How We Raise Our Kittens
We believe the foundation of a confident, healthy kitten begins at birth. Our program is centered around giving each baby a secure, loving start — one rooted in trust, routine, and hands-on care.
Our goal is always to raise healthy, well-socialized kittens who are prepared to transition confidently into their new homes.
🏡 Nursery Setup & Environment
Our nursery is a child-proofed bedroom designed specifically for our queens and their kittens.
Our queens live in the house with us. Some use kennels while others move freely throughout the home. About 10 days before their due date, expecting queens are moved into the nursery so they can settle into a quiet, safe maternity space before their kittens arrive.
Think of the nursery as a maternity ward — warm, calm, and protected so queens can focus on their kittens.
As the kittens grow and become more mobile, they receive daily supervised exercise on the nursery floor.
If queens get along well, kittens may interact and play together. If personalities do not mix well, litters are given separate exercise times so everyone remains safe and comfortable.
Kittens may begin short periods of supervised play around 8 weeks of age, but they do not remain in the main house full-time until 10 weeks of age or older, when they are able to confidently find food, water, and litter boxes throughout the home.
After playtime, everyone returns to the nursery. The nursery remains their primary home base until they are older and ready for more independence.
We are currently considering installing a cat door in the nursery door so older kittens and queens can move between the nursery and the house more independently while still maintaining a safe home base.
Our studs have their own temperature-controlled “man cave” — a converted one-car garage designed specifically for them. Because intact males cannot be housed together, each stud has his own kennel space and participates in a daily exercise rotation so every boy has time out to stretch, explore, and interact.
🐣 Milestones, Not Deadlines
Kittens grow and develop at their own pace. Rather than rushing a schedule, we focus on developmental milestones that help build confident, well-adjusted cats.
Kittens begin in their bedding area with their mother. As they grow stronger and more coordinated, they begin exploring the nursery floor during supervised exercise time.
As they learn where food, water, and litter boxes are located, they continue gaining confidence and independence.
Throughout this time they are exposed to normal household sounds and activity, including television, vacuum cleaners, everyday conversation, other cats, our Catahoula dogs, and visiting family members. This exposure helps them grow into social, confident companions who adapt easily to new homes.
🍽 Feeding & Weaning
We feed all of our cats the same way — queens, kittens, young adults, and pets — because we believe healthy nutrition should start early and remain consistent.
Our kittens are raised primarily on homemade meat meals, prepared in batches and portioned into containers for freshness.
Once kittens develop teeth, they are able to eat the meat mixture easily. Water may be added for hydration or when kittens are first learning to eat from a plate.
Kittens usually begin showing interest in their mother’s food around 4–5 weeks of age, gradually learning to lap and wean naturally.
Dry food is available 24/7. The dry food used will either be American Journey or Purina Kitten Chow, depending on what is currently being used in the cattery. The specific food being used will always be listed in your kitten’s paperwork.
🪵 Litter Box Setup
We use pine pellets from Tractor Supply in our standard litter boxes with a sifting design.
When wet, pine pellets break down into sawdust, which falls through the sifter while solid waste remains on top for easy removal.
In addition to the standard litter boxes used in the nursery, we also use a robot litter box in the main house with Tidy Cats Lightweight litter.
Kittens are introduced to litter boxes as soon as they begin walking. Their mother usually teaches them quickly — we simply supervise and support the process.
🎒 What Kittens Go Home With
Our kittens typically go home with:
- A veterinarian wellness check
- Two core vaccines administered by the breeder
- Pedigree and health records (digital and/or printed)
- Trupanion insurance information (available online or included in the printed kitten packet)
- A go-home bag with familiar items to help ease the transition
Items included in the kitten package may vary depending on the kitten’s age, size, veterinary timing, and circumstances at the time of pickup.
Kittens will require their third core vaccine at approximately 16 weeks of age, which will be completed by the new owner and their veterinarian.
Individual care items may vary depending on the kitten’s age, size, and timing of pickup.
🚗 Pickup & Transportation
Pickup is always welcome and scheduled by appointment.
When picking up your new kitten, please consider the weather conditions during travel. Depending on the season, your kitten may benefit from a small warmer inside the carrier or a blanket covering the carrier to help maintain a comfortable temperature.
For families located farther away, we can also assist with transportation arrangements. Transportation is handled personally by members of our family so kittens travel safely and are handed off directly to their new families.
For air transportation, a carrier will be provided and included in the transportation cost. The new owner keeps this carrier for the kitten’s continued travel.
For local pickup or ground transport, owners should bring an appropriate carrier for their kitten.
🐾 Release Policy
For the health, development, and socialization of our kittens, no kitten will be released to a new home prior to 12 weeks of age.
This allows kittens to complete important developmental milestones, continue learning from their mother and littermates, and transition more successfully into their new families.
Exceptions are not made for early pickup.
Page last updated: March 2026
