What Do You Need Before Bringing Home a Siberian Kitten?

What Do You Need Before Bringing Home a Siberian Kitten?

Bringing home a new kitten is exciting, but preparing your home ahead of time can make the transition much easier for both you and your new family member.

At Senge Siberians, we believe that preparation is one of the best ways to help a kitten settle into a new environment. Your kitten will be leaving the home and routines they have known since birth, including their mother, littermates, familiar smells, food, and daily schedule. Having the essentials ready before your kitten arrives allows you to focus on helping them feel safe and comfortable.

The good news is that you do not need to buy every cat product available. A few carefully chosen essentials are enough to get started.

Start With a Safe Space

Before bringing your kitten home, choose a quiet area where they can initially settle in. This is often called a “base camp.” A spare bedroom, office, or quiet section of your home can work well. The area should include:

• Food and water

• A litter box

• A comfortable bed or blanket

• A scratching surface

• A few toys

• A safe hiding place

Starting your kitten in a smaller, controlled environment can prevent them from becoming overwhelmed by a large unfamiliar house. As they become comfortable, you can gradually introduce additional rooms and areas of your home. If you would like to see our personal favorites of these items that we have tried over the years, go to our Shopping Guide page.

Choose the Right Litter Box

Your kitten should have access to a clean and easily accessible litter box from the moment they arrive. Siberian cats grow into relatively large, athletic cats, so it is worth considering the size of the litter box you purchase. A box that seems enormous for a small kitten may become a much more appropriate size as your cat grows.

Many owners also find it helpful to have more than one litter box, particularly in larger homes or homes with multiple floors. You will also want to have a litter scoop, litter mat, litter storage container, and cleaning supplies designed for pet messes.

For those that are interested in self cleaning litter boxes, they are a great choice for ease of clean-up and keeping odor down, but please read the descriptions carefully as many are not rated for cats younger than 6 months.

We recommend either a large stainless steel box that the kitten can grow into. Stainless steel is a great material for a litter box as it is easy to clean, and does not scratch when the kittens use the litter box over time. When the plastic begins to scratch it can hold bacteria in the grooves that are very difficult to sanitize.

Prepare Food and Water

Before pickup day, make sure you have your kitten's food, food bowls, fresh water bowls or a pet water fountain, and a food storage container. We particularly recommend glass or stainless steel water fountains. Clean, fresh water should always be available and water fountains are the best at making sure that is the case over time.

Provide a Carrier Before You Need One

A secure cat carrier is one of the most important purchases you will make. You will need it to bring your kitten home, but it will also be necessary for veterinary appointments, travel, emergencies, moving, and boarding. There are many different types of carriers, soft, hard, backpack type, large, small, etc. We recommend getting a traditional carrier that is carried by the handle and has as much "floor space"as possible, so the kitten can grow into it and you don't need to switch carriers!

Don't Forget Scratching Surfaces

Scratching is a completely normal cat behavior. Cats scratch to stretch, maintain their claws, mark territory, and relieve stress. Consider offering more than one type, such as a vertical scratching post, horizontal scratcher, or cardboard scratching surface. If you get a great cat tree, you can get multiple benefits of one!

Toys Are More Than Entertainment

Kittens have a tremendous amount of energy, and play is an important part of their development. Consider wand toys, lightweight balls, puzzle toys, and interactive toys. Always supervise toys that contain strings, small pieces, feathers, or anything that could potentially be swallowed. We have several automatic toys that are a great addition and keep our kittens well entertained.

Consider a Cat Tree

A sturdy cat tree can become one of the most-used pieces of furniture in your home. Cats enjoy climbing, observing their surroundings, scratching, and resting in elevated locations. A cats ability to get up high, is their path to confidence. We consider a cat tree essential to helping a kitten integrate well into your home and leave your furniture alone. Because Siberians often become large and powerful cats, look for a tree with a stable base and appropriately sized platforms. We talk about this at length in our "Get Your Kitten" section.

Cat-Proof Your Home

Before your kitten arrives, look for electrical cords, small objects that could be swallowed, toxic plants, open windows without secure screens, cleaning products, medications, dangerous foods, and small spaces where a kitten could become trapped.

You Don't Need Everything at Once

Start with the essentials. As you get to know your kitten's personality and preferences, you can add additional products that make sense for your home. The most important thing you can provide is a safe environment, appropriate care, patience, and time to adjust.