It’s very exciting to bring a new kitten home! But the first few days may be difficult for your baby Ragdoll kitten because they are used to being with their mama and siblings. It will take your new family member some time to adjust to their new home. The new environment may make them nervous and they may cry. The most important thing to remember is to be patient with your new furry friend.
Have a “safe” room for the kitten ready. This can be a spare room or if you don’t have a spare room, then your bedroom is fine. Just make sure that the bedroom has a door you can close to keep traffic and noise out. This small room will make the kitten feel safe and comfortable, away from other pets and will give the kitten time to adapt and become familiar with their new environment. Safe rooms also prevent the kitten from hiding at first.
How long should I keep my kitten in the “safe room?” It depends. Every kitten is different. Some kittens will only need 1-2 days and others may need up to a week. It’s important to be patient and follow the kittens lead.
Make sure the kitten has a bed, food, water, litter box, scratching post and toys in their safe room. Water needs to be available all the time. Keep litter and food/water far apart to prevent contamination. The litter box needs to be in an area where the kitten can easily see it and access it. Once your kitten is using the litter box and eating regularly, it may be time to start introducing them to their new home. You can do this by leaving the door slightly open and letting your kitten explore. Don’t rush or force the kitten but let him/her explore at their own pace.
Supplies:
Stainless steel, glass or ceramic water and food bowl
Flowing water dish (optional)-this encourages the kitten to drink water
Litter box-at least one litter box per cat. We encourage getting a litter box with no cover at first while kitten gets used to their new home
Scratching Post-cats need scratching posts to sharpen their nails
Toys-our kittens and cats love small balls and any toys with feathers on them
A brush, comb and nail trimmers-Ragdolls will need to be brushed a few times per week
Wet food used at our cattery for both queens/kings and kittens
We use the pine pellets from the Tractor Supply Store and train all of our kittens on them. You are welcome to continue using that or we can also recommend the SoPhresh one from Petco.
For dry food- we feed a mixture of the Taste of the Wild, 4Health, and Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula Cat Dry Food.