A kitten that has left everything it knows — the mother cat, its siblings, the breeder's home — is in a vulnerable situation. Your most important job in the first few days is not to shower it with love, but to provide calm and security so it can settle in at its own pace.
Prepare a starter room
Do not release the kitten into the whole flat straight away. Set aside one room with:
- Kitten food and fresh water
- A litter tray (without a lid, low enough to climb into)
- Something soft to hide under or behind
- A few toys
Let the kitten explore this one room in peace for 24–48 hours. Visit calmly and regularly — sit on the floor and let it approach you, not the other way around.
The first night
It is normal for the kitten to meow and be restless on the first night. Ask the breeder for a piece of fabric that smells of the mother or siblings. A ticking clock or a warm water bottle under a blanket can imitate the warmth of the mother cat.
Resist the urge to pick the kitten up and comfort it at every sound — it makes the settling-in period longer.
Gradually expanding the territory
After two or three days, when the kitten seems settled in the starter room (using the litter tray, eating and drinking normally, starting to play), you can slowly open the doors to the rest of the home. Let it happen at the kitten's own pace.
Introducing to other cats
Do you already have cats? Do not introduce them directly. Swap bedding so they can smell each other's scent for a couple of days. Then controlled contact through a closed door. A gradual move to visual meetings, and finally a supervised meeting in a neutral space.
Expect hissing and the occasional swipe in the first few days — this is normal. Patience is the key.