First months with a kitten at home: tips and best practices

Are you about to welcome a little kitten into your home? The first months of your new little companion in your house are the most important because they serve to weave your relationship, but also to condition his behavior and his adaptation within his new home. Discover our advice and best practices for a successful first month with a kitten at home.

How to prepare for the arrival of your kitten at home?

Even if the majority of kittens adapt quickly to their new home, it is important to welcome them well by preparing a real little nest for them.

Here's what you'll need to build its space:

• Two bowls: your cat needs a dedicated bowl for its food and a dedicated bowl for its water. Avoid two-in-one bowls, which are harder to clean, and opt for two separate bowls instead. In addition, you will prevent some of his kibbles from ending up in the water and he refuses to drink it! Prefer bowls made of steel, glass, or porcelain, because plastic is unhygienic and quickly smells bad.
• A litter box: your cat needs a clean litter box, located away from its kibble and in a quiet place, sheltered from passages and draughts. The cat has a high demand for hygiene; if you don't respect his needs, he may get into the habit of defecating elsewhere. Prefer a litter box with a lid for its comfort and privacy and opt for grains that it likes and that does not stick to the paws. Finally, eliminate urine and excrement every day and change the tray entirely every week.
• A sleeping area: your kitten needs a place of its own to sleep, sheltered from the noise and far from the sleeping area and the litter area.
• Toys: your cat needs toys to be entertained, alone, and with you. Balls, scratching posts, cat trees, strings, light games... you're spoiled for choice!
• A transport box: it is essential to invest in a transport box to take your cat to the vet and when you go on vacation. The crate protects and appeases him.

How to organize your kitten's first months at home?

Installation

Cats are routine animals that don't appreciate change. They, therefore, need time to get used to their new home. Tell yourself that the kittens are suddenly torn from their homes, from their siblings, from the smells they know to be placed in a new home, with new noises, new smells, and new inhabitants. This uprooting is sudden, violent, and difficult for the animal.

Start by installing it for a few days in a quiet room. He will get used to it slowly and will get used to this new environment slowly. It is only when he is fully used to it that you can give him access to the other rooms. However, some kittens get used to it very quickly and will not need as many adaptation precautions. Trust his behavior, but don't skip the steps.

If the adaptation is not easy, install a Feliway-type pheromone diffuser. The smell will help your kitten calm down and gain confidence.

Put his transport crate in the room and let him go out on his own. Above all, do not force it, it may need time. Do not hesitate to show him his litter right away and scratch it yourself a little so that he better understands the principle. Offer to eat, leave games within reach and let him explore the house on his own.

The first night

The first night can be difficult for an uprooted kitten. Place him in his sleeping basket and try to resist the temptation to fetch him. It may need 3 to 4 nights to settle in. If you want to give him access to your room, you can, but know that he will get used to it and that you will no longer be able to forbid him.

Never adopt a kitten less than 2 months old, but ideally wait 3 months. Before that, the kitten will not have had time to learn potty training and socialization with its mother.

Health

Make an appointment with the veterinarian as soon as possible so that he can carry out an initial health check on your cat. He can also plan with you his identification by tattoo or chip, his vaccines, even his sterilization. He will compile your animal's file for his health monitoring and he will advise you on the care to be given to him.

Meeting your family

Curb the general enthusiasm and introduce the family members one at a time to your kitten. Explain to your children that a cat is not a toy, that it is fragile, and teach them how to handle it properly and caress it without hurting it. You will also avoid scratches and tears.

The first outings

If you have possible and secure access to the outside, you can let your kitten go out in your garden. On the other hand, wait until he has been with you for at least a month so that he considers your house as his own and does not decide to flee.

Watch him carefully and get him used to it, if he agrees, going out equipped with a leash and a harness to get him used to this new space. Avoid any risk of danger and do not let your kitten have access to territories outside your garden too early for fear of cars and other dangers.

You now know all the right things to do to welcome your kitten and make their first months easier. Be patient and gentle. Listen to her and give her all the love you can; he will give it back to you very largely!