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When Pet Parent takes Kitten Home

Your Kitten Leaves Wicklow Farm With:​

  • Veterinary Certificate of Health

  • First 2 vaccines + rabies (final booster due at 16 weeks with your vet)

  • Deworming and complete wellness records

  • Spay/Neuter or Register with Spade Secure 

  • TICA registration certificate (and CFA when applicable)

  • One month of free Trupanion pet insurance

  • A blanket that smells like home

  • A bag of their current food

  • A few toys to help with the transition

We raise our kittens with love, care, and excellence—and we want you fully equipped to continue that care at home.

Lifetime Breeder Support

Wicklow Farm:
We don’t disappear once you take your kitten home. You gain a lifelong partner.

As your kitten grows, you have full access to us for:
✔ Nutrition questions
✔ Grooming advice
✔ Behavior & training guidance
✔ Medical questions to help you talk with your vet
✔ General support—anytime

If we don’t know an answer, we will help you find it. Your success as a pet parent matters to us.

Transitioning Your Kitten to New Food

When your kitten arrives home, please keep them on the same food they have been eating here at Wicklow Farm. If you wish to change foods, do so slowly to avoid stomach upset.

Recommended 10-Day Transition:

  • Days 1–3: 75% old food, 25% new

  • Days 4–6: 50% old, 50% new

  • Days 7–9: 25% old, 75% new

  • Day 10+: 100% new food

Important:
Add a probiotic throughout the transition to support healthy digestion.

Litter Box Recommendations

For Maine Coons, an extra-large litter box is ideal. We personally use and recommend the Tidy Cats Breeze XL Litter Box System.

Why We Like It

  • XL size fits Maine Coons comfortably

  • Uses pads + dehydrating pellets → reduces odor

  • Easy to scoop and clean

  • Lower mess and tracking

It’s simple, sanitary, and great for large-breed cats.

Indoor, Outdoor, or Enclosure?

For safety and long-term health, we strongly recommend keeping Maine Coons indoors, with supervised outdoor time or a secure enclosure (catio) if available.

Outdoor Risks Include:

  • Cars and predators

  • Parasites and contagious diseases

  • Getting lost or stolen

Maine Coons are intelligent and active, so indoor enrichment is a must. We encourage:

  • Cat trees and scratching posts

  • Window perches

  • Tunnels and climbing structures

  • Daily interactive play

  • Puzzle toys and hunting-style toys

Your kitten will thrive indoors when they have stimulation, structure, and bonding time with you.

Helping Your Kitten Adjust at Home

It’s normal for kittens to feel stressed during the first few days in a new home. Most kittens settle within 3–7 days, but some may take a little longer.

Signs of Normal Stress:

  • Hiding

  • Reduced appetite

  • Extra clinginess

  • More sleeping

How to Help Your Kitten Adjust:

  • Start them in a small, quiet room

  • Keep food, litter, and water in one safe area

  • Limit visitors and loud noises

  • Keep other pets away at first

  • Offer gentle, calm interaction

  • Maintain the same food and litter at first

Playtime is very important—it reduces stress, builds confidence, and strengthens your bond.

Toy Recommendations

Maine Coons love toys that mimic “hunting” behavior and stimulate their intelligence. Our favorites include:

  • Wand toys (Da Bird, feather teasers, ribbon wands)

  • Soft kicker toys

  • Tunnel toys

  • Puzzle feeders

  • Laser toys (always end with a toy they can physically “catch”)

Rotate toys weekly to keep your kitten engaged.

Essential Scratching & Climbing

Maine Coons need sturdy, tall scratching posts and cat trees that support their size. Look for:

  • 32–40 inch scratching posts

  • Heavy, stable bases

  • Sisal rope or sisal fabric

  • Multi-level cat trees with perches

  • Wide platforms for large cats

Scratching helps relieve stress, maintain nail health, and protect your furniture.

Choosing the Right Bowls

We recommend using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel bowls. Avoid plastic bowls—they can cause:

  • Acne

  • Allergic reactions

  • Bacterial buildup

Wide, shallow bowls help prevent whisker fatigue and encourage better hydration.

Contracts & Reservation Deposits

All Wicklow Farm Maine Coons are placed through a thoughtful and intentional reservation process.

Prospective families are required to complete a kitten application. Upon review and approval, you will receive a reservation email and a personalized contract for your selected kitten. At any point during this process, a video call may be requested to ensure transparency and mutual comfort.

A $500 reservation deposit is required to secure your kitten.

  • The deposit is non-refundable
     

  • The deposit is applied toward the final purchase price
     

  • Payment in full is due at pick-up or prior to delivery
     

  • Accepted payment methods: Cash, PayPal, or Zelle
     

Pet-Only Policy & Breeding Rights

Wicklow Farm Maine Coons places kittens as pets only. Breeding rights are not offered.​

We protect our bloodlines carefully to preserve quality, health, and integrity for future generations.

Pickup, Delivery & Shipping

You are always welcome to pick up your kitten in person.

For families who require delivery, Wicklow Farm is happy to assist with trusted transportation arrangements. Available options include:

  • Professional flight nannies

  • Private ground transport
     

We work with experienced flight nannies for an additional cost, and we are happy to help coordinate these arrangements on your behalf.

All transportation-related expenses are the responsibility of the buyer, including:

  • Transportation fees
     

  • Carrier costs
     

  • Courier or nanny fees (if applicable)
     

🚫 We do not ship kittens via cargo under any circumstances.

Our priority is ensuring your kitten’s journey is safe, calm, and stress-free.
Getting your kitten safely to your front door is our priority, and every delivery option is handled with the utmost care and attention.

One-Year Genetic Health Guarantee

All Wicklow Farm kittens are placed with a One-Year Genetic Health Guarantee, covering genetic conditions only.

Should a hereditary condition be confirmed by a licensed veterinarian within the first year, we will work closely with you in accordance with the terms outlined in your signed contract.

Your kitten’s long-term health, wellbeing, and quality of life are our highest priorities.

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