Kitten Care Guide

Everything you need for your first months together.

A practical, breeder-written guide to setting your new Munchkin kitten up for a long, healthy, happy life.

Preparing your home

Before your kitten arrives, prepare a small, quiet room with a litter box, food and water bowls, a soft bed, a few toys, and a scratching post. Munchkins are physically capable cats — they jump and climb just like any other cat — but a contained safe space helps them feel secure during the first 24–48 hours.

Nutrition

We feed a high-quality kitten formula combined with raw or gently cooked supplementation. Your kitten goes home with two weeks of their current food. Transition slowly over 7–10 days if you plan to switch brands. Kittens under 6 months should eat 3–4 times a day.

Litter training

Our kittens are reliably litter-trained before going home. Use a low-sided box with unscented clumping litter (or pellets if your kitten is used to them — we'll let you know). Place the box where your kitten can see it from their sleeping area.

Socialization

The first three months in your home are formative. Handle your kitten daily, expose them to new sounds and surfaces gradually, and invite calm visitors to meet them. The work you do now creates a confident adult cat.

Introducing other pets

Always start with scent-swapping (a blanket from each pet for the other to sniff), then visual introductions through a cracked door, then short supervised meetings. Most introductions take 1–2 weeks.

Veterinary care

Schedule your kitten's intake exam within 72 hours of pickup. Continue vaccinations on the schedule we provide and book annual wellness exams for life.

Exercise & play

Munchkins are playful and energetic — short legs do not slow them down. Aim for 2–3 play sessions per day with wand toys, crinkle balls, and puzzle feeders.

Grooming

Weekly brushing keeps the coat healthy. Trim nails every 2–3 weeks and check ears monthly. Brush teeth several times a week with cat-safe toothpaste.

Emergency preparedness

Know the location and phone number of your nearest 24-hour emergency vet, keep a kitten-safe first-aid kit, and save the ASPCA poison control number (888-426-4435).