(The following tips are written for the shyest of kittens. Most of our kittens are very outgoing and friendly but they all get spooked once in a while. The following suggestions are just meant as a framework to start your bonding and help transition kitty into his/her new environment)

1. Have a small room prepared for the kitten to start out in. This should be somewhere quiet and comfortable, with as little traffic as possible where you can close the door and keep kitty in. This room should have kitty’s litter box, food, water and bed. This could be your bedroom, a spare bedroom or even a large bathroom. This is just for a few days until kitty gets used to you, other family members and his/her surroundings. Kitty will feel safe in this room and once out in the house, if kitty gets startled, he/she will probably return to this room for safety and comfort. It seems mean to shut kitty up in a room but is really is necessary to build a strong bond.

2. At first, the primary owner(s) should be the one(s) to spend as much time with kitty as possible in his room. Talk in a calm, soft voice. Pet, cuddle and reassure him/her often. Show kitty their food, bed and litter box and make sure he has his bearings before you leave the room. Have other family members – one at a time – come to his/her room to get acquainted. Please, don’t push the kitten to accept everyone all at once. This can be very overwhelming, let him choose the pace with which you proceed with the introductions.

3. Return as often as you can throughout the day. Sit, talk and play with kitty and even occasionally bring treats (in moderation).

4. The next day (or step), bring kitty out of the room in your arms. Walk around the house and show kitty his/her new domain. Keep things as quiet as possible. If kitty seems secure, sit down and relax with him/her in you lap or arms. Watch and try to read kitty’s comfort level. Again, don’t push him, let kitty decide how much he can take. If kitty appears scared, make this first outing a short one. You may need to repeat this step many times to help the kitten feel secure with the surroundings.

5. The third or fourth day, take kitty out into the house. When you feel he/she is comfortable, and won’t bolt on you, let him go in a room he has been in many times before. Before letting kitty go, make sure you know he/she will come to you should they get startled. Follow him/her around, just as you would a toddler to see what he is curious about and make sure that it won’t hurt him. NOTE: Make sure you have bonded with kitty before you take your hands off him/her.

6. If kitty comes to you when called, let it go explore. Again, follow to observe and made sure you haven’t overlooked something that may harm kitty or get broken. Once you feel that kitty is safe and will return when called, you can let it explore on it’s own. I might suggest that you check on the baby often.

7. If you have a large home you may consider having 2 litter boxes at first. One in his/her room and one in another part of the home, perhaps in the permanent location. These babies are completely litter trained and have been since they were 3 weeks old, but if kitty gets lost or hides and forgets the way to his room is you could have an accident.

8. Last and most importantly, love your new baby. Enjoy this kitten, it will bring love and delight to your home. Russians love unconditionally and can keep you entertained for hours.

A complete version of our Care and Feeding Guide (suitable for printing) is available for download here.