By following these steps you will be on the right path to welcoming your new Russian Blue kitten into your home with minimal stress on you, your kitten & existing pets.
SAFE ROOM:
For your kitten's first few days in their new home, its important to confine your new kitten to one small room. Having a space apart from the rest of the family & any pets you may already have, serves two purposes. First, your kitten will have a smaller area to get accustomed to his/her new home and you. Give your kitten a secure enclosure of some sort (if a cat carrier is used, cover only the sides with a blanket after disinfecting), this allows them a "kitten cave" they can feel safe in, or return to if they feel frightened until comfortable enough to come out & explore. Don't worry this is a very curious breed, they will come out. While in their safe room it's important to visit often to offer reassurance & socialization. Prepare the room with an enclosure, clean bedding (a nursery blanket will be provided with your kitten which will have mom's pheromones, this will help calm your kitten, do not wash this blanket until your kitten has settled in), clean stainless steel food & water bowls placed away from the litter box, toys, scratching surface (your kitten will be trained to use a scratch post, it's important to always have one available), & a night light so he/she is never in complete darkness. More information will be provided prior to delivery.
INTRODUCING EXISTING FURRY FAMILY MEMBERS:
A word of caution here... your current pets have already claimed your house as "their territory", any change to this hierarchy must be done with patience & caution. All animals are unique & will process their new furry family member in different ways. I've had new families with an aggressive dog they thought would be an issue, only to have him sniff the kitten then walk away with complete indifference. Meanwhile, their little lap dog Fluffy takes major offense to this new furry addition getting all the attention. When using the "safe room" your current pets will be curious & aware of a new scent in the house. Start the introduction with scented items, then gradually work up to short visits outside of the safe room. Keep the first introduction brief, let them have a chance to see what that new scent is behind the door. Don’t let your kitten become too frightened or your other pets too aggressive. From then on allow the pets to be in the same room with supervision until they’ve become accustom to each other. They will work out any issues in due time. This could take two weeks, it may take a month. The most important thing is exercise patience, & be sure to give attention & reassurance on all your pets to curb jealousy before it begins. From my experience there is NO surefire way to acclimate all pets because they all have individual personalities. Based on your feedback, I will be working with you.
MAJESTIC BLUES KITTENS ARE INDOOR PETS ONLY!
Indoor only animals live longer, healthier lives. There is less disease, less ability to be lost or stolen, less temptation to roam or fight & less likely to have accidental deaths by vehicles or other animals.
TRAINING:
While all Majestic Blues kittens are trained to use a litter box & scratch post before going to their forever home, it's important to remember your kitten will be stressed when they first enter your home. When a kitten is stressed, he/she may display bad behavior. It's crucial to set them up for a successful transition by following the instructions above on setting up the safe room. Furthermore, it's important to remember why they may experience some "set-backs". Be patient & calm, any issues will resolve when the kitten's stress level resides.
Russian Blues are very clean by nature, so it's imperative they always have access to a clean litter box. If for some reason your Russian Blue stops using their litter box & there doesn't seem to be any stressors, you may be dealing with a bladder infection. Oftentimes, they will be more vocal while urinating but this isn't always the case. It's best to take them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. It is of vital importance that your Russian Blue ALWAYS have access to fresh clean water, because the breed is known to be susceptible to kidney & urinary tract infection issues. This will help keep your cat healthy & hydrated.
Majestic Blues kittens have their claws trimmed regularly to get them accustom before going to their forever home. Some thoroughly enjoy their manicures... some not so much. They all have their own little personalities, but it's important to continue with their claw trimming. Declawing may lead to a variety of health issues & bad behaviors. A healthier, more humane option is to keep their claws trimmed & have scratch post available at all times. If you experience issues with your kitten clawing where they shouldn't, use a spray type water bottle & with a firm voice say “NO!” while lightly spraying them once. This is usually enough to stop them from scratching, correcting an action, or keeping your kitten from an area you want them to avoid. If there is still an issue, you might try spraying a citrus essential oil mixture on items or furniture you want them to avoid (never spray this on the kitten). My King was extra fond of cell phone charger cords until he had a taste of bitter apple that was applied to the cord.
FEEDING:
Your kitten will be eating quality dry & wet food. Samples of both will be included in your welcome home kit. If you prefer a different brand, it's important to slowly transition your kitten over a two (2) week period, by gradually increasing the food ratios. This will decrease the chance of your kitten having digestive issues or upset stomach. If your kitten does develop an upset stomach, some organic pumpkin filler may help.
As stated above, it's important to give your Russian Blue either a mixture of wet & dry food, or a strictly "raw" or wet diet. This breed is susceptible to kidney & urinary tract infections (UTI). This diet will help keep your kitten healthy & hydrated for life. It is also extremely important your cat always has access to fresh clean water! I highly recommend the use of a water fountain with stainless steel drinking surface. Other recommend supplements & practices for a healthy cat will be provided prior to delivery.
KITTEN-PROOF YOUR HOME:
Since your kitten is still technically a baby, you’ll want to make sure your home is kitten-proof before he/she gets there. Keep all dangerous cleaning chemicals, pesticides behind child-locking doors. Russian Blues are a very intelligent & an extremely curious breed. They WILL open cabinets & doors if possible. Check if any plants or herbs in your house are toxic to cats & remove them. In addition, secure anything that might look like a toy to a kitten; electrical cords, cords to blinds, or other tempting things that could prove dangerous or fatal to your curious little kitten. More information will be given prior to delivery.
- In addition to the information above, I strongly recommend Jackson Galaxy's YouTube Channel & books.