A kitten moves in: Part 2 Arrival at the new home

Once all the preparations have been made and the home has been made cat-safe, you can pick up your pet with a clear conscience.

Picking up and settling in

Make the transport box as cosy as possible with blankets, ideally with blankets from the breeder that carry the scent of the mother and the litter. If you have difficulty getting the young cat into the box, a toy or treat will help to lure it in. Boxes with front and back doors are ideal. The box should then be stowed safely in the car, e.g. behind the front seats or, if possible, secured by the seat belts. Ideally, a second person should be in the car to secure it. Loud noises and jerky driving are to be avoided, the young animal is already stressed enough in this situation. The same applies if you are picking up on foot. Do not walk past very noisy traffic routes or roadworks, which can cause fright.

When you arrive home, take the transport box directly to the prepared room. Even though all family members will want to admire the kitten, the first contact should be limited to as few people as possible. Once in the room, first lock the door and then open the box. Do not force the cat out of the box. After all, it has been "abducted" by its previous companions and has arrived in an unfamiliar environment. If it is still in the box after an hour, try to lure it out with toys or treats. If she withdraws more and more, leave the room for about 2 hours. She may simply want to explore the new surroundings on her own.

As soon as she is out of the box, she may already react to you and want to be stroked. Don't overdo it now so that the cat is not overwhelmed. However, the kitten will usually keep its distance and look at you suspiciously. There is a trick that will help here, which anyone who doesn't know much about cats can confirm. If you ignore a cat for a long period of time, it will eventually come and draw attention to itself. This is also the reason why cats often stroke the legs of someone who doesn't know much about the animal or jump onto their lap. Once the house cat has had a drink and done its business, you can open the door and observe how it reacts. This will show whether it is ready for further exploration of the home.

Exploring the flat

If the puppy wants to explore, you should always stay close by and observe. Contact with others should then be limited. When the exploration is complete, you must carefully show the kitten where the scratching post, basket, toilet and feeding areas are located. Ideally, the animal will now take a nap in the basket. Once you have gained sufficient trust, other carers can also be introduced. Children should be warned not to be too loud and hectic. After all, even small cats have claws and, in the worst case, will fight back. If other pets are present, the first contacts with each other should always be supervised. Show your pets that you accept and protect the kitten.

To the vet

Once a good basis of trust has been established between you and your kitten, you should organise the first visit to the vet. This can take longer for pets from a home or breeder, as they have already had their first treatment. For kittens from private homes, such as farm cats, you should visit the vet as soon as possible, as you don't know whether they have already been exposed to pathogens. It is essential to make an appointment to avoid long waiting times. There may now be problems with the transport box, as there are probably not too many good memories of the last journey. A large amount of treats will certainly help here.
Once you have made it to the vet, the visit should be limited to the most necessary treatments. Firstly, the cat will not be in an unfamiliar environment for too long and the visit should also be as painless as possible to avoid lasting bad memories of the doctor. Neutering is recommended, but should not be carried out immediately. Talk to the vet at length about the subject and think about it carefully. Here you can also get further advice, including on the subject of food.

Once you have decided on a new food, the changeover should be gentle. Over the course of a week, you should always mix a larger proportion of the new food into the old food until only the new food is on the menu. Make sure you choose a food for young cats, as they have different nutritional requirements to adult cats. Liebesgut has developed the BIO Junior line especially for this purpose.

Outdoor cat or not?

If your cat is healthy and you have a quiet garden away from busy roads, there is nothing to stop you from letting your velvet paw outside. However, you should not act too hastily: Before you send your kitty out to roam, she needs to acclimatise to your home for four to six weeks and accept it as her new home. If neutering is to be carried out, it is advisable to do this before letting your cat out for the first time. A neutered cat will not stray so far from home and will also have less need to defend its territory. This results in fewer fights with other cats and prevents injuries. You will also be protected from unwanted pregnancies. If you want to be on the safe side, accompany your cat with a lead harness for the first few times. This way you can always keep control and intervene quickly in an emergency. If you notice signs of restlessness such as hiding, ducking and panting, you should stop and return home. However, most animals will enjoy their new-found freedom and will soon be able to cope on their own.

Once you have reached this point, you have done everything possible to naturalise the cat well. Now it's just a matter of introducing a regular routine, such as fixed feeding times, and enjoying life together.

The Liebesgut Tiernahrung team wishes all those who are taking in or have already taken in a cat a wonderful time with their velvet paw.

Our recommendations for your four-legged friend:

Tasting packs for cats

BIO Junior wet food for cats