Bringing your kitten home



Before bringing a kitten home
Before your new kitten sets a single paw into your home, spend a bit of time preparing them a safe, quiet and secure space from where they can slowly begin to explore the rest of the house. This should be away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Settling in a kitten

Open the door of their carrying basket once on the floor, and let them come out in their own time. They’ll probably have a good sniff around before finding their bed. When they’ve investigated every nook and cranny, give them a little cuddle and see if they need a rest.
Kittens love to sleep, and they need plenty of it. So after all the excitement of the car journey and exploring their new home, they’ll need a nap. Try to resist the urge to start playing with them straight away and give them lots of opportunities to explore and rest undisturbed.
If it’s feeding time, do offer them some food but don't be surprised if they don't eat it. Cats often go off their food for a while if they’re a bit stressed, so give them time to settle in and their appetite will soon return. Read more about feeding your kitten
Kittens love to sleep, and they need plenty of it. So after all the excitement of the car journey and exploring their new home, they’ll need a nap.
Meeting the family
Once they’re rested and confident in their room, then it’s time to meet their new human family. This is obviously a very exciting moment, but do try to keep everyone calm. Before introducing a new kitten to the home, everyone should sit still on the floor and agree one rule - only touch the kitten if the kitten comes to you.
There mustn’t be any grabbing or arguing between the kids, or it will frighten your pet. If the kitten tries to hide, coax them out with a toy or a treat to encourage them to be sociable, but never grab or force them.
It can be a good idea to use synthetic pheromone spray and plug-in diffusers, as these will let your kitten know the area is safe and will help them to feel relaxed and peaceful. If using diffusers, distributing one or two throughout the house should be enough.

Once they’ve settled in

Once your kitten’s found its confidence, it will soon be dashing around the house. Watch your step – they can appear suddenly from nowhere!
They’ll be up for plenty of play but will still need their naps, so give them a nice quiet spot where they can cuddle up without being disturbed.
It will help them settle in if you can stick to a routine, particularly with feeding, play and stroking.

If you’d like more information about Bringing Home Your Kitten or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM