Bringing your new Maine Coon kitten home!
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For info on products we use, click on the More Info page.
Each and every one of our Maine Coon kittens are raised in our home as our pets, and our Maine Coon kittens are socialized with adults and children beginning from birth. Our Maine Coon cats are also raised with dogs and are given a wide range of social interaction to ensure a versatile, easy going temperament.
It is always better to be safe and take your Maine Coon kitten/cat to a licensed vet for a thorough exam immediately. Please, always transport your Maine Coon kitten in a carrier! We seat belt our carriers to secure them and prevent accidents. For information on care of your Maine Coon, see our Health page. |
Socializing with glee!
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When you bring your kitten home, I recommend this above all: allow the kitten to do the approaching. This is especially true with children and other pets! Here's a general rundown of how we do it here. As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
When arriving home (in a carrier!), I bring the kitten into our bedroom, with a regular sized litter box already set up in our master bathroom. (See our health page for info on what litter and box we use.) I then open the carrier, and sit on the bed, and wait for them to emerge. This usually takes anywhere between thirty seconds and an hour. Within that first hour, I take them to the litter box and plop them into it, to show them where it is. I continue to do this about every hour until they've used the box. Then I let them explore, either peeking my head in or (when I'm super excited) sitting on the floor and watching. I let them approach me first, and allow them time to sniff out their surroundings.
This is also the best strategy with your other pets. Cats are very good communicators, and if you have other cats, they will generally be able to navigate their introductions with ease. Don't be alarmed by a lot of hissing - our sweetest girl Vida will hiss the most, but within a few days will be snuggling and grooming the newcomer.
We have a standard poodle, so your kitten will be accustomed to dogs. But a new one will often be very excited and need monitoring for the first few days and weeks. I suggest putting your dog on a leash, and making lay down and stay, then allowing the kitten to approach when he's ready. I strongly advise against forcing the issue. Those first few weeks can be agonizing if you're worried they won't get along! But be patient, even the most manic dogs will eventually get bored of the cat. Usually the cats are the ones more interested in friendship than the dog!
Once your kitten seems comfortable having the run of the house, usually after a few hours, days, or weeks, I show them their permanent litter box location. Again, I do this every hour or so until they use it.
When arriving home (in a carrier!), I bring the kitten into our bedroom, with a regular sized litter box already set up in our master bathroom. (See our health page for info on what litter and box we use.) I then open the carrier, and sit on the bed, and wait for them to emerge. This usually takes anywhere between thirty seconds and an hour. Within that first hour, I take them to the litter box and plop them into it, to show them where it is. I continue to do this about every hour until they've used the box. Then I let them explore, either peeking my head in or (when I'm super excited) sitting on the floor and watching. I let them approach me first, and allow them time to sniff out their surroundings.
This is also the best strategy with your other pets. Cats are very good communicators, and if you have other cats, they will generally be able to navigate their introductions with ease. Don't be alarmed by a lot of hissing - our sweetest girl Vida will hiss the most, but within a few days will be snuggling and grooming the newcomer.
We have a standard poodle, so your kitten will be accustomed to dogs. But a new one will often be very excited and need monitoring for the first few days and weeks. I suggest putting your dog on a leash, and making lay down and stay, then allowing the kitten to approach when he's ready. I strongly advise against forcing the issue. Those first few weeks can be agonizing if you're worried they won't get along! But be patient, even the most manic dogs will eventually get bored of the cat. Usually the cats are the ones more interested in friendship than the dog!
Once your kitten seems comfortable having the run of the house, usually after a few hours, days, or weeks, I show them their permanent litter box location. Again, I do this every hour or so until they use it.
Paxton the poodle checking out the nursery.