Before a kitten moves in, the home should already be prepared for the new arrival. We will show you what is important here, what you need to bear in mind when picking up the kitten and how to make the acclimatization process as stress-free as possible.
Preparing the new home
Kittens are incredibly curious and playful. They don't worry about anything that could be dangerous for them. You should therefore check your home before a kitten moves in. Remove potential sources of danger such as pins and paper clips lying around , sharp or pointed objects, balls of wool and ribbons, open plastic bags, chemicals and candles.
Remove snacks such as potato chips or chocolate from the coaching table. Avoid using tablecloths for the next few weeks; cats like to climb and will take everything off the table with them. Also try to find out whether you have any plants in your home that are poisonous to cats. If necessary, position these in a place that is not accessible to the kitten. Avoid plants that are on the floor at first, as cats like to dig in the soil.
Basic equipment for kittens
To make it easier for kittens to settle in, everything important should already be available when they move in. It's best to make a small checklist so that you don't forget anything. Before you go shopping, however, you should find out from the breeder or animal shelter what food and cat litter they use and what the cat is used to. If possible, you should buy exactly these. Cats can be very picky about the smell and color of their food and litter. You should therefore not plan a change for the time being. This could lead to unnecessary complications in the form of diarrhea or uncleanliness. You should also be careful when choosing a litter tray. Perhaps the kittens have only been used to a shallow bowl so far. A high rim, a roof or even an "entrance door" could lead to them not visiting the litter tray and doing their business in the apartment.
In addition to food, a litter tray and cat litter, the checklist also includes a cuddly bed, a transport box, snacks and plenty of toys. You can never have enough of these, although you should not provide everything at once. A scratching post is also a must, and the easiest way to provide this is in the form of a scratching post. This is often the centerpiece of a cat household. Here you have a good view, can retreat quietly, sharpen your claws or climb up and down it. To begin with, however, remember that the scratching post should not be too high to prevent falls from a great height.
What should I bear in mind when picking it up?
A transport box is recommended for collection. A few days before transportation, leave a blanket or towel at the breeder's or animal shelter, where it should have contact with its mother and/or siblings. Place this towel in the transport box when you pick up your pet. The familiar scent of the cloth will have a calming effect during the journey and in the new home. Ideally, two people should collect the kitten(s) so that one person can look after them. Do not drive too fast to avoid unnecessary disturbance. And remember to take a kitchen roll with you. The kitten may well vomit from excitement.
The first few hours in the new home
It's completely normal for a kitten to be a little upset after the car journey. It has just lost its mother and siblings, had an exciting journey and is surrounded by strangers. Now it needs some peace and quiet. Therefore, it should never be lifted up in the transport box and any family members and neighbors should be allowed to take a look inside. Go straight into the home and think about where you can find a quiet place . If there are small lively children, a dog or another cat in the household, it is advisable to have a separate room for the new arrival. Otherwise, you can, for example, go into the living room and place the transport box in a sheltered corner. Open the door and withdraw for the time being. Refrain from bringing the kitten out or luring it excessively. Give the kitten time to calm down and observe its surroundings from the safety of its cave.
It may take a few minutes or even an hour or more for the kitten to come out of the box. This depends, among other things, on the kitten's individual character and previous experiences with humans. After a certain time, however, everyone's curiosity will get the better of them and they will come out. Talk calmly to the kitten, do not make any quick movements and wait to see whether it wants to sniff its surroundings first or whether it seeks contact with you straight away. It may even be tempted to come out, in which case you could go to the kitchen together if you have put the bowls there. The water bowl should already be full and you can now put out the food. If the kitten hides under the sofa or cupboard and does not come out for hours, place food and water within easy reach in front of the hiding place. Choose a high-quality kitten food. This will lay the foundation for a species-appropriate diet.
The acclimatization phase
How long the acclimatization phase lasts depends on various factors. If you have opted for two kittens, this may be shorter. This is because a sibling or a good buddy provides security. Together, the courage to inspect the new environment, climb the scratching post or use the litter tray is greater. Everyone can learn from each other, games and chases are possible together. Without a conspecific, you should allow a little more time. Then you are the candidate for chats, games or stalking each other. To lure the kitten out of a hiding place, tufts of feathers, which are playfully chased, have proven their worth. You will soon be able to observe how the kitten settles in more and more. It comes to eat on time, uses the litter tray well, lets itself be stroked and generally becomes more and more courageous and self-confident.
Tip: If you have opted for an extra room because of other pets, you should leave the door securely locked at the beginning. There should be two of you to approach each other so that each of you can look after one of the animals. It is better to keep a dog on a lead for safety reasons.
Is outdoor access possible?
A kitten from a farm may have a great desire for freedom and may be keen to go outside, while others may show little interest in doing so because they have never left their home before. Depending on whether you can and want to allow outdoor access, you should consider which cat you choose at the time of purchase. If you don't live on the ground floor or in a busy area, you should be careful with a farm cat. If it has grown up in a barn with little contact with people, it may be difficult to keep it purely indoors. However, this is not a problem with kittens that have had contact with people from day one. They are not used to being outside at first and are happy to have a cat-proof balcony. In addition, there should be enough variety in the cat home. This can be achieved with a variety of cat toys, an interesting scratching post and sufficient time for the cat.
Tip: If outdoor access is an option, wait a few weeks until the kitten is familiar with its new home and people. Also talk to your vet to see if he recommends additional vaccinations or other precautions - for example, against parasites. In addition, outdoor cats should be neutered to prevent offspring. If your cat catches mice, please take this into account in the amount of food to be offered daily. Check with your neighbors beforehand to see if there are any full food bowls outside from which your cat could eat large amounts of food uncontrollably.