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What you need to think about

Your new kitten will be used to the company of the other cats and might take a few days to get used to his new companions.It can take anything between 5 minutes and 5 days for them to settle into their new surroundings.

When you get home with your kitten, put him in a safe room with doors and windows closed (and make sure he can't get access to up the chimney!) and
give him a litter tray . (He will be trained to use this but he should be encouraged by placing him in the tray from time to time, especially after sleeping or eating,
and if he should have an 'accident' elsewhere, which is unlikely, then he should NEVER have his nose rubbed in it, but should be gently placed back into the tray
and told that this is where he should do it, and he should be praised for using the tray).
All kittens are used to using a covered litter tray or a litter tray with a lid. This helps stop the litter tracking after they have used the box. They are used to a fine litter ( I use chick crumbs which are available from Pets at Home, WCF etc)
Give him a drink of fresh water (never give cow's milk - this can upset their tummies, but if you do want to give milk as a treat then get milk that is made especially for cats from the pet department of a supermarket, or a pet shop). Offer some food, check with us to see what the kittens are enjoying before they leave us.
When he has had a chance to settle for a while (noise and excitement will frighten him at first), introduce the other animals, the most placid first, making sure he has
somewhere safe to retreat if he is afraid at first. This could be the open carrier that he came in. If he does retreat to a 'safe area' then make sure he isn't cornered by
other animals (or children) in the household. Never hold the kitten when introducing them because they feel they can't get away if they need to then.

Hazards in the Home
Windows - Our kittens are all sold as indoor cats, but if windows are left open, they would jump out - you can buy screens to fit to your windows.

Bathroom - kittens jump up on to things, assuming there is a solid surface, and some have been heard of drowning by falling into the toilet, never run hot water into the bath first and leave it unattended - In fact, if you imagine the kitten to be like a two year old child, and what they can get up to, this would be about right.

Never leave washing machine doors or tumble dryers open - cats and kittens will climb inside and several have been killed in a horrible way. If you have been putting a wash on and left the machine unattended remember to check before shutting the door.

Cables - kittens will chew on cables and wires, please be vigilant or fit your cables with protectors available online or at any DIY store.

Your kitten will have been vaccinated for flu and enteritis. You will be given the certificate for vaccination and a booster will be required annually. He will be registered with the GCCF. He will be insured with PetPlan for the first six weeks, and they will then give you the option of continuing the insurance with them. We suggest you do this. You never know if there could be some sort of accident etc. when you would be grateful to have continued the insurance, even if it's not likely. Most supermarkets offer reasonable pet insurance from four pounds a month. If you are taking your kitten to shows, or putting them in a cattery, we suggest you get them vaccinated for Leukemia. Your kitten will be microchipped and this ensures that if the cat gets lost it can be returned to you quickly when found. You will receive a copy of his registration papers from the GCCF and a full pedigree. This may not be available the time of purchase but as soon as the kittens pedigree name is confirmed by the GCCF I will forward the paperwork to you.

He/She should be neutered by about the age of 6 months - you should consult your vet about this and we suggest you take your kitten for a visit to your vet within a couple of days of collecting him from us, which will introduce him to your vet. We suggest when you take a cat to the vets you don't put the carrier on the floor - you never know what infections the cats could pick up via the carrier.

Kittens love to play and will enjoy some toys, but please make sure these are safe - avoid leaving them unsupervised with anything with cords, threads, elastic, sponge that they can chew pieces off of, or Christmas decorations etc. Ping-pong balls are a big hit with kittens and are very safe, and there are a lot of other safe toys as well. Your kitten will be used to using a scratch post - it is a good idea to have at least one in your home. He will be used to a soft cosy bed. Kittens should not be left without heat in the winter. If you do not have heating you can leave on overnight, we would recommend the use of a heat pad.

Some houseplants are poisonous to cats - if you are in doubt about any plants you have, please take a leaf (or the whole plant if it's small) to your nearest garden centre - they should be able to tell you if what you have could be a danger. I will provide you with a list of poisonous plants. Cut flowers too, can be lethal, especially lilies, so avoid having those in places where your cat can chew them. In the unlikely event that your cat is stung by a wasp or bee, you can give half a Piriton tablet to an adult cat (less for a younger cat) and put vinegar on a wasp sting or bicarbonate of soda on a bee sting (as well as getting the bee sting out) and take them to a vet, but if the sting is anywhere near the nose or mouth or IN the nose or mouth the cat should be rushed to a vet very urgently - their airways can swell immediately, leaving them unable to breathe.

Just a couple of tips you might find useful. Ornaments that are of sentimental value can be stuck down to the surfaces they are on with 'Blue Tack' - this stops cats knocking them off.
If you have lever type handles on doors and don't want your cat to open a door, say overnight, tie a piece of ribbon or fabric tape to the handle on the inside of the door, bring it up and over the door, and tie to the handle outside - this stops them jumping on the handle and opening the door.
If you should ever need to re-home the cat/kitten, for any reason, please contact us before doing anything and we will do our best to find the kitten a loving home for you, and will pass on to you any payment that we get for the kitten/cat. If the cat should ever become seriously ill, we ask that you inform us immediately and consult us before any extreme action is taken by a vet.

As you will already know from speaking to us, our cats are very precious to us, and so are their kittens and we do everything to make sure that they will have a long happy healthy life with you, their new owner. If there is ever, at any time during their life, anything that we can help with, then please feel free to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you from time to time, to hear how the kitten is getting on, and photos are always gratefully received.

Have a wonderful time with your new kitten.