Moving In - Settling Your Kitten Into Their New Home
21.04.2026 - Reading time: 4 minutes
Have you decided to give a kitten a home? Then exciting weeks lie ahead. Depending on its temperament and socialization, and possibly its breed and sex, your kitten will conquer its new home in its own unique way. Read this general guide on how to prepare your home for the arrival of your kitten and what you should pay attention to.
Your Kitten Is Moving In - When Is The Best Time?
Ideally, a kitten should not be separated from its mother before it is at least twelve weeks old. Researchers have even found that young cats exhibit fewer behavioural problems and develop a particularly confident and friendly nature if they live with their mother and siblings for the first thirteen weeks. A little patience can pay off in helping your cat develop into a well-adjusted and confident companion. Nevertheless, separation from its mother and siblings is never easy for a kitten.
It can be a good idea to take scent samples from the cat family before you bring the kitten home. To do this, rub a cloth against the animals’ cheeks. During the first few days in its new home, the familiar scent will comfort the little kitten. In the same way it can be beneficial if the kitten already knows your scent before the move. If possible, lend an article of clothing, such as a worn T-shirt, that the kitten can examine. A pheromone diffuser in the kitten’s room will also help reduce stress for a young animal.
How Do I Introduce My Kitten To Their New Home?
Moving house is always exciting but young kittens can be easily overwhelmed by too many new impressions at once. If possible, prepare a room that the kitten can have entirely to itself at first. This shouldn’t be a room that serves as a passageway. Ideally, you should be able to secure the room with something like a puppy pen so that the kitten can observe everything from its position without having to leave the arrival room. The kitten’s room shouldn’t offer too many hiding places, but it should contain everything the kitten needs: a litter box, a cozy bed, food and water bowls, toys and perhaps a scratching post. Click here to find some basic equipment:
Once you’ve arrived home with your new roommate, put the carrier down and open the door. Let the kitten choose to leave the carrier on its own; don’t lift or pull them out. Only if they show no sign of leaving the carrier after several hours should you try to coax them out with a toy or a special treat. As difficult as it may be, hold back during the first few hours and give them time to get their bearings and take in all the new smells and sounds. An outgoing kitten will soon explore the room on its own and seek contact with people or other pets.
How Long Does It Take For A Kitten To Settle In?
It’s important to let the kitten take the initiative. It needs time to assess the unfamiliar surroundings and new people. It will likely soon want to discover what lies beyond the door. Once they feel confident moving around the room, you can gradually introduce it to the other rooms. If it already allows you to pet it, carry it to another room – it might even follow you. Let them explore the new space and then return it to its own room. Even among cats, there are extroverted explorers and shy individuals. Don’t be disappointed if your kitten is one of the more cautious types and takes a little longer to accept the new environment or to begin interacting with you.
Resist the temptation to pick up and restrain the kitten against its will; instead, wait for the moment when it approaches you. For the first few days, try to surround the kitten with as much that is familiar as possible: a blanket from its old home, its usual food, and the same brand of cat litter. If you want to make changes to the food and litter, do so gradually and little by little – once the kitten has gained confidence in its new home, the transition will be easier.
Here is a small checklist of what you need to take care of in advance:
- Dog collar or harness?
- What do you want to feed your dog? Dry or wet food?
- When does the dog have to be registered for tax purposes?
- Regulations of the local administration on keeping dogs (lead requirement, etc.)
- Take out dog owner liability insurance.
- Find a vet.
- Is there a puppy school nearby?
- Who will look after your dog in the event of illness?
Talking to other dog owners as well as personal preferences (e.g. on the choice of puppy school) can help you make a decision. For health issues, the vet is always a suitable contact, who will also be happy to advise you on feeding.
How Do I Introduce A Kitten To An Existing Resident Cat?
If you’re getting the kitten as a second cat, your existing cat might need time to adjust to the new addition. Here’s how to make the introduction easier:
- Scent trail: Take scent samples from the new kitten and expose your cat to the smell. This way, the newcomer’s scent won’t catch your existing cat off guard.
- Conflict avoidance: The kitten’s arrival room should ideally not be the one where the resident cat prefers to spend time. Ensure that the cats can initially only sniff each other through a crack in the door or the puppy gate, so that the kitten doesn’t inadvertently enter the established cat’s territory.
- Positive conditioning: Place both cats’ food bowls on opposite sides of the door and feed them both at the same time. This way, the “foreign” smell of the food will acquire a positive meaning.
- Extra love: Give the first cat extra time and attention to prevent jealousy.
- During the initial meeting of the cats, please remain in the room. This allows you to intervene if the situation escalates. A well-socialized kitten should know the “rules of etiquette” and react appropriately to the body language of its – hopefully friendly – fellow cat.
