First prepare a quiet room for your kitten to stay in for the first week while it is adjusting. A bedroom will work nicely, and if you want your kitten to sleep with you, put him in your room.   A master bath is a good place for the litter box, and food/water bowls.  There should also be a scratching post for the kitten to condition his/her claws on. 

The kitten will feel more secure in a smaller area, it will be easier for him/her to find the litter box, and this will help re-enforce good litter habits.  It will also make it easier to find its food and water bowls.  If you give the kitten too much space, it will become overwhelmed and find a place to hide.  

Please remember that a new kitten is going to be afraid.  It's been taken away from its home, mom and litter mates.  He/she is in a new place, with new people, different sights, sounds and smells. That's pretty scary, even for the bravest kitten.  You need to reassure the kitten, speak softly, be gentle, check on the kitten often.  If the kitten is hiding gently pull it out, sit on the floor, put it on your lap and pet.  It will feel safer near the floor, at first.  

It can take a few days and up to a  week for the kitten to settle in and feel comfortable. The first day or two expect the kitten to cry often.  It is searching for it's mom and litter mates.  If you call the kitten, chances are it will come running to you.   It is seeking reassurance a little extra TLC will go a long way.   Kittens don't eat much the first few days.  It is very important to feed the recommended foods, or stomach upset could occur.  Some kittens will not eat a different food, they like Mom's cooking.  Keep putting out fresh canned food.  Call me if you are concerned.  I can give you advice on getting your kitten to eat.  

After the first week you can let the kitten explore the rest of the house, return him to his room if you are leaving the house and you are concerned for his safety.  If you have other pets, introduce them very gradually, don't leave them alone together unless you are certain they are all getting along.    I will be happy to give you more detailed instructions if you need it.

1.  Food:  Life's Abundance Cat Food:  CLICK HERE TO ORDER.  This is a premium food made from human grade ingredients, made fresh in small batches.  Designed for cats and kittens.  A small bag 6.6 oz will last one kitten approximately 10 weeks.  Order on auto-ship at 10 week intervals and save money.  Delivered to your door fresh.  Canned food Instinctive Choice Organic Chicken (order with your Life's Abundance).

I also feed canned Friskies Chicken and Gravy, and canned Friskies Turkey and Gibblets Patte.

2.  Scratching Post:  An excellent quality post for a reasonable price is "The Ultimate Scratching Post".  It is a tall tip proof post, and easy to assemble.  You can order the post from:  DrsFosterSmith.com.    Any tall tip proof scratching post with carpet and sisal rope combination will work.  The cats also really like those little corrugated cardboard scratching pads that sell for around $5 at most stores.   Please provide a variety, and place around the house.

3.     Food/water bowls.  A medium sized stone-wear, or ceramic bowl for water is recommended. Cats drink more water from this type of bowl, it stays cooler and fresher tasting.  Same for dry food.  No plastic bowls, as they have an offensive smell and will turn your kitten away from it's food/water.  Stainless steel is also acceptable.

4.  Litter box:  Large or jumbo sized, a hood will help keep your kitten from tracking the litter.  Purchase a scoop to remove waist daily.

5.  Litter:  Purchase Tidy Cat Scoopable or Fresh Step Scoopable.  Your kitten is trained on a "clay based" litter.  No pine, pellets, wheat, corn, cystals, or any other type of litter that is not fine grained (like sand), or clay based.  This is VERY important. 

6.  Grooming:  Purchase a steel comb for grooming.  It will remove loose hair and keep the coat looking beautiful.  You can use a slicker brush for touch ups, but the slicker brush does not get down deep into the coat like a steel comb does.  Claws trimming:  A toenail clippers works best.    

7.  Kennel:  A sturdy medium sized plastic kennel with steel bolts is best.  A soft sided kennel is ok too, but the cats seem to prefer the plastic sturdy kennels. 

Vaccination Instructions: