Integrating Your Kitten into Your Home
Prepare Your Home for the Arrival of Your New Companion
The arrival of your new kitten at home is a big day—often eagerly anticipated and very exciting. That said, for your kitten, it’s quite the opposite. For the first time, he is being uprooted from his family and losing all of his familiar landmarks. It is essential for every adopter to respect the kitten’s pace of adjustment.
Your new companion has never known any environment other than the one he is leaving behind: the cattery, his mother, and his siblings. As a result, patience and a great deal of gentleness are required to help him feel comfortable, safe, and reassured in his new home.
Provide a small room just for him—ideally a powder room or bathroom—that household members will avoid using for a period of 3 to 5 days. Keep your kitten away from noisy appliances such as washing machines, which can easily frighten him.
Your kitten should be able to hear the voices of people in the home without feeling threatened by their presence or by sudden movements associated with daily activity. He will need a litter box, fresh water, food, and a small sleeping area with a comfort item. At Mon Chat Mouton, we provide a small blanket carrying the scent of the mother.
Avoid placing the kitten in a bedroom, as he may hide under the bed and not come out for several days. If the room is too large, he may feel constantly threatened and could develop anxiety-related behaviors.
You may gently enter the room (no more than two people at a time), sit down, and speak to him in a calm, reassuring voice. Selkirk Rex and Devon Rex kittens are playful, and generally, your kitten will venture out of his comfort zone for short moments of play and cuddles.
You can allow your kitten to explore the rest of the house 3 to 5 days after arrival. Ideally, open the door and let him explore on his own, preferably when children are at school. This will help him feel calmer and more at ease. Always leave the door to his original room open so he can return there if he does not yet feel ready. We recommend closing bedroom doors, basement access, and any unnecessary rooms during his first days at home.
Every animal integrates at their own pace. Some will adjust within two days, while others may take up to ten days.