Bringing home, a new kitten is a momentous event for any household, especially if it’s your first time to adopt a pet. There are some steps you can take to prepare for the occasion, from right before you bring the kitty into the house up until what to expect in the first few weeks and how to encourage good behavior. Here is a complete guide and the most useful tips for bringing home a new kitten.

Before Bringing Home a Kitten

1. Prepare for his basic needs. Helping a kitten adjust to new surroundings would be easier if you have all the basic supplies ready. First, you need an enclosed and quiet space where the new kitten will be spending the first few days. Set up an area with the kitten’s bed, toys, feeding, and water bowls. The designated space is preferably quiet and not to be disturbed by other people or pets right away.

2. “Kitten-proof” your home. You may take some steps to kitten-proof your home before your new pet arrives. Make sure to keep anything toxic or hazardous out of the way. Keep doors to the bathroom or laundry rooms closed, as kittens like to squeeze into dark corners where they may end up hurting themselves. Kittens also love to chase and climb so keep fragile or breakable items out of reach. See if you can purchase climbing trees and toys that would keep him busy.

3. Get him proper identification. Before bringing home a kitten, it would also be wise to get him a collar and proper identification tags. It would be much easier to find a lost cat if you also have him microchipped at the vet.

4. Take familiar scents with you. If you’re taking a kitten away from his mother or siblings, spend a few minutes playing with the kitten’s family so you bring their “scent” home with you when you transport the kitten. Familiar scents, which could also come from a familiar toy or blanket, would help the kitten feel less anxious.

Welcoming Kitty to Your Home

7. Make proper introductions to your other pets. If you’re bringing home a new kitten to another cat or more than one pets at home, remember that the process of familiarizing them with each other also takes time. Introduce one pet at a time and make sure you can intervene safely if there’s any sign of aggression from your existing pets. Keep dogs on a safe leash.

Adult cats would generally have no problem interacting with a kitten. Just allow your pets to sniff each other. If things don’t go smoothly at first, pull them away from each other and try again another day. Make sure to spend enough time with your pets, a few minutes with each individual pet daily. As long as competition for food is minimized your pets will get along in no time.

Caring and Training Tips

8. Observe regular feeding times. Younger cats as young as six months old need to be fed more frequently as they’re in the rapid development stage. If you’re bringing home a barn kitten, you should have asked the breeder or shelter where the kitten came from about their diet and continue the kitten on the same brand of cat food for at least a week before you switch, if ever you decide to. Check our comprehensive kitten feeding guide for more detailed information on healthy feeding.

9. Pay attention to litter box training. From the first day, make it a priority to introduce proper litter box training. Show the box to your kitten and he would normally know what to do. You might need to be patient and constantly remind your kitty about the box. If the kitten successfully uses the box, reward him to reinforce the good behavior. Also, clean out the litter box regularly and make sure to thoroughly sanitize it.

10. Allow time for exercise and socialization. Kittens need to be exposed to new smells, sights, and sounds in order to grow healthy. Socializing with other pets and people is also an important aspect of development. Car rides, getting groomed, and going out are examples of situations when you can introduce your kitten to stimuli. Playing with your kitten on a regular basis, such as having him chase light or a bait on a string indoors, would give him with the exercise he needs.

This is your complete bringing home a new kitten checklist, from making adequate preparations to providing basic care and training. Get more details on proper cat care and grooming you as your pet grows older and healthier.

Here Is The New Kitten Checklist

Raising a kitten is definitely a serious challenge that requires patience and lots of tender loving care. But providing your kitty with a healthy and happy environment rewards you with a most positive life experience full of delightful moments and affection.