30 Days With Your New Kitten
Congratulations on your new kitten! We will discuss what you need to do in preparation for the arrival of your new kitten and what to expect during the first 30 days with your new kitten.
What your new Royal Savannahs kitten will come with:
We recommend setting up and purchasing the items below prior to welcoming home your Royal Savannahs kitten:
The location of the litter box, water and food bowls should be easily accessible. Pick a spot where both you and your kitten will be comfortable with these items, so that it will not need to be relocated as this can sometimes cause confusion with your new kitten.
When uncrating your kitten, place the carrier in the room that they will spend over the next two weeks. Open the carrier and allow them to come out on their own. Some kittens will come right out, while others might take some time if they feel overwhelmed by the travel experience. One way to encourage your kitten to come out of the carrier and to show that their new environment is not threatening is to play with them using a toy, such as a wand. Keep the carrier in their new room in case your kitten wants to sleep or curl up in it.
Once out of their carrier, they will be very curious. Allow them to explore their new room on their own, ensuring that they are able to find the food, water, and litter box on their own. If not, you can introduce the kitten to the location of these items. If your kitten hides under a piece of furniture, try coaxing them out with a toy.
Your kitten will likely be hungry and thirsty from their travel, so have water and food available for them. Try also offering some wet food to see if they are hungry. Your kitten’s growth stage is crucial; don't be afraid to free feed dry food by always making it available to your kitten and plan to feed a couple tablespoons of wet food in the morning and evening.
After your kitten has explored their new room, they will likely feel more at ease. Spend some time to play or hold them while you sit on the floor. Because your kitten is actively growing each day, they will need a lot of rest and sleep in between playtimes.
It is not uncommon for kittens to miss a bowel movement or to have loose stool after experiencing a stressful event such as traveling. Keep an eye on their litter box over the next several days to make sure they are using the bathroom normally and that any loose stool has resolved itself. If your kitten continues to experience loose stool, consult your veterinarian.
It is recommended to take your kitten for a wellness exam with your veterinarian. Stay on schedule with recommended vaccines and topical medication such as flea and tick treatment.
Like all cats, Savannah cats enjoy scratching. Supporting their instinctive habit with either carboard scratching pad or a scratching post will help deter this behavior away from your furniture. Savannah cats are also very energetic and like to release energy by jumping when playing with a feather wand or running on a cat wheel. Over time, you will discover more about your kitten’s habits and likes.
Prior to Welcoming Home Your Kitten
Below are a few checklist items we recommend you purchase to make your kitten feel at home. We also recommend that you set up a veterinary appointment for a wellness exam a few days after bringing home your new kitten.What your new Royal Savannahs kitten will come with:
- 2x Vaccinations
- 2x Deworming
- Microchip (ISO 11784/11785 compliant)
- SNAP Test
- TICA Registration Forms
- Pedigree
- Pet Carrier
- 1 Month Free Pet Insurance
- 1 Year Health Guarantee per Contract
- Quart-sized bag of Royal Canin Kitten Dry
We recommend setting up and purchasing the items below prior to welcoming home your Royal Savannahs kitten:
- Small and comfortable room
- Food (we feed Royal Canin Kitten Dry and Wellness Pâté Chicken)
- Water and food bowls
- Litter box and scoop
- Litter wood pellets
- Bed or blankets
- Toys
The location of the litter box, water and food bowls should be easily accessible. Pick a spot where both you and your kitten will be comfortable with these items, so that it will not need to be relocated as this can sometimes cause confusion with your new kitten.
First Day Home
The first day welcoming home your kitten is a very exciting time. Because your kitten likely experienced a lot of new things like traveling in a car or plane, it is not unusual for your kitten to feel exhausted or scared, so give your kitten some time to adjust during this first crucial day.When uncrating your kitten, place the carrier in the room that they will spend over the next two weeks. Open the carrier and allow them to come out on their own. Some kittens will come right out, while others might take some time if they feel overwhelmed by the travel experience. One way to encourage your kitten to come out of the carrier and to show that their new environment is not threatening is to play with them using a toy, such as a wand. Keep the carrier in their new room in case your kitten wants to sleep or curl up in it.
Once out of their carrier, they will be very curious. Allow them to explore their new room on their own, ensuring that they are able to find the food, water, and litter box on their own. If not, you can introduce the kitten to the location of these items. If your kitten hides under a piece of furniture, try coaxing them out with a toy.
Your kitten will likely be hungry and thirsty from their travel, so have water and food available for them. Try also offering some wet food to see if they are hungry. Your kitten’s growth stage is crucial; don't be afraid to free feed dry food by always making it available to your kitten and plan to feed a couple tablespoons of wet food in the morning and evening.
After your kitten has explored their new room, they will likely feel more at ease. Spend some time to play or hold them while you sit on the floor. Because your kitten is actively growing each day, they will need a lot of rest and sleep in between playtimes.
It is not uncommon for kittens to miss a bowel movement or to have loose stool after experiencing a stressful event such as traveling. Keep an eye on their litter box over the next several days to make sure they are using the bathroom normally and that any loose stool has resolved itself. If your kitten continues to experience loose stool, consult your veterinarian.
One Week Home
After about a week, your kitten should have fully acclimated to their room and is eating, drinking, and using their litter box normally. At this stage, they are ready to begin exploring other parts of your home. You can encourage your kitten to explore other parts of your home by playing with your cat and making it a game. They might need some help navigating back to their room for food, water, and litter box, so help them as needed.It is recommended to take your kitten for a wellness exam with your veterinarian. Stay on schedule with recommended vaccines and topical medication such as flea and tick treatment.
30 Days Home
By the end of 30 days, your kitten should have fully acclimated to their new environment and to new family members. With your kitten fully adjusted to their surroundings, your kitten will be more playful and you might begin to notice new behaviors. If your kitten begins to develop unwanted behaviors such as scratching on the furniture, it is important to be patient as you train them with cues that curb unwanted behavior. Here at Royal Savannahs, we train our cats to respond to a firm “No” and a loud clap with our hands. Some cat owners use a water spray bottle to curb unwanted behavior but many Savannah cats enjoy playing with water, especially the less generations removed from the African Serval. Positive reinforcement with the use of treats and affection generally has a better effect than training with punishment.Like all cats, Savannah cats enjoy scratching. Supporting their instinctive habit with either carboard scratching pad or a scratching post will help deter this behavior away from your furniture. Savannah cats are also very energetic and like to release energy by jumping when playing with a feather wand or running on a cat wheel. Over time, you will discover more about your kitten’s habits and likes.