Adapting Kittens to their New Homes

By Seth Mullins

Reinforcing good indoor habits in new kittens is usually not too difficult because felines tend to prefer a clean and orderly environment. They can be as particular about where they go to the toilet, for example, as we humans are. If we use a little common sense and are consistent with our methods, then, we can help our pets to grow comfortable with their new homes and rest assured that they won’t be wreaking havoc with our lives.

Cats prefer their litter boxes in quiet places removed from the areas where they eat and sleep. They also aren’t too keen on sharing their private bathrooms with other pets. Most boxes are simple plastic pans; but if you have a particularly active kitten that likes to play with the litter and make a mess, you might consider buying a box with a lid. Loose litter in a tray is easy to clean up, and is soft on a kitten’s paws. Though some brands contain scented pebbles or deodorizers, most cats dislike these varieties because the odor is too strong. They’re usually reluctant to use a cluttered and messy box, too, so it’s important that we keep them clean at all times.

Kittens may need to be encouraged to visit their litter boxes, initially. This we can do by gently placing them inside, about once an hour, and waiting until they eliminate. Eventually they will learn to go and use the box on their own whenever they need to.

Cat flaps can also be confusing to our pets at first. It may take time before they learn that they can push through the flaps with their noses or paws. We can prop the little doorway open and allow our kittens two views: the outdoors from inside the house, and the inside of the house from outdoors. It’s usually easier to entice them to come into the house, because that’s their familiar environment. We can use a food treat or favorite toy to give them the incentive to do this, and after a few successes continue the exercise with the flap down until they are comfortable with pushing through it.

Kittens should be kept indoors for three or four weeks before they’re allowed outdoors. They need to get used to all the sights, sounds and smells of our homes until they are relaxed and unafraid. Also, this gives them time to grow fond of their new environment so that they’ll want to come back to it. Initially, they should be let out for brief periods during the day and supervised. If we let them walk on their own, we can be sure that they’re going only so far as they’re comfortable. Also, kittens leave scent trails with their feet pads that can help them to find their way home. They may be reluctant to go to the toilet outdoors, at first, because their would mean advertising their presence to other neighborhood cats. For this reason, we should hold onto our litter boxes even after our kittens are acclimatized to being outside.

Watching a kitten become loyal to us and develop a strong bond with its new home can be one of the greatest joys we experience as pet owners. If we are caring, patient and consistent, we will usually find that this process happens naturally. Soon we will feel at ease about letting our young cats outside alone, knowing that they will soon return to the people and surroundings they love best.