Sharing your home with a kitten can be an adjustment for you all. Your kitten needs to get used to being with humans, not other kittens, in a home that’s completely new to them. You need to get used to sharing your life with a tiny furry animal - feeding them, playing with them, tidying up after them… Here's how to successfully settle in your new kitten as you start your long, happy life together.

Welcoming your kitten into their new home starts before they even arrive! First, choose a safe, quiet room for them to settle in. Second, stock up on everything they need to eat, sleep, play and toilet. On your shopping list should be:

• A cat carrier. You might be bringing your kitten home in this. Even if you’re not, you’ll use it in the future for vet visits and trips to the cattery.
• A bed. Ideally the cat bed should be big enough for when they’re an adult. A high sided or cave-like bed helps a kitten feel secure and safe.
• Two bowls: a water bowl and a food bowl. Remember some kitten food and treats. Ask the breeder or resure centre what your kitten is used to eating and stock up on that. If you plan to feed a different kitten food wait until they have settled into their new home before your transtion to a new diet.
• A litter tray. Covered litter trays are a good choice if you have young children or a dog in your home, otherwise you’ll be fine with an open one. Need some tips on litter training? Learn more here.
• Cat litter. There are a lot of different types, including pellets, recycled paper, clumping and crystals. Ask the breeder or resure centre if your kitten has used a certain type and buy that to begin with. It's best to avoid clumping litter until they are over 6 months of age.
• A scratcher. Protect your furniture by investing in a cat scratcher.
• Cat toys. Keep it simple to begin with until you know what your kitten likes to play with. Wands are always a good choice for kittens to chase and jump for.
• A collar. Being inside your kitten might not need a collar straight away but it’s a good idea to get them used to wearing one. Don't forget an ID tag with your phone number on it incase they get lost.

Helping your kitten settle into their new home involves taking it slowly and calmly. Carry them into the room you’ve prepared then open the carrier and let them come out when they’re ready. Don’t reach in and try to remove them, give them time to explore at their own pace.

Keep it just to you (the main caregiver) and your kitten at this stage. Talk quietly to them and then leave them alone for a few hours to settle in. It’s tempting to want to cuddle and play with them straight away, but they need time to adjust to their new home.

Make sure other family members know to leave the new kitten alone for now. Reassure them you’ll introduce them very soon.

Avoid overwhelming your kitten by introducing other family members and pets one at a time. Here’s how to make their first introductions successful ones:

• Bring family members into the room and stay with them.
• Encourage them to get onto your kitten’s level (the floor!) and then let the kitten approach the new person in their own time.
• Gentle pats and strokes are ok but try not to pick them up or handle them too much at this stage.
• Teach younger children how to gently touch and handle a kitten, to keep them both safe.
• Once your kitten is feeling more confident, introduce some toys and let the family enjoy some playtime with the kitten.
• Take it in turns to feed the kitten. Kittens love food and will be naturally more affectionate towards anyone who’s feeding them!
• Offer some treats every time you say hi to your kitten. This will help them gain confidence and come to you as they learn to associate people with delicious treats.

Introducing furry family members to your new kitten is similar to how you introduce human family members. Keep other pets away from your kitten until they’re feeling settled and confident in their new home.

• Introduce other pets to your kitten one at a time.
• Introducing a puppy or dog? Take them for a long walk first so they’re calm and relaxed when they meet.
• Introducing a cat? Play with them first so they've got excess energy out.

Then bring the cat to the outside of the room where the kitten is - keep the door closed for now. Offer tasty treats to the cat, then slip inside and offer treats to the kitten. This rewards them both for being near each other, helping them learn there’s nothing to fear.

There will come a time when you’ll need to leave your kitten home alone. Here’s how to make sure your kitten doesn’t do any damage to themselves or your home.

• Leave them in their safe room.
• Place a water bowl and clean litter tray in the room. If it’s breakfast or dinner time, you might need to put a food bowl in there too.
• Make sure other pets can’t get into the kitten’s room.
• Tell the whole family the plan about letting the kitten out of their room, in case someone gets home before you.

Once your kitten is happy and comfortable in their room, it’s time to extend their explorations. Introduce them to every room in the house, one by one. Make sure windows and doors are shut, so they can’t escape outside.

It’s a good idea to not let your kitten outside until they’re fully vaccinated, microchipped and desexed. If you’re planning on getting a cat door, now’s a good time to train them how to use it.

You can use a kitten harness and lead to take your kitten outside, while keeping them safe. Before taking them outside, make sure they’re wearing a collar. It should have an ID tag with their name and your contact details on it. A bell is a good idea too. Not only will you be able to hear your kitten, so will the local birds.

We hope this guide helps your new family member quickly and comfortably settle into their new home. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.