment your cat lives in. You don’t have to do all of these in order to succeed, but it’s good to do some of them. Cat trees and shelves are very easy and go a long way towards your cats daily enjoyment of their home.