Kitten Care
Your Ragdoll Kitten's First Week Home
A day-by-day guide to helping your new kitten settle in safely, comfortably, and happily.
Kitten Care
A day-by-day guide to helping your new kitten settle in safely, comfortably, and happily.
Bringing home a Ragdoll kitten is one of the best days you'll have as a cat owner, but it can also be overwhelming for your new kitten. Everything they've known since birth (their mother, siblings, familiar smells, daily routine) just changed completely. The first week is about helping them feel safe, building trust, and setting the foundation for a lifelong bond.
We send every Lapdolls kitten home with detailed care instructions, but here's a broader look at what to expect and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Don't wait until the kitten arrives to set things up. Have a single room ready. A bedroom, bathroom, or office works well. This room should have everything your kitten needs: a litter box, food and water bowls, a scratching post, a few toys, and a cozy hiding spot like a covered bed or a cardboard box with a blanket inside.
Starting with one room is critical. A full house is too much territory for a kitten who doesn't know where anything is yet. A small, contained space lets them map their world quickly and feel secure. You'll expand their access gradually over the coming weeks.
When you get home, bring the carrier into the prepared room, open the door, and let the kitten come out on their own terms. Don't pull them out. Some kittens walk right out and start exploring; others sit in the carrier for 20 minutes. Both are normal.
Sit on the floor nearby, speak softly, and let them approach you. Avoid picking them up right away. Show them where the litter box is by gently placing them in it once. They'll remember. Offer a small amount of food (the same brand they've been eating at the cattery to avoid stomach upset), and make sure fresh water is available.
It's common for kittens to hide under furniture, skip a meal, or seem quiet on the first day. This is completely normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong.
By the second or third day, most Ragdoll kittens start coming out of their shell. They'll explore the room more confidently, play with toys, and begin seeking your attention. This is when you'll start to see their personality emerge.
Spend time in the room with them. Read a book, work on your laptop, just be present. Let them climb on you, sniff you, and initiate contact. Ragdolls are naturally social cats, and most kittens will start following you around the room within a couple of days.
Keep monitoring litter box use and eating. By day 2, your kitten should be eating normally and using the litter box consistently. If they haven't eaten or used the litter box in 24 hours, contact your breeder or vet.
Kittens thrive on routine. Try to feed at the same times each day, and set aside dedicated play sessions. Two or three short play periods with a wand toy or feather are ideal. This is also when you'll want to start gentle handling: touching their paws, looking at their ears, opening their mouth briefly. This makes future grooming and vet visits much easier.
If you have other pets, this is the earliest you should begin introductions, and only through a closed door. Let them sniff each other under the door and hear each other. Don't rush face-to-face meetings. That can wait until week two or later, depending on how everyone is adjusting.
By the end of the first week, your kitten should feel confident in their room. They should be eating well, playing, purring, and coming to you for attention. Now you can start giving them supervised access to one additional room at a time. Leave the door to their safe room open so they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed.
Watch for signs they're comfortable: relaxed body language, confident walking (not belly-crawling), eating in the new space, and using furniture normally. If they seem stressed, slow down and give them more time.
New kitten owners often worry about things that are actually completely normal during the adjustment period. Here's what to expect and when to call the vet.
Hiding: Normal for the first 1–3 days. As long as they're eating and using the litter box, give them time. Most Ragdolls come around quickly.
Soft stool: Very common due to the stress of travel and a new environment. It usually resolves within a few days. Keep them on the same food they were eating at the cattery, because diet changes right now will make it worse. If diarrhea persists beyond 3 days or contains blood, call your vet.
Sneezing: A few sneezes in a new environment (new dust, new air) is normal. Persistent sneezing, nasal discharge, or watery eyes could indicate an upper respiratory issue. Contact your vet if it continues past day 2.
Not eating: Skipping a meal on day 1 is fine. Not eating for 24 hours is a reason to call the vet. Try warming the food slightly or adding a small amount of plain chicken broth to make it more appealing.
Crying at night: Your kitten may cry the first night or two because they miss their siblings. A warm blanket and a ticking clock near their bed can help. Some owners leave a radio on low. It almost always stops by night 3.
The biggest mistake new owners make is doing too much too fast: introducing the whole house, other pets, and lots of visitors all in the first few days. Ragdolls are adaptable cats, but even the most confident kitten needs time to process a major life change.
Go slow, be patient, and let your kitten set the pace. Within a week or two, you'll have a relaxed, affectionate companion who follows you from room to room and flops in your lap the moment you sit down. That's the Ragdoll way.
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