The Complete Kitten Arrival Checklist: Everything You Need Before Bringing Home Your Rex Kitten
The Night Before Changes Everything
You've been approved, you've signed the contract, and your pickup date is set. Now comes the part that catches many new owners off guard: what do I actually need to have ready?
At Mon Chat Mouton, we've sent home hundreds of kittens. We know exactly which products make the first week smooth — and which purchases people regret. This checklist is what we send to every adopter, and it's based on real experience, not guesswork.
Category 1: The Carrier (Non-Negotiable)
Your kitten's very first experience with you will be inside a carrier. This is not the time to improvise with a cardboard box or an open bag. You need a proper hard-shell or soft-sided carrier that meets these requirements:
Top-opening — this is critical. A kitten that's scared will brace against the walls. A top-opening carrier lets you gently lift them out rather than pulling them through a narrow front door.
Proper ventilation — mesh panels on at least two sides.
Washable interior — accidents happen during transport. A removable, machine-washable liner saves you.
Secure latches — cats are escape artists. Double-check that the zippers or clasps are kitten-proof.
We recommend a carrier that's sized for an adult cat (not kitten-sized), because you'll use it for years — vet visits, travel, emergencies.
👉 See our recommended carriers in the Boutique →
Category 2: Food & Water Setup
Food
Your kitten will come home with a small bag of the food they're currently eating. Do not switch foods during the first two weeks. The stress of a new environment is already enough on their digestive system.
After two weeks, if you want to transition to a different food, do it gradually over 7–10 days by mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old.
What to have ready: a low-sided ceramic or stainless steel food bowl (not plastic — plastic harbors bacteria and can cause chin acne in cats).
👉 See our food recommendations in the Boutique →
Water
A water fountain is the single best investment you can make for your cat's long-term health. Cats evolved to prefer moving water, and a fountain encourages them to drink 2–3 times more than a still bowl. This is especially important for male cats to prevent urinary issues.
Get the fountain running before your kitten arrives so it's already part of the environment.
👉 See our water fountain picks in the Boutique →
Category 3: Litter & Litter Box
The Box
For a kitten, start with an open-top, low-sided box. Covered litter boxes can feel intimidating to a small kitten in a new home, and the low sides make it easy for them to climb in. You can upgrade to a hooded box later once they're confident.
The golden rule: one box per cat, plus one extra. So for one kitten, have two boxes available.
The Litter
We use a fine-grain, clumping, unscented litter. Unscented is important — cats have a sense of smell 14 times stronger than ours, and heavily perfumed litters can actually discourage them from using the box.
Your kitten is already trained to use the litter box when they leave our cattery. If you use the same type of litter we use, the transition is seamless. If you want to switch litter types, do it gradually — mix the new litter with the old over a week.
👉 See our litter & accessories in the Boutique →
Category 4: Scratching & Play
Scratching Posts
Kittens need to scratch — it's not optional. If you don't provide appropriate scratching surfaces, they'll use your furniture. Have at least one vertical sisal scratching post and one horizontal cardboard scratcher available from day one.
Toys
Devon Rex kittens are extraordinarily playful and need mental stimulation. Selkirk Rex kittens are a bit more mellow but still love interactive play. Must-haves for the first week include an interactive wand toy (for bonding sessions), small mice or crinkle balls (for solo play), and a puzzle feeder (for mental stimulation and slowing down fast eaters).
👉 See our toy recommendations in the Boutique →
Category 5: Comfort & Safety
A Safe Room
Before your kitten arrives, designate one room as their "safe room" for the first few days. This should contain their food, water, litter box, a bed, and a hiding spot. Don't give them the run of the entire house immediately — it's overwhelming.
A Cozy Bed or Blanket
We send each kitten home with a blanket that smells like their mother and siblings. Place this in their bed on the first night. The familiar scent dramatically reduces stress.
A hooded cat bed or a simple fleece-lined donut bed works well. Devon Rex especially love warm, enclosed sleeping spots because of their thin coat.
Kitten-Proofing
Before pickup day, do a sweep of your home for common kitten hazards: electrical cords (cover or hide them), toxic plants (lilies are deadly to cats), small objects that could be swallowed, open toilets (close the lid), and accessible cleaning products.
Category 6: Health Essentials
Grooming
For Selkirk Rex: a wide-tooth comb for their curly coat (never a fine-tooth comb — it destroys the curls). For Devon Rex: a soft rubber brush or grooming mitt is enough — their coat is delicate and over-brushing causes bald patches.
Both breeds benefit from regular ear cleaning and nail trimming. Get a gentle ear cleaner and a pair of cat nail clippers.
First Vet Visit
Schedule your first vet visit within 72 hours of bringing your kitten home. This is often required by your health guarantee and it establishes your kitten's baseline health record with your local veterinarian.
👉 See our health & grooming picks in the Boutique →
The Quick-Reference Checklist
Here's everything in one list — print this out or save it to your phone:
☐ Hard-shell or soft-sided carrier (top-opening)
☐ Ceramic or stainless steel food bowls (×2)
☐ Water fountain
☐ Same food as the breeder (we'll provide a bag)
☐ Open-top litter box (×2)
☐ Fine-grain, unscented clumping litter
☐ Vertical sisal scratching post
☐ Horizontal cardboard scratcher
☐ Interactive wand toy
☐ Small mice/crinkle balls
☐ Cozy bed or fleece blanket
☐ Cat nail clippers
☐ Ear cleaning solution
☐ Breed-appropriate brush/comb
☐ Vet appointment booked within 72 hours
→ Find Everything on This List in Our Boutique
Mon Chat Mouton is a family-run Selkirk Rex and Devon Rex cattery in Quebec. Our boutique contains affiliate links — when you purchase through our links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Every product listed has been personally tested in our cattery.