Is your new ball of fur about to arrive at your home? Certain rules are to respect when a kitten arrives. First of all, it is essential to properly prepare for the arrival of the kitten, in particular its future living spaces, then to follow these 4 crucial steps. Don’t rush things and let time take its course!
1. Let it go gently
You’ve been dreaming of this moment for weeks… your furball has finally arrived at your home! Worried or impatient, the kitten awaits its release in its transport box (purchased in advance). It’s time for him to discover his new home.
Place the crate in the location you would like him to discover first (the location where his bowls are located is a wise choice so that he immediately knows where to hydrate and eat). Open the door gently and take a few steps back. It is very likely that the kitten will curl up for a few minutes at the bottom of its crate, let him come out alone.
2. Let him explore
Patience and gentleness are the key words! Once out of its crate, show the kitten where the water and food as well as the litter box are by scratching the sand with your fingers so that it understands its usefulness. Do not close the door of the transport boxit can serve as a refuge in case of worry. Afterwards, let him explore his new environment. Don’t be too intrusive while exploring. It must be able to evolve freely.
To relax him, you can try to play with him, but don’t immediately walk him around covering him with kisses and hugs. If you see that despite your attempts, your kitten is too scared, go gradually. He can first explore a closed room then once he seems safe, introduce him to a new room and so on. Don’t force him to go to a room he doesn’t want to go to. One day or another it will go by itself.
3. Introduce it to family members
This step is crucial for the rest of the events. The new arrival will be forced to live with people and animals who are already well established and who have habits to which the kitten will have to adapt. It is therefore very important that all these beautiful people get to know each other quickly!
Humans
Once again, gentleness is required when it comes to presentation to humans. Explain to your children the behavior they should adopt during their first meeting with the little tomcat, in particular things to avoid such as cries, noises, sudden movements, etc. In order to put the kitten at ease, make presentations in a regular and calm tone (your voice is a first point of reference for him). This allows you to properly build the first foundations of your relationship. Don’t leave your kitten alone (with other people in your family or completely alone), your presence also constitutes a real benchmark for him.
The animals
Meeting other animals in the house is a delicate and even stressful stage! It may prove to be a little tense but it is necessary. Your other pets may feel threatened by the arrival of a new animal and fear that this arrival will disrupt the entire organization of the home.
For this first meeting, bring together the old and new roommates in a closed room. It is preferable that this room has a high space so that the kitten can take refuge there. if he is scared. Sit in the corner of the room and let the animals do their thing. Unless they are fighting, you don’t have to intervene. If they are suspicious of each other or ignore each other at first, that’s completely normal, it doesn’t mean they will never accept or appreciate each other. You need to give them time to get to know each other. Once any form of growling or spitting has stopped, you can open the room. Still monitor (without intervening) what they are doing in the rest of the house.
4. The first night at home
A kitten’s first night in its new home is mostly its first night without its mother and original family. It is therefore completely understandable that he is disturbed or even terrified..
To make the situation more livable and relax him, install it in the space that you had previously prepared for it to rest. Play calmly with him and pet him, before leaving the room, closing the door behind you. Being in an enclosed space helps make him feel safe.
Don’t break down! Don’t let the kitten sleep in your bed even if it meows to your heart’s content. He must assimilate his new sleeping space, otherwise it risks quickly becoming unlivable.
