New Kitty Coming Home

First and foremost, be prepared.  Purchase the foods your kitten is used to eating, and the cat litter they are used to using, as well as any grooming stuff and a cat tree *before* you pick the kitten up.  Your kitten will be stressed by a change in environment - the kindest way to introduce them into a new place is to have everything set up to receive them, and have things that are familiar to them.  Don't stop at the pet store on the way home - it isn't fair to the kitten.  Think ahead!

  Here's what you should have on hand before bringing home one of our kitties:

Litter pan – extra jumbo size recommended to accommodate long bodied cats.  Covered is recommended because it reduces scattering of cat litter.

Litter scoop-several types are available, depending on what kind of litter will be used.

Litter – At this time we use Precious Cat Ultra clumping litter or HEB Hill Country fair clay.  Please stick to the same litter we use for several weeks before you change to another brand.

Food and water bowls - Clear glass or Stainless Steel.. Plastic is strongly not recommended..

Medium sized cat carrier - put a towel in the bottom of it for comfort and in case of any accidents. Hard not soft sided carrier… Vari Kennel or Kennel Cab.  Always transport kitty in a carrier, ALWAYS………………

Nail clippers – human ones work ok, but they tend to split the nails more than one made for cats will.  There are scissor like types and guillotine types.

Metal comb- Greyhound brand (with rounded teeth) preferred.  I use both a 4 inch and an 8 inch comb to groom our cats. 

Dry food,  Canned food   (check with me to see what they are eating at the time.)

 Scratching post – minimum 2 ½ feet tall with a heavy base.  Carpet, sisal rope or bark.

Tear Stain Remover – The best is a produce called “Eye Envy” you can order it on line or what I use for years was diluted baby shampoo with a cotton ball or wash cloth. You can use human eye drops in your cats eyes if they get irritated.

Shampoo – I mainly use human shampoo, and for greasy coats use Dawn, Joy or Prell.

Well kitten visit with the vet - Scheduled within 72 hours to activate your Health Guarantee on your kitten….  Remember to send me a copy of the bill to put in your file.

If I say it once I will say it a million times:  

In order to reduce the stress involved to both your existing pets and your new cat or kitten, as well as promote a positive relationship between them, it is important that the new cat or kitten is properly introduced into your home.

Dogs do not seem to have the same degree of difficulty adjusting to the addition of the kitten to their households. Follow these instructions anyway, for the kitten's sake. My kittens are raised with a Rottie/Retriever mix, but they will not recognize any other dogs as familiar.

Cats on the other hand, are a different story. Some cats will be jealous of a new cat or kitten, some highly offended. They may display their displeasure by improper elimination (using the bathroom outside the litterpan), sulking, refusing to eat, etc. DO NOT JUST TURN YOUR NEW KITTEN LOOSE IN THE HOUSE WITH THE EXISTING CATS. Follow the procedure below:

If at all possible have a neighbor or friend be the one to bring the new kitty/cat into the house first. This will make you “not the bad guy” Your resident cat(s) will say to you “Who brought this new guy in?”  This is better than “Who did *you* bring into my house”?

Immediately upon arrival home with the new cat/kitten, have your friend take the carrier into a room with a door that closes. This will become the new cat/kitten's home for the next several days to two weeks and will also be "base" if the new cat/kitten becomes spooked elsewhere in the house, so choose the room carefully. Our kittens sleep with us, if you will allow this, the room you choose should be your bedroom UNLESS THIS IS WHERE YOUR OTHER CATS SLEEP.  If your other pets sleep with you please do not dethrone them. They will be highly offended.  Instead, use a spare bedroom or an office for the newcomer.

You should have already set up food, water, and a litterpan. Leave the kitten in this room and go pay LOTS of attention to your other pets. Let them smell the new cat/kitten on your hands.

It is important that the new cat/kitten receives a great deal of attention from you during the first several weeks they are with you. This is so that they will bond with you and be reassured in their new environment. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT that your existing cat(s) receive a great deal of attention from you so that they "forgive" you, and know that you still love them. Animal behaviorists swear that it helps the bonding process between existing and new cats if you refer to the new cat as the existing cat's cat or kitten.

Being curious by nature, your existing cat(s) will want to know what is on the other side of the door where the new cat/kitten is. Let them smell, and play footsies with the new cat/kitten. Your existing cat(s) may initially hiss at the door, they may not. Watch your existing cat(s) behavior and you will see when it is time to open the door and let them meet nose to nose.

When the behavior has gone from hissing and acting offended (if it even starts there) and they are playing under the door it is time. In general, this takes between 2 days and 2 weeks. There are cases when it takes 2 hours. It just depends on the existing cat(s). Be sure that someone is there to monitor the introduction. Initially, the cats (new one included) may hiss and spit at each other, it is rare that they would fight. Keep an eye on the cats until you feel that they are getting along well. Put the new cat/kitten up in their room when no one is there to watch them. Continue to lavish attention on the existing cat(s).

This is a tried and true method and I would hope you would take in consideration the years of my experience in this area and follow my advice. Even if you do not have other pets, please keep the new cat/kitten up in room as described for at least a day so that they can get used to their new surroundings. It can be very overwhelming to them to be given run of a whole house that they are unfamiliar with.