Bringing Home Kitten: Preparing For Go-Home!
Bringing home a British Shorthair kitten is an exciting change, and having a few familiar routines in place can make the transition much easier. This guide covers the basics of what your kitten is accustomed to while they've been staying with me, along with the products, feeding, litter, routines, and care practices I recommend continuing as they settle into your home.
I've linked additional resources throughout so you can find more detailed information without having to sort through everything at once. There are many more resources on the main Resource Page, including the Bringing Home Kitten section with additional information about things you may wonder about as you prepare for your new kitten.
I hope this guide and the additional resources help you feel equipped and prepared for bringing home your new kitten.
Recommended Products
As you go through this guide, I will mention some different things we use. Almost everything can be found on my Kitten Shopping List if you'd like a place to start with essentials, products we use, and optional items that may be helpful. You certainly don't need everything on the list, but it can give you a good starting point as you prepare.
The most important things are to have a safe, manageable space ready, familiar food and litter available, and a little patience for the adjustment period. Your kitten is going through a major change, and giving them time to settle into their new home is one of the best things you can do.
Feeding
Your kitten will be going home eating a complete raw diet and will be accustomed to eating two meals a day. Whenever possible, I recommend maintaining that schedule until at least 6 months of age.
I recommend a raw diet for my cats whenever possible, but that doesn't mean you have to prepare the food yourself. There are complete premade raw options, including frozen foods such as Darwin's, Lotus, and Blue Ridge Beef, that may be available through delivery or local pet stores. If raw isn't the right fit for your household, I recommend choosing an appropriate wet food diet and avoiding kibble whenever possible.
The most important thing is to make thoughtful decisions and avoid changing everything at once. If you plan to transition your kitten to a different food, give them time to settle into their new home first and make changes gradually when possible.
For more information about our feeding choices, raw food, transitions, and other nutrition topics, visit the Feeding Resource Guides.
Litter & Litter Boxes
Your kitten will be litter box trained when they go home, but moving to a new house can temporarily disrupt even good litter box habits. The best way to make the transition easier is to keep the setup familiar at first.
We use non-clumping pine pellet litter, along with simple, uncovered, high-sided or extra-large litter pans. We generally prefer a shallow layer of litter and clean the boxes regularly rather than maintaining a deep layer.
There are several brands of pine pellet litter available, including options from Tractor Supply Co., Feline Pine, and Exquisicat. You don't have to use the exact same brand, but I recommend keeping the litter type and box setup as similar as possible during the first couple of weeks.
Once your kitten is settled and using the box consistently, you can gradually transition to a different litter or setup, including a litter robot if you prefer.
If your kitten will have access to a larger area of the house, make sure there are enough litter boxes for them to find one easily. I recommend having at least two boxes available and generally aiming for one box per cat.
Setting Up Your Kitten's First Space
For the first several days and nights, I strongly recommend keeping your kitten in a smaller, prepared area rather than giving them full access to the house immediately. An office, large bathroom, or appropriately closed-off part of your home can work well.
Moving to a new home is a significant change for a kitten. A smaller space allows them to become familiar with new smells and sounds without becoming overwhelmed or getting lost in a large house. It also makes it easier for them to find their food, water, and litter box, while giving you a manageable space to supervise and monitor their adjustment.
When you're not available to supervise, or while your kitten is sleeping overnight, I recommend continuing to use the smaller area initially. If your kitten seems nervous, you may need to keep them in that space for longer and gradually increase their access as they become more confident.
I also recommend keeping your kitten away from beds during the initial adjustment period. Beds can be tempting places for accidents because of the soft material and familiar smells, and they are not always easy to clean.
If you have other pets that will need to be introduced, I also suggest waiting on this for the first day (or three) and have an introduction starter guide here on Meeting the Family
The more patient you are in those first days, the easier it can be for your kitten to develop good habits and feel secure in their new home.
Play, Scratching & Enrichment
Your kitten will need opportunities to play, explore, scratch, climb, and interact with you.
At a minimum, I recommend having a few appropriate toys, scratching surfaces, and a safe place to climb or perch. A cat tree, window perch, tunnels, and interactive toys can all be useful, but you certainly don't need to purchase everything at once.
Scratching posts are especially important. Some cats prefer flat cardboard scratchers, while others enjoy vertical sisal scratching surfaces. Providing different options can help your kitten find an appropriate place to scratch rather than deciding your furniture is the better option. 😂
Continued socialization is important, too. Spend time playing with your kitten, gently handling them, and allowing them to become comfortable with the people and routines in your home. If your kitten seems nervous, give them time and avoid forcing interaction- see Building Confidence in Kitty.
Veterinary Care
Before bringing your kitten home, I recommend choosing a veterinarian in advance and becoming familiar with their approach to preventative care. It’s helpful to know where you’ll go for routine care or if any questions or concerns come up after bringing your kitten home.
Spay & Neuter
Your kitten must be spayed or neutered between 5 and 10 months of age, as required by our contract. Around 7 months is often a good time, allowing your kitten additional time to grow while completing the procedure before mature hormonal behaviors become established. Your veterinarian can help you determine the best timing for your individual kitten.
Vaccinations & Preventative Care
Your kitten will not have received vaccinations before leaving us. We support families taking the time to research vaccination decisions and discuss them with their veterinarian rather than automatically following a one-size-fits-all schedule.
If you choose to vaccinate, please use discretion regarding timing and the vaccines selected. I also recommend avoiding scheduling vaccinations during the same week as spay or neuter surgery when possible, rather than placing multiple stresses on your kitten at once.
Grooming & General Care
British Shorthairs develop a dense coat that benefits from regular grooming. Your kitten may not need much brushing initially, but introducing gentle handling early can help make brushing, nail inspections and trimming, and other routine care more familiar as they grow.
I recommend having a metal comb or appropriate grooming brush available and checking your kitten's nails regularly. Scratchers may help with some natural nail maintenance, but nails should still be inspected.
You do not need to bathe your kitten routinely. If they get a dirty bottom, a warm, damp cloth is usually a more practical option than a full bath.
You can also introduce gentle toothbrushing while your kitten is young if that is something you can incorporate into their routine. Starting slowly and making handling a positive experience is more important than trying to rush through it.
Training, Safety & Building Trust
Positive training: Never hit, flick, or spray your cat with water. These approaches can damage trust and don't teach your kitten what you actually want them to do. Redirect them toward an appropriate behavior whenever possible, and intervene directly when something is dangerous.
Confidence and trust: Play, gentle handling, and consistent routines are some of the best ways to help your kitten become comfortable with you. Some kittens are food-motivated, while others respond more to toys, affection, or interaction.
Supervision: Kittens are curious and can get into situations they don't yet understand. Make sure their environment is safe, particularly while they are learning what they can climb, chew, and explore.
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