Before you bring your kitten(s) home, you will need:
• A litter tray and whatever type of litter the breeder uses. These should be scooped daily and washed with a very dilute (i.e. add lots of water) non-toxic disinfectant solution once per week. Use disinfectants which do not contain Phenol or Cresol. These are poisonous to cats. Most brands of household disinfectants contain them. (A quick test is to see if it goes white when added to water – if it does, it’s poisonous).
• Food and water bowls – these should be ceramic or metal, not plastic (these can harbour bacteria and cause feline acne)
• Whatever food the kittens are used to - usually a premium-quality dry kitten food such as IAMS kitten, Hills, Pro-Plan, Eukanuba or Techni-cal.
• An enclosed place for them to feel secure and/or sleep - an overturned cardboard box with a hole cut in the side for a 'door', placed on top of a fleecy blanket is as good as anything.
• A good-quality scratching post / play area. Scratching is an essential part of normal cat behaviour and providing a scratching surface that is more appealing than furniture is essential.. Maine Coons need durable, well-made, good-sized scratching posts, and over time may destroy the shop-bought ones. Size is important too - cats stretch upwards when they scratch, so a small scratching post will probably not be used. Ask your breeder for recommendations, ideally a few weeks before you collect your kitten.
• Toys - feather sticks, furry mice, cotton reels and ping-pong balls are always popular.
• A cat carrier to collect your cat.
• Register your new kitten with your local vet. You may wish to
take your kitten to the vet for a check-up within a week of collecting
it, simply to ensure that it is in good health.