Bringing a Kitten Home
Everything You Need for a Relaxed Start in a New Home
Bringing a kitten home is a special moment that many people look forward to for weeks or even months. To make this exciting day as relaxed as possible, it's worth preparing all the essentials before your new companion arrives.
From my experience as a cat breeder, there is one piece of advice I'd especially like to share: Prepare everything in advance. If the food and water bowls, litter tray, sleeping area, and scratching tree are already in place, you can devote your full attention to your new family member on the big day. You'll have time to welcome your kitten calmly, watch its first curious steps around its new home, and simply enjoy this unforgettable moment.
Our Tip
Have all of your kitten's essentials ready before the day it arrives. This allows you to spend those precious first hours together without any stress. These first shared moments are truly special and often become memories you'll treasure for years to come.
In this guide, I'll walk you through the essential items your kitten really needs, explain what to look for when choosing them, and introduce products that have proven especially practical in everyday life.
What Should Be Prepared Before Your Kitten Arrives?
Preparing for your kitten's arrival doesn't begin on the day you bring it home. The better your home is set up in advance, the more calmly and confidently your new companion can settle into its new surroundings.
During the first few hours, your kitten will experience many new sights, sounds, and smells. That's why it's important to have everything ready beforehand. This allows you to focus entirely on your kitten and give it the time it needs to explore its new home at its own pace.
Our Advice
If possible, avoid scheduling other appointments on the day your kitten arrives. Set aside plenty of time and let your kitten settle in at its own pace. Those first few hours are truly special and often lay the foundation for trust and a lifelong bond.
What Does a Kitten Really Need?
If you're bringing a kitten home for the first time, you'll quickly discover there's an overwhelming choice of accessories available. But don't worry—you don't need an endless shopping list for a successful start. What's far more important is a carefully chosen selection of essentials that provide safety, comfort, and opportunities for play and enrichment.
Below, I'll introduce the items that have proven most valuable through my experience. You'll not only learn what your kitten really needs but also what to look for when choosing the right products.
Quality Is Worth the Investment
Choose fewer, high-quality products rather than buying everything at once. A sturdy scratching tree, a comfortable bed, and durable toys will accompany your cat for many years and provide daily enjoyment.
Why Is a Scratching Tree One of the Most Important Kitten Essentials?
A scratching tree is one of the most important items your kitten should have from day one. While many people think it's only for sharpening claws, it actually serves many purposes: it's a bed, a climbing playground, an observation point, and a safe place to retreat—all in one.
By the time kittens are around 12 weeks old, they are usually surprisingly agile and love to climb. They enjoy resting on elevated platforms, watching the world from above, and retreating to a quiet spot after playtime.
A high-quality scratching tree will accompany your cat for many years. That's why it's worth choosing one that offers excellent stability, durable craftsmanship, and long-lasting materials. Models that can be expanded or adapted as your cat grows are especially practical.
Good to Know
Set up the scratching tree in its permanent location before your kitten arrives. This allows your kitten to explore it from the very first day and quickly accept it as a safe and favourite place to rest and play.
Why Does a Kitten Need Its Own Bed?
During the first few months of life, kittens spend a large part of the day sleeping. That's why a comfortable sleeping place is one of the most important essentials. It provides your little companion with a safe retreat where it can rest and process all the new experiences of its new home.
A soft cat bed or a cosy cave creates a sense of comfort and security. Place the bed in a quiet area where your kitten feels safe, while still allowing it to be part of family life.
My Recommendation
If possible, choose a washable cat bed. During the first days or weeks, little accidents can happen, and an easy-care bed can quickly be cleaned and used again. It's also a good idea to offer your kitten several sleeping spots—most kittens will naturally choose their own favourite place.
Why Is the Right Toy So Important?
For kittens, play is just as important as sleeping and eating. Through play, they develop coordination, strengthen their natural hunting instincts, and build trust with their human family. Regular play sessions provide mental and physical stimulation, strengthen your bond, and help your kitten burn off excess energy in a healthy way.
A small selection of different toys is ideal. A cat teaser wand is perfect for interactive play, small felt balls encourage chasing and pouncing, while a larger prey toy is ideal for wrestling, carrying around, and often later becomes a favourite cuddle companion.
My Advice
Choose toys that suit both your kitten's age and your family. If you have young children, I recommend hand-felted toys or soft felt teaser wands. They are especially gentle and help reduce the risk of accidental injuries if movements are a little uncoordinated.
For families with older children, interactive play with a cat teaser wand and interchangeable attachments is a wonderful choice. It allows both children and adults to enjoy playing together with the kitten while keeping playtime exciting with a variety of different attachments.
Besides a scratching tree, a cosy sleeping place, and a variety of toys, there are a few other essentials every kitten should have for a happy and comfortable start.
These include a sufficiently large litter tray with suitable cat litter, sturdy food and water bowls, and a secure pet carrier for the journey home and future visits to the veterinarian. Here too, it's worth choosing products that are well made, the right size, and easy to clean, so both you and your kitten can enjoy them for years to come.
Before your new family member arrives, make sure that windows and, if applicable, balconies or terraces are properly secured. Any toxic houseplants should also be placed well out of your kitten's reach. With just a few simple preparations, you'll create a safe environment where your kitten can explore its new home with confidence.
Checklist – Everything You Need Before Your Kitten Comes Home
Use this checklist to make sure everything is ready before your kitten arrives:
- ☐ Scratching tree assembled and in place
- ☐ Cosy cat bed or cat cave prepared
- ☐ Age-appropriate toys selected
- ☐ Cat teaser wand with suitable attachments
- ☐ Felt balls or other small toys
- ☐ Larger prey toy for wrestling and cuddling
- ☐ Litter tray prepared with cat litter
- ☐ Food and water bowls set up
- ☐ High-quality kitten food purchased
- ☐ Pet carrier ready
- ☐ Windows, balcony, and terrace secured
- ☐ Toxic houseplants placed out of reach
- ☐ Plenty of time set aside for your kitten's arrival
Bringing a kitten home marks the beginning of a wonderful journey together. With a lovingly prepared home, a little patience, and the right essentials, you'll create the perfect environment for your little companion to feel safe, secure, and happy from the very first day.
Enjoy these first days together—they pass by all too quickly and will become memories you'll treasure for a lifetime.
Our Cats and Their First Days with Us
Every cat has its own unique personality—and that's exactly what makes living with them so special.
The following photos show some of our own cats when they first joined our family. Each one brings back wonderful memories that still make us smile today, and we'd love to share these special moments with you.
Boris & Maja – Our Perfect Duo
Maja, our confident British Shorthair queen, and Boris, our lively Devon Rex boy, were an extraordinary pair from the very beginning. They both joined our family as kittens in 2015 and quickly became inseparable members of our home.
Boris was a true whirlwind—curious, playful, and always ready for a little mischief. Maja, on the other hand, was calm, composed, and full of quiet confidence. She was the perfect companion for our little rascal. Boris's crazy ideas never seemed to faze her, and with plenty of charm and self-assurance, she always let him know where the boundaries were.
It was these differences that made them such a perfect team. They played together, cuddled together, and filled every day with beautiful moments that we will always cherish.
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Boris unexpectedly this year. We miss him deeply, and he will always hold a very special place in our hearts.
Lilly – Our Little Cuddle Bug
Lilly has been part of our little cat family since 2018 and won our hearts from the very first day. She is a loving cat who adores being close to others—whether it's people or her feline friends.
She shared a very special bond with Boris. While he usually turned to Maja when he wanted to play, Lilly was always his first choice when it was time for cuddles. The two of them would seize every opportunity to curl up together for a nap or simply enjoy each other's company in peaceful moments.
Lilly is a true cuddle bug. She loves long cuddle sessions and is always looking for affection from her humans. Her favourite person is Daddy Volker, closely followed by Mommy Ulrike. Whether she's in someone's arms, curled up on a lap, or simply lying close by—what matters most to Lilly is being near the people she loves.
Assol – Our Little Climbing Expert
Assol has been part of our little cat family since April 2022. This beautiful calico girl came to us from Ukraine and was given the lovely name Assol, inspired by the heroine of a classic Russian novel. It's an unusual name that perfectly matches her curious and fearless personality.
From the moment she arrived as a kitten, Assol proved to be a true climbing expert. Fearlessly, she climbed anything that looked even remotely climbable. Her adventurous expeditions often landed her in situations that left us holding our breath and wondering what she would do next.
Today, Assol is a little older and much wiser. However, she has never lost her love of high places and exciting climbing adventures. It's this wonderful combination of curiosity, courage, and her affectionate nature that makes our little lucky calico such a very special member of our cat family.