Hi all,

This is my first post, (apologies for the length) i'm hoping it's ok to have posted the question here.
Basically i'm looking for any advice and tips from anyone/all to help me smooth the transition of my new baby coming home in a week's time.

Quick background:
I live by myself in a large unit and have already a small pet dog and I work full time hours.
I decided to adopt a cat about 6 months ago and have been just searching around and visiting various shelters etc.
Initially I made the decision to donate money to a few shelters rather than straight up adopt but then my local vet (who doubles as a shelter) had a cat who came in pregnant under some awful circumstances, I'll spare you all the details suffice to say that her litter desperately needed homes or directly faced none too pretty a fate.

In preperation i've read pretty much everything I could get my hands on and spoken to many friends who are cat owners about the transitional phase I have ahead of me. In a pinch I am pretty decently clued in and I think I have all the information I need to be ready for her arrival except to just jump in the deep end and go for it.
Just hoping to list out my plans below in a basic form to see if you experienced owners can give me a tip or two or possibly reassure a very nervous first time owner

- Coming home day:
Ahead of time I will have organised at least 4 days off work, including a weekend to make it 6.
First night I will board my dog with the vet and take him with me to pick up my kitty to give us some quiet time for her homecoming.

My apartment only has an en suite attached to the main bedroom then it's pretty much open (the rest of the place). So I will have setup a fresh litter in the bathroom (It's infront of a washing machine which is not ideal but it's the only place it can go as it's a small room).
And I will have a food bowl at the other end of the bathroom (thoughts?). The main bathroom door will be closed permanently until she's ready for the rest of the house and the door to my bedroom I will put a baby fence that is high enough for her to get under but not my dog.

In my bedroom I will put a cat tree/scratching post, safe toys and a bed in one corner of the room that's close to the bathroom door where the litter and food will be.

I will bring her home in a crate and put her in this section of the room with the door open, quietly leave her be and read a book on my bed not rushing her.
(I have a feeling she will adjust to the house very quickly as she's been cruising around the vet's office where people are coming and going and it's loud and noisy)

I will keep my actions all low key only making sure she knows where the litter and food is talking softly to her and generally leaving her alone, rewarding her if she uses the litter etc, etc.

Day 2:
I will pick up my dog and bring him back to the main section of the house with kitty still in my bedroom/bathroom.
I will pay him extra special attention (he's an attention seeker and might feel left out) while letting him know by sight and smell that kitty is home without letting him too close to her.

Over the coming days I will make sure everything is calm and gently start small "visits" with the two of them with pup on a lead and keeping him very still. I will monitor this very carefully until I feel that she is confident enough to be alone with him (I'm aware this could take a while, possibly not until she's much bigger EG months).
Pup is very sweet and extremely gentle, but he is boystrous and could want to sniff/play with kitty... best intentions and all that I want to be sure she's safe.

Other than kitty proofing my house and making sure only safe toys are around the only other concern I really have is I will be going away at the end of december for 5 days and boarding pup for those 5.
I'm slightly anxious about this as kitty will have only been home for 4 weeks and I'm terrified she'll get stressed by being boarded for 5 days.....worst case FORGET ME or undo some of the bonding I hope to establish in those 4 weeks.
I am totally aware that cats are very unlike dogs and don't bond in the same way, however it's really important to me that I do my very best to create a strong loving bond between the 3 of us, of course not "forcing" anything.

Again apologies for the lengthy post, I'm sure i've left a lot out..
I would really appreciate any kindness/assistance in this exciting but very new stage in my life!

Thank you

Sounds like you've pretty much got it covered
Good luck with the introductions and I hope you're a happy family in double quick time.

Thanks LilBird

I am sooooo excited, she's all I can think about!!!!

I just want her to be home NOW :P

Went to visit her this morning at the Vets, the only thing I thought was weird is that when you pick her up she just flops in your hand and doesn't do anything (scared maybe?), but when she's down in the pen she walks around and plays with the toys etc, very quiet and not boystrous.

Does this mean she will be a quiet cat that just does her own thing possibly?
The vet says she's totally healthy, but she's definitely not like the other kittens who are all NUTS, biting and scratching constantly.

Also, sorted the problem re xmas boarding, the Vet said they'll take her back for the 5 days i'm away, that way she won't be too put out by it!

Sounds to me like she's going to a caring and loving home she may be just relaxed with cuddles, there personality grows with them so it's hard to tell. But she will be very happy with you, thats for sure

Thank you so much Waterlily for the kind words!

Yes she will be coming to a loving home, I have definitely already fallen hard for her hehe
She's so sweet and special!

Now I just have to play the waiting game, probably another week to go

Monday the 30th I think.

Well at least you only have a week to go , we still have to wait over 2 months for our Maine Coon . The kids and I are so excited and 2 months seems such a long time! Goodluck with your new addition and dont forget to put pics up

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Awww, you sound like you have it all planned out lovely.

It's awesome you have got so many days at home with her too.

I did too and then we got our bundle yesterday, and I'm already impatient that him and my exisiting cat get along! It's so hard not to rush them, but I just need to remember they are animals not people!

Delighted u r getting kitten she will be a loving companion for u and wee dog. I recently got little rescue kitten that has only 3 legs and he is now a full member of a family of 7 cats 1 dog 1 budgie 3 fish.

I can't add anything, you have thought everything through very carefully.

Enjoy your new companions.

Sue

Thank you all for the really nice responses. I would reply individually but i'm using work's internet and watchful eyes are about :P

I will post pics as soon as I can figure out hoW!!!!!!!
She is the cutest little tabby!

I'm going to visit her again tomorrow at the Vet's, will take some toys down for her and hopefully let pup and her sniff eachother out for a while.

This will sound like a very novice question but reagrding litter training, once she knows where it is and is using it do I give her treats when she does use it? And what treats would I give her?
Just want to cement in the litter training from day 1, but I don't want to make a "fuss" when she does incase she gets startled or distracted and thinks "Everytime I use this box this crazy many jumps up and down and touches me" type thing :P