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New Luck Owner
- Thread starter Sam
- Start date
Hi Sam, you've already received lots of good advice. First let me say that every kitten, regardless of its breed, is individual and will respond individually to moving to a new home. Some pop right out of the carriers, greet you with headbutts, and start exploring. Others are initially shy but start to warm up after several hours. A few others will be shell shocked and take the move hard. These are the kittens that may take days, weeks, or even months to readjust to a new home. The key is to be patient and flexible, and allow your kitten to take whatever time she needs to adjust. If she has a difficult adjustment we can give you good advice on how to help her along.
In any case, whether she bounces out of the carrier or is shy and wants to hide, it's important to start her out in a small area such as a bathroom. The bedroom can work, just be aware if she is scared she may hide under the bed or behind a piece of furniture and you may not see her for a few days. It's important that you have her food, water, and litterbox all within easy reach, especially in the beginning. Remember, this is just a baby you are bringing into your huge house - she needs to be able to find the litterbox easily, otherwise she will simply use the nearest corner.
I would recommend keeping her confined for at least a week or more until she seems quite comfortable with her new surroundings and new humans. Once she starts becoming curious about what's on the other side of the door you can let her out on supervised visits to other parts of the home. Start with just one room at a time. Monitor her carefully. Make sure she can easily find her way back to food, water, and litterbox. Little kittens can become so distracted with exploring or play they can forget they have to go potty until they have to go right now! So they must know how to find it easily.
A 5000sq ft home is massive to a little kitten so I would take as long as needed to introduce her to different parts of the house, making sure she always knows how to find her way back to the food, water, and litterbox. If you want to have these things in another area permanently go ahead and set them up, and teach her where they are as well. Just don't remove the original ones until she is using those in the permanent area consistently.
This all may sound a bit compulsive and overwhelming, but it really is what's best to ensure a smooth transaction into your home. It will take time - but not that much time, and soon you will have a wonderful, well adjusted new family member sharing your lives - which btw will never be the same again!!!
In any case, whether she bounces out of the carrier or is shy and wants to hide, it's important to start her out in a small area such as a bathroom. The bedroom can work, just be aware if she is scared she may hide under the bed or behind a piece of furniture and you may not see her for a few days. It's important that you have her food, water, and litterbox all within easy reach, especially in the beginning. Remember, this is just a baby you are bringing into your huge house - she needs to be able to find the litterbox easily, otherwise she will simply use the nearest corner.
I would recommend keeping her confined for at least a week or more until she seems quite comfortable with her new surroundings and new humans. Once she starts becoming curious about what's on the other side of the door you can let her out on supervised visits to other parts of the home. Start with just one room at a time. Monitor her carefully. Make sure she can easily find her way back to food, water, and litterbox. Little kittens can become so distracted with exploring or play they can forget they have to go potty until they have to go right now! So they must know how to find it easily.
A 5000sq ft home is massive to a little kitten so I would take as long as needed to introduce her to different parts of the house, making sure she always knows how to find her way back to the food, water, and litterbox. If you want to have these things in another area permanently go ahead and set them up, and teach her where they are as well. Just don't remove the original ones until she is using those in the permanent area consistently.
This all may sound a bit compulsive and overwhelming, but it really is what's best to ensure a smooth transaction into your home. It will take time - but not that much time, and soon you will have a wonderful, well adjusted new family member sharing your lives - which btw will never be the same again!!!
Welcome, Sam, and congratulations on the new kitten!
As to litterboxes, although you will just have the one kitten it sounds like you have a large home so I would suggest at least initially to have more than one litterbox. It's way better to have too many than to have your kitten forget where the one box is located... easier to reduce number of boxes later on than have a problem using the litterbox!
I would suggest setting up one room for your kitten's use...and then play it by ear on Thanksgiving. If she seems worried by all the noise and commotion then put her in "her" room where she has everything she needs. Then if people want to see her, arrange to take one in at a time, giving her time to herself and making it less stressful for her. Of course, she could be delighted to have all those visitors and all could be great, but be prepared if your little one is just overwhelmed by all the strangers.
I hope she brings you lots of joy and helps you over the loss of your previous cat and dog
Sam
Savannah Super Cat
I do have one more question, regarding the quarantine time... We are planning to put her in our master bath, do I put her litter box and food/water in the same master bath with them being distant from one another? The fact that we will constantly open the master bath door and use it for showing etc... Would that effect her in a negative way? We do have a tv in our master bath, should we leave it on for her?
SV Dad
Savannah Super Cat
Yes, keep a litter box in the master bath and the food and water separated.
Coming in and out is just fine and is necessary for the kitten to adjust to the new humans. Side bet, the kitten will try to escape by about the third day.
TV? I would just use it when you need it. Some quiet time is good for the kitten. However, my youngest cat loves Big Cat Diaries on Animal Planet.
Sue
Savannah Super Cat
I met Rascaldad's Rascal during his first days at home. My daughter and I were able to play with him in the bedroom. When I got Tink, I had her confined to the shower which is where a tub was once located, with glass shower doors. We had food, water, bed , litter box and toys in the shower. I got her on 8/30. 8/31 is my birthday. We went out to dinner. The shower doors were wedged closed, so that she could not escape, at least I thought she couldn't. We came home to wedge removed, shower door open and 1 savannah missing. We eventually found her. So even though she was supposed to be isolated from our Scottish Fold and Russian Blue cats, it was not happening. She would not stay in the shower. Almost as fast as I could wedge the shower door, she would unwedge it. After trying many different things as a wedge, we gave up. She won and got free run of the house by day 3. Sue
Sue
Savannah Super Cat
Tink was born on May 1 and she weighed 4 pounds on 8/31. She is an F6. I also had a houseful of company over that Labor Day weekend. She was out playing with everyone. My son had her chasing a feather wand so fast, she got dizzy. She is 2 years 6 months old now and weighs about 8.5 pounds. SueNow that is a great story