5 Things To Do When Bringing Your Kitten Home
Arrange a space for your kitten
Do this before you bring your kitten home.
Your kitten will be coming home to a completely new environment. This can be a bit overwhelming for them at first. It’s best to create a space for them that is isolated from other pets. This space should be a small room or a bathroom, as a smaller space allows them to adjust more quickly. The space should include:
A box or carrier - this gives them a cozy little cave to feel secure in
Water bowl - make clean water available at all times
Dry food - keep dry food out at all times
Litter box (keep as far away from the food and water as you can). Kittens are naturally sanitary and instinctively want to go to the bathroom away from their food and water.
Transition to new food slowly
To avoid digestive problems and to keep your kitten healthy, take home some of the food they have been eating. If you are going to be buying a different food than they are used to, then start mixing the foods, transitioning them slowly from familiar food by sprinkling the new food into the old food. This transition should happen over about one week.
Don’t be too concerned if you kitten doesn’t eat much the first few days, this is totally normal. As they get adjusted their appetite may increase.
Use Pet Rescue for the drive home
We have found Bach’s Pet Rescue drops can be given to your kitten at pickup and will help keep your kitten calm on the drive and initial transition to your home. The drops are all natural and help kittens with anxiety from new environments, loud noises, etc. Kittens have had no problems with the drive or even airplane rides after one dose, they stay calm and happy. The drops are linked at the end of this article.
Let them explore at their own pace
Kittens can have a wide range of personalities and daring. Some kittens will be ready to start exploring right away, others may want to stay close to their box and will warm up more slowly to their new environment. After the first few hours at home, you can allow them to start exploring more areas of the house under supervision. Keep other pets away from the kitten for these initial explorations. If the kitten is getting anxious or you suspect they are looking for a bathroom spot, pick them up and take them back to their litter box and safe space.
The best way to introduce other pets is through a gate or screen. Let the animals get to know each other’s scent in this way. Once they seem comfortable with each other you can arrange a meeting in the same space.
Spend lots of time with your kitten
Kittens, and in particular breeds like Ragdolls, are very social creatures. They will want to spend time with their humans. At each stage of transition, spend time with them in their area as much as possible. If it works for you, feel free to move them into your room the first few nights, making sure you have a litter box nearby, with puppy pads underneath if you have a carpet. As the kitten successfully transitions into your new home they will be more comfortable with being left alone, but will always love to be around their family.
