Rehoming Kittens: Everything You Need to Know Before They Go to New Homes

Finding new homes for kittens is a big responsibility that requires careful planning and preparation. Ensuring that kittens are healthy, socialised, and ready for life in a new home gives them the best possible start. It also means making thoughtful decisions about who adopts them and preparing the kittens for the transition. This guide covers everything you need to know and do before letting your kittens go to their forever families.

The Right Age for Rehoming

Kittens should not be rehomed too early. The ideal age is:

• 8–10 weeks minimum, though many experts recommend 10–12 weeks.
• This allows time for them to be fully weaned, properly socialised, and strong enough to adapt to a new home.
• Early separation from the mother can lead to behavioural issues, poor immunity, and difficulties adjusting.

Health Checks and Veterinary Care

Before rehoming, kittens should have received essential veterinary care:

• Worming: Begin at two weeks old and repeat regularly, following your vet’s advice.
• Flea treatment: Only use vet-approved products suitable for kittens.
• Vaccinations: First vaccinations are usually given at eight to nine weeks, with a booster three to four weeks later. Ideally, kittens should have had at least their first set before leaving.
• Microchipping: In the UK, microchipping cats (including kittens before rehoming) is a legal requirement since June 2024.
• Health check: A vet should confirm each kitten is fit and healthy before adoption.

Socialisation and Behaviour

The early weeks are critical for a kitten’s behavioural development. To prepare them for rehoming:

• Handling: Gently handle kittens daily to build trust with humans.
• Exposure to sounds: Introduce common household noises (vacuum, TV, washing machine) so they are less fearful later.
• Playtime: Provide toys and encourage play to develop coordination and confidence.
• Interaction with others: If possible, expose kittens to a variety of people and gentle children under supervision.

Proper socialisation helps kittens grow into friendly, confident cats.

Feeding and Weaning

Kittens should be:

• Fully weaned onto solid kitten food by the time they are rehomed.
• Eating independently without relying on the mother’s milk.
• Comfortable using a litter tray consistently.

Providing new owners with details of the kitten’s current diet helps prevent stomach upsets during the transition.

Choosing Suitable Homes

Finding the right homes is as important as raising the kittens well:

• Screen potential owners: Ask about their living situation, other pets, work hours, and previous experience with cats.
• Indoor or outdoor: Decide whether your kittens will be rehomed to indoor-only homes or allowed outdoor access once old enough.
• Discuss responsibilities: Make sure adopters understand the costs, time, and commitment of cat ownership.
• Rehoming fee: Charging a small adoption fee can discourage impulsive adopters and ensure commitment.

Preparing Kittens for the Move

Before leaving, ensure kittens are ready for the change:

• Provide each new owner with a kitten pack including food, a blanket that smells of the litter, and vet records.
• Schedule collection during the day rather than at night, so the kitten has time to adjust.
• Keep siblings together until collection day to reduce stress.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

• Microchipping: From June 2024, all cats in the UK must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age. Ideally, kittens should leave you already chipped.
• Neutering: While kittens are usually too young for neutering before rehoming, encourage adopters to have it done at the appropriate age.
• Contracts: Consider drawing up a simple adoption agreement outlining responsibilities and expectations.

Supporting New Owners

Many new kitten owners appreciate advice and guidance. Provide them with:

• Feeding instructions and brand recommendations
• Litter training information
• Vaccination and worming schedules
• Advice on settling the kitten into their new home

This not only helps the kittens adjust but also reassures new owners.

Conclusion

Rehoming kittens involves much more than simply finding them homes. By ensuring they are old enough, healthy, well-socialised, and matched with responsible adopters, you give them the best chance of a happy life. Thoughtful preparation, good communication with adopters, and careful vet care are the keys to successful rehoming. In doing so, you’ll know you’ve given your kittens the strongest possible start on their journey to becoming beloved companions.