🐾 Before Your Kitten Comes Home

The first few days matter more than people realize. A quiet, prepared environment helps kittens settle in faster and build confidence.

Your kitten may:

• ☐ Hide at first
• ☐ Explore cautiously
• ☐ Sleep more than expected
• ☐ Cry during the first night
• ☐ Become attached very quickly

🍽 Food & Feeding

Start with the same food your breeder recommends before changing diets.

✔ You’ll Need

• ☐ Shallow ceramic or stainless bowls
• ☐ Wet kitten food
• ☐ Quality dry kitten food
• ☐ Fresh water available at all times
• ☐ Optional water fountain

✖ Avoid

• ☐ Deep plastic bowls
• ☐ Sudden food changes
• ☐ Cow’s milk

🚽 Litter Box Setup

For kittens:

• ☐ Use low-entry boxes
• ☐ Place boxes in quiet areas
• ☐ Keep them easy to access
• ☐ Scoop daily

🛏 Create a Safe Space

For the first few days, keep your kitten in a quiet contained area.

Good spaces:

• ☐ Bedroom
• ☐ Office
• ☐ Nursery space
• ☐ Quiet contained area

✔ Include

• ☐ Litter box
• ☐ Food/water
• ☐ Bed or blanket
• ☐ Scratching surface
• ☐ Toys

🧸 Best Toys for Kittens

Kittens need enrichment, movement, and play to build confidence and coordination.

Favorites:

• ☐ Teaser wands
• ☐ Soft plush toys
• ☐ Crinkle balls
• ☐ Tunnels
• ☐ Small kickers
• ☐ Interactive puzzle toys

✂ Grooming & Face Care

Exotic Shorthairs need regular facial maintenance because of their flat faces.

Care checklist:

• ☐ Gentle eye wiping
• ☐ Cleaning around the nose folds
• ☐ Brushing the coat
• ☐ Nail trimming
• ☐ Checking ears

🏠 Kitten-Proof Your Home

Before arrival, do a tiny chaos inspection.

• ☐ Hide cords
• ☐ Remove toxic plants
• ☐ Secure strings/ribbon
• ☐ Block tiny hiding spots
• ☐ Put away fragile decor

❤️ Building Trust

The fastest way to bond with a kitten is to go slow and let them feel safe.

• ☐ Sit on the floor
• ☐ Speak softly
• ☐ Let them approach first
• ☐ Use playtime often
• ☐ Avoid overstimulation

📅 First Vet Visit

Schedule a wellness visit shortly after bringing your kitten home.

Your vet can help with:

• ☐ Vaccines
• ☐ Deworming schedules
• ☐ Nutrition
• ☐ Microchipping
• ☐ Future spay/neuter timing