Introduction to a New Home
This is probably your kitten's first time away from the only home it has known; it will probably feel insecure and confused. Don't expect him to be your best friend right away; give him time to become familiar with you and his new surroundings.
Show the kitten his litter box, food, and water as soon as you get home and after every nap and feeding for the first few days in his new environment. Be prepared for accidents. If the kitten misses the litter box, pick him up, put him in his box, and make digging motions with his front paws. Young kittens sometimes forget where their box is located.
During the few days after the kitten’s arrival, he may be upset, disoriented, even skittish, and may not eat willing. I always keep a few jars of Gerber Baby food (which contains no onion powder) in flavors such as Beef, Veal, and Chicken. The baby food can be used as “bribery” for the first few days and later, as a treat.
Introduce the kitten to one room at a time. Allow the kitten to explore. When a kitten becomes comfortable with his new environment, he will walk around the interior of the room rather than the perimeter. You will notice that the kitten will hold his tail upright rather than own or half mass. When the kitten is comfortable, allow him to proceed to other rooms of the house.
The kitten may cry the first couple of nights or when alone in unfamiliar surroundings. Give the kitten lots of re-assurance including whispering, encouragement and even a radio or TV.
Introduction to another animal can determine the new relationship. Are they friends or foe? The first thing to do with your new kitten is to isolate him in a separate room for the first forty-eight to seventy-two hours. This will enable you and your kitten to become acquainted and allow the kitten to adjust to one area of the house without feeling overwhelmed.
If you have other cats, we recommend wiping the new kitten and the other household cats with a solution of white vinegar and water (1:10 dilution). This will alleviate any unfamiliar smells. The cats will frequently accept each other in a shorter length of time. After the suggested isolation time, switch the kitten into the house and the “older” cat(s) into the kitten’s room. The change of rooms enables the kitten and the cat(s) to become familiar with each other’s smells. Wait until the kitten is settled and comfortable before introducing the other animals. Introduce other animals ONE AT A TIME.
