When Pet Parent takes Kitten Home

Your Kitten Leaves Wicklow Farm With:

Microchip (registered to you)
Veterinary Certificate of Health
First 2 vaccines + rabies (final booster due at 16 weeks with your vet)
Deworming and complete wellness records
Spay/Neuter
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.