Quarantine period for new kittens

I have brought home a 6-week-old kitten from a reputable breeder. She is currently in my spare bedroom, which is spotless and has been thoroughly disinfected. I am introducing her to Whiskers (11, gray, deaf) and Tux (6, black). Whiskers is very particular about his routine, and Tux is generally easygoing but has a strong territorial streak.

I have been reading various forums and getting conflicting advice. Some say 3 days, others say 2 weeks. Since Whiskers is deaf, I am concerned about startling him with sudden movements during the introduction phase. I am currently on day 3 of separation. Is this sufficient time to ensure the kitten is healthy before I open the door? I want to be precise about this.

Welcome to the forum. As a retired nurse, I am very particular about health screening. I would not open that door yet. Three days is not enough to rule out common viral issues that might be incubating. I usually wait at least 7 days to ensure there are no signs of upper respiratory infection or gastrointestinal distress.

You can check the thread Early Signs of Illness in New Kittens that I started a while back. It lists the specific symptoms to watch for, such as sneezing frequency and stool consistency. Given Whiskers is senior and deaf, his immune system might not bounce back as quickly as a younger cat's if exposed to a pathogen. I would err on the side of caution.

Oh my gosh, I am so stressed about this. I am currently on day 12 of isolating a new kitten because I was terrified I was doing it wrong. I feel like I am overthinking everything. I read that you need to wait until the kitten has had two clean fecal tests and a negative blood test for FeLV/FIV. But the breeder said she already had those done. Do I need to repeat them? I am worried that if I wait too long, the bond between Whiskers and the kitten will never form, or maybe Tux will get jealous? I am a nurse but I am not a cat expert, so I am just following the internet. Has anyone else had to wait two weeks? It feels like forever.

I keep my cats separate for 10 days. It is not just about health; it is about their digestive systems adjusting to the new environment and food. The stress of moving can cause diarrhea, which you do not want to mix with the other cats' food bowls.

I share my routine in Transitioning a New Kitten to Household Food. I start with a small amount of the new food mixed with the old. If the kitten is eating well and has no tummy troubles by day 10, I begin the scent swapping. Since Whiskers is deaf, you might want to look at Introducing a Kitten to a Deaf Cat which I wrote earlier. It explains how to use visual cues instead of auditory ones to signal the introduction.

I agree with the longer separation period. When I introduced Bodie to Lulu, I waited 5 days. Lulu had hairball issues, and I did not want to disrupt her routine any further. Bodie was a tabby, so he was very active. The separation allowed me to observe the kitten's behavior without the distraction of the other cats.

I found that Using Scent Exchange Before Introduction was very helpful. I used a soft cloth to rub the kitten's cheeks and then rubbed the same cloth on Whiskers' face. I did this for three days before opening the door. It seems to reduce the initial hissing. Since Whiskers is deaf, he relies heavily on scent, so this step is crucial.

Thank you all for the detailed responses. I will extend the separation to 7 days as Ms. Simmons suggests, and I will begin the scent exchange process as Lynn described. I am also going to review the food transition guide from Copper Orchard to ensure I am feeding the kitten appropriately. It is reassuring to have specific timelines and protocols. I will update the thread once the 7 days are up and I have observed any changes in Whiskers or Tux.