How do we help an elderly woman take care of a kitten alone?

I know, in hindsight, an elderly person should not get a puppy or a kitten. It is recommended getting an older animal. I hope the kitten is a male much easier to fix. Cats are easy to care for. The eat once in the morning and once in the evening. Once adults, they pretty much just sleep.

Iike suggested, have someone look in on Gma to make sure she is caring for the kitten.

The cat toys are great, however, I'd have someone to supervise the kitten's care very carefully. It may be that it is too risky for your grandmother to handle the kitten. Who did she adopt it from? Many of those places do a home inspection or investigate how the new owner will provide care. I wonder how she got by them?

If she has any issues cognitively, she may not be able to entertain the kitten, ensure vet care, proper nutrition, training, exercise, etc. My LO had an adult cat and she lost the ability to properly care for the cat. It grew very unhappy and started acting out. She didn't have the focus to play with the cat and she obsessed with it, making it very uncomfortable.

I'd make sure the relationship with her pet is healthy.

Get your grandmother the cat toy called "Cat Dancer". It's cheap - like, $2 cheap - and I haven't met a cat or kitten yet that can resist this toy. Your grandmother can sit and play with the kitten and tire her out. The kitten needs lots of playtime and I think it's great that your grandmother has a new life to nurture.

Get the kitten a cat post that your grandmother can train the kitten to scratch on while sitting. None of my cats ever destroyed furniture or curtains because I taught them to "rake" their cat posts.

Your grandmother, Ruby, is still young at only 71, and perhaps there's someone at her independent living who also loves cats and will be inclined to assist her with the first 6 months of kittenhood. If the kitten gets good manners now, she will provide your grandmother with lots and lots of joy.

There's also a swell cat whisperer named Jackson Galaxy who has a channel on YouTube. Watch some videos with your grandmother.

And please remind your grandmother that when the kitten is playing with her walker, to stop and be extra cautious.

If your Grandmother has any dementia, this new pet may not be advised, especially if no one is checking in daily to make sure she's feeding it, it is getting its required vaccinations and attention. Kittens ARE rambunctious so playing, attacking, running is all normal. The kitten will eventually need to be spayed/neutered and this will calm it down further (at 6 months old). Hopefully the cat will not start marking the house (hence the need to get fixed). Can your gramma afford the vet bill for all of this? Who will take her to the vet? How will you get the cat there safely?

Also, cats tend to walk between people's legs to rub and get their attention, they "rake" the furniture with their claws and can do lots of damage. Don't get me wrong: I was raised with cats and love them, but this is just the reality of owning them. I think having a pet is fantastic for the elderly, but the timing of adding a new one does matter.