Making a move away from momma and siblings can be super stressful, but there are a few things you can do before brining home a new kitten which will help to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Prepare a quiet space
Your kitten should have a small, quiet space dedicated for them specifically. Before bringing your new pet home, you may want to start thinking about where you would like this space to be. Usually people opt to use a small bedroom or a bathroom. In this space you will want to have a litter box, a bed or blanket, some toys and a scratching surface, as well as food and water bowls (placed somewhere as far away from the litter box as possible to prevent cross contamination). For at least the first week, the kitten should spend any unsupervised time in their safe, dedicated space.
Slow introductions
For those who have other pets living in the home, it is especially important to introduce a new furry family member to existing pets slowly. I personally would not suggest attempting to start this process until the kitten’s initial quarantine period has passed. Most breeders would suggest quarantining a new kitten for at least the first week, but I would go as far as suggesting the newcomer should remain in quarantine until they have had their first vet examination, and if you’re willing to spend the extra money just to be proactive, after they’ve had fecal and upper respiratory PCR lab work completed too.
During this initial quarantine period, the kitten will become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of their new home. This will make meeting new furry family members less stressful, especially if they’ve had a chance to smell and hear each other from the other side of a closed door before being introduced.
For those interested in learning more about how to introduce your pet to existing pets, Jaxson Galaxy has a great series of blog posts dedicated to the subject. Here are links to that five part series:
Cat Introductions Part 1: Before the Introduction
Cat Introductions Part 2: Welcome Home!
Cat Introductions Part 3: Dinner Time
Cat Introductions Part 4: Love at First Sight
Cat Introductions Part 5: The Final Countdown
Reduce stressors
Most pet owners do not realize this, but when a kitten or cat is stressed, it can have both behavioral and physiological effects on an otherwise healthy kitten or cat (ref. 1). Some of the most common sickness behaviors to keep an eye out for is vomiting (hair, food, or bile), decreased appetite, and eliminating out of the litter pan. In addition to dedicating a safe, quiet space and doing slow introductions, it’s important to be sure to reduce any unnecessary stressors that could adversely affect your new pet and cause one or more of these sickness behaviors..
Stick to a routine
One of the easiest ways to help reduce stressors with your new kitten is to create a familiar routine. This includes setting a feeding, play, and cleaning schedule that works best for you and your family, and doing your best to stick with it.
With this routine, it’s also wise to avoid any new, potentially stressful and unnecessary experiences that include, but are not limited to quickly changing brands of food or litter, restraint stress (extended time in a cage or carrier), anesthesia, multiple unfamiliar caretakers, withdrawal of auditory enrichment or positive human-animal interaction, and (even if the kitten or cat is accustomed to it thanks to the breeder) getting a bath. Some of these experiences should be avoided all together, and others should be held off until the kitten has become fully integrated into its new home.
Provide plenty of enrichment
Cats need dedicated, daily play time just as much as they need free access to food, water, and litter. In order to ensure the mental and physiological well-being of your cat, it’s important to provide plenty of enrichment. This includes toys to hunt, chase, and pounce on, as well as scratching/climbing/perching surfaces and purposely provided hiding spots. Any domesticated cat that’s bored risks developing behavioral issues, but especially so with a super intelligent and active breed like a Maine Coon. Providing plenty of enrichment is another simple way to ensure an otherwise healthy kitten or cat does not risk becoming unwell and displaying sickness behavior.
Summary
By taking the time to prepare in advance, bringing home a new kitten or cat can be a rewarding and stress-free experience for both owner and pet.
References:
Stella J, Croney C, Buffington T. Effects of stressors on the behavior and physiology of domestic cats. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2013;143(2-4):157-163. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2012.10.014
