Loving adoptive parents have a lot of questions, so I have compiled this guide to help you prepare for Kitten Adoption day.
When adopting a ragdoll kitten, you want to know: Which food? Treats? Litter? Can I get an automatic litter box? Do I need a carrier? What about cat beds? Toys? Do I need fancy grooming tools? It’s so exciting—I get it! I love kitten supply shopping, too.
When you adopt from Masterpiece, you’ll receive a swag bag full of food samples, familiar toys, a carrier, and a blanket that smells like the only home he has ever known. Make sure your kitten has access to these items in her new home. Leave the opened carrier on the floor of the room where she will spend the most time and place the take-home blanket nearby, too.
Prepare for Kitten Adoption Needs
High-protein Food
To prepare for kitten adoption, look for the right combination of protein, fat, and fiber to support rapid growth. While a raw cat food diet is ideal, many pet owners are uncomfortable handling and serving it, especially considering the current bird flu concerns. We suggest Life’s Abundance All-Stages in the orange bag. Our cats have tried many brands on the market, and we keep returning to this one because of its digestibility and litter box deposits. It is best to free-feed your kitten for the first year. Don’t worry about a kitten becoming overweight.
To prepare for your kitten adoption, be ready for some trial & error. Have on hand a variety of high-protein, nutrient-rich, limited-ingredient wet foods for morning and evening meals. Here are some of our favorites:
Nulo Pate with Shreds and MedalSeries
Applaws: Experiment with textures: pate, shreds, mousse, and combinations.
TikiCat After Dark is rich with organ meat. Easily identifiable ingredients always make me comfortable!
Soulistic Kitten: Be careful that your kitten doesn’t stop eating its main dry food diet. This canned delicacy is low in fiber.
As always, use only stainless steel, shallow serving dishes on a raised platform because stooping to eat can cause GERD.
A note about proteins: our ragdoll cats prefer protein from smaller animals. Avoid beef, lamb, and pork, as they are a little tricky to digest to avoid Scarf & Barf Syndrome.
Prepare for Kitten Adoption: Water Fountain
Moving water encourages cats to drink and reduces “whisker fatigue.” Cats instinctively know that flowing water is safer (cleaner) than stagnant water. Their whiskers don’t get wet because the water is usually raised in a shallow dish. Drinking from this moving water is soothing, not to mention filtered.
We highly recommend a cordless and rechargeable water fountain.
Is a water fountain a must-have to prepare for kitten adoption?
Yes! Please don’t skip it. Clean, running water is so important when a kitten or cat is on a dry food/kibble diet. Unfortunately, many cats won’t drink from a still bowl of water, so change the filter and water frequently to avoid frequent UTIs.
Prepare for Kitten Adoption: Litter and Litter Box
Start with an appropriately sized stainless steel litter box. If you have a large home or more than one cat, consider a two-pack.
If you hope to upgrade so you don’t have to scoop daily, consider an automatic sifting box from PetKit. Ensure your kitten weighs more than four pounds for the PetKit Pura Max.
Tip: Go with the second generation and skip the box with the camera unless you’re eager to see who “went.”
FAQ: What do you think about the Litter Robot brand? I don’t think too highly of them. We had two, which were pretty glitchy, large, and difficult to clean. Perhaps nowadays, they’re friendlier?
If you’re a clean freak like me, this is perhaps the most significant way to prepare for your kitten adoption.
Tofu-based or pea-husk-based litter from Catit. This stuff forms play-dough-like clumps that are easy to sift. Additionally, these litter types do not easily lodge in the ragdoll kitten’s “Grinch feet.” Nor does the litter track far from the litter box, so you shouldn’t find it throughout your home. These flushable litters are safe for chewing if your kitten decides to soothe his gums during the teething stage.
Prepare for Kitten Adoption: Cat Beds & Safe Spaces
Kittens need a variety of cozy spots! A soft bed in a quiet area gives them a sense of security as they adjust to their new home. The best bed will be:
Enclosed, washable, & near you.
Adoption preparation includes an often-overlooked need: safe spaces. Masterpiece Ragdoll kittens like to get inside boxes, beds, and wooly things.
If you work from home at a desk, expect your ragdoll cat to claim real estate that is supposed to be your desk and work area. Consider placing a desk-height cat tree with a cozy top-level perch if this becomes unsustainable. The one linked here will support a 20-lb cat and has claw-friendly limbs!
A more affordable option resembles furniture and boasts a 250-lb capacity. While it does not have claw-friendly posts, it has feng shui appropriate for the office.
Below, you’ll see Prufrock using this bed as a place to hide and pounce. We rotate out pieces to reduce boredom, but some beds will stay because they provide a reliable place of comfort.
Prepare for Kitten Adoption: Enrichment Toys
Play is crucial for a ragdoll kitten! Naturally curious ragdolls will roam about seeking what can be chewed, what can be batted about, and carried.
Springs, crinkle balls, mouse-shaped objects, and pom-poms all meet that instinctive habit. Consider a mixture of reactive (springs) and non-reactive (pouch-like) toys. These tea bags are the best if your ragdoll enjoys catnip.
Integrate treat toys to pique and satisfy curiosity with a reward. This one is fun, too.
For expending energy (right before bedtime), consider one-on-one wand play. Wands with long, elastic strings provide your kitten with ample cardio opportunities. And if you’re not available, this sturdy Original will exhaust even the most active ragdoll. Don’t bother with the knock-offs. Please have several scratching posts around the house so your kitten doesn’t sharpen her claws on your sofa. They should be tall enough for your cat to get a good stretch. Redirect your ragdoll away from furniture from an early age because she will instinctively feel the impulse to sharpen her claws. It’s normal behavior.
Grooming Tools
To prepare for your kitten adoption, you won’t need many grooming tools before bringing home your kitten. I will give you nail clippers in your to-go swag bag, and I will happily train you on how to use them if you’re not confident..
Eventually, you’ll want a slicker brush, shampoo, and a variety of combs for removing dingleberries and chin acne, if it develops at all. If you do suspect chin acne, please send me a photo and I’ll give you some pointers. A quality long comb is helpful for particularly longer coats. Please do not bother with pet wipes and pet colognes, as most of them are harmful, unhelpful, or both.
Amazon List
I keep a running Must-Haves List on Amazon.com of merchandise that I have either bought or want to buy. Take a look for things you might eventually want to try out for your home and your kitten. Note: these are not affiliate links. If you can find these items locally or from a smaller vendor, do it!
The single most important way to prepare for your kitten adoption
Cannot be bought.
Time.
Prepare for your Kitten by setting aside time. Take off a few days from work so that you can be there to learn him and he, you.
Your new Masterpiece Ragdoll Kitten will need time to adjust, so be patient and provide both affection and space. 🐾 Most of our kittens adjust quickly, but a few may need a little more time to adjust to the new environment.
