How to Ease a Rescue Kitten's Transition

It can be extremely rewarding to add a rescue pet to your family. For one thing, you are adding a new member to your family that, for one reason or another, was abandoned by another. Additionally, some shelters still euthanize animals that cannot be adopted, even kittens, so you are also saving a life. Because the animal's history may not be known, your rescue kitten should be handled with extreme care, as it may be skittish, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. Giving the kitten time to get used to its new home will ease your rescue kitten's transition as your new pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Pet bowls
  • Kitten food
  • Pet bedding
  • Litter box
  • Kitten treats
  • Cat toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Have everything you need on hand and set up prior to bringing your new kitten home. Set up bowls with fresh water and kitten food, arrange bedding for your kitten to sleep on and a litter box located in a discreet spot, have treats on hand to reward your kitten and keep plenty of toys around to keep your kitten occupied. Use the same food, treats and litter that were being used at the shelter for a few weeks before changing brands, if necessary.

    • 2

      Keep the kitten in a cat carrier to keep from getting underfoot, having an accident or potentially getting hurt on the ride home from the shelter.

    • 3

      Limit your kitten's access to one or two rooms initially, preferably with places for the kitten to play and hide; this will make it easier to monitor your kitten's whereabouts and well-being.

    • 4

      Spend time with the kitten without forcing affection on it for the first couple of days. Spend time in the room with the kitten and offer treats as enticement. Let the kitten to sniff around and mark its territory by rubbing on walls and objects.

    • 5

      Introduce other members of the family, including pets, slowly. Do not overwhelm the kitten with lots of strangers and physical contact. Allow other pets to introduce themselves and be prepared to remove them, if necessary.

    • 6

      Open up the rest of the home slowly to the kitten. Allow the kitten to have free roam after about a week or so, but maintain the initial area as a sanctuary for the kitten.

    • 7

      Give your kitten as much attention as it will allow you to give, especially in the first few weeks; this is when the bonds are established that will last its entire lifetime.