Kitten Go-Home Pack Checklist: What Every Breeder Should Include

Handing a kitten over to its new family is the moment months of work come together. A well-prepared kitten pack reassures buyers, reduces late-night worried messages, protects you if questions arise later, and shows that your cattery takes welfare seriously.

The best kitten packs combine three things: complete paperwork, a clear record of the kitten's life so far, and practical guidance for the first weeks at home. This checklist covers everything a professional breeder should include, why each item matters, and how to put it together without spending hours on every kitten.

Why the kitten pack matters

For the buyer, the pack is proof of everything you have promised — the kitten's ancestry, health care and registration. For the kitten, it means the new owner knows exactly what food it eats, when its next vaccination is due and what is normal. For you, it is a written record that you handed over correct information, which can be invaluable if a dispute ever arises.

A good pack also builds your reputation. Buyers share photos of beautifully presented packs, recommend breeders who were organised and supportive, and come back for their second kitten.

Essential paperwork

These documents should be in every pack:

• Pedigree certificate (three, four or five generations) showing registration status
• Registration certificate or transfer paperwork, or a written note of when it will follow
• Vaccination record with dates, vaccine names, batch numbers and the vet practice
• Vet health check confirming the kitten was examined and found healthy before sale
• Worming and flea treatment history with product names, dates and the kitten's weight at each dose
• Microchip number and the database it is registered on, plus transfer instructions
• Signed sales contract, with a copy for both parties
• Insurance cover note if you provide a few weeks of free insurance

The pedigree certificate

The pedigree should list the kitten's registered name, breed, date of birth, sex, colour, pattern and registration details, the sire and dam with titles and registration numbers, and every ancestor's name and colour. It should also state whether the kitten is on active or non-active registration. Our guide on how to read a cat pedigree explains each section.

The sales contract

The contract sets out the price, deposit, health guarantee, neutering requirement and what happens if the owner can no longer keep the cat. Having it signed before collection day avoids rushed signatures on the doorstep — see our kitten sales contract guide.

Health and vaccination records

Buyers and their vets will want a clear health history. Record each vaccination with the date, vaccine name, batch number and vet, and note when the next booster is due. In the UK, kittens usually have a primary course of two injections several weeks apart, but the exact schedule depends on the vaccine and your vet's advice.

Include every worming and flea treatment with the product used and the kitten's weight at the time. If the kitten has had any illness or treatment, include it honestly with the outcome. Transparency builds trust, and vets will make better decisions with a full picture. Purrline's health and vaccination records keep all of this in one place per kitten.

Milestones buyers love

Beyond the essentials, new owners treasure a record of their kitten's early life:

• Birth weight and time of birth
• When eyes opened and when the kitten started walking
• First solid food and weaning date
• Litter training progress
• Weekly weight log from birth to collection
• Personality notes — playful, cuddly, bold, quiet
• A few photographs at different ages

A kitten growth chart shows steady weight gain at a glance and reassures both owner and vet that the kitten has developed well. You can compare against typical ranges with the free kitten weight checker.

Diet and feeding sheet

Sudden diet changes are one of the most common causes of upset stomachs in newly homed kittens. Your feeding sheet should list:

• The exact brand and variety of wet and dry food
• Portion sizes and number of meals per day
• Feeding times the kitten is used to
• Treats, if any, and any foods to avoid
• How to change food gradually if the owner wants to switch

Many breeders send home a small bag of the kitten's current food to cover the first few days. Our kitten feeding calculator works out daily grams from weight and age, which helps owners adjust portions as the kitten grows.

Settling-in guide

A short care sheet helps the kitten adjust and reduces worried calls. Cover:

• Setting up a quiet room with litter tray, food, water, bed and scratching post
• How long to keep the kitten in one room before exploring the house
• Introducing other cats and dogs slowly and safely
• Litter type the kitten is used to
• Handling, play and grooming routines
• Warning signs that need a vet: not eating for 24 hours, diarrhoea, lethargy or breathing difficulty
• Your contact details and how you prefer to be contacted

Comfort items

Small touches make a big difference. A blanket or toy that smells of mum and littermates helps the kitten feel secure in a new home. Some breeders add a favourite toy, a grooming brush, or a printed photo of the parents.

When should a kitten go home?

In the UK, most registries and welfare organisations recommend kittens go home no earlier than 13 weeks old, once the vaccination course is complete and the kitten is fully weaned, litter trained and socialised. Pedigree registries often set this as a requirement. Kittens that leave too early miss important lessons from their mother and littermates.

Common kitten pack mistakes

• Missing vaccine batch numbers
• Microchip registered to the breeder with no transfer instructions
• Pedigree with misspelt ancestors or the wrong registration status
• No written diet sheet, leading to sudden food changes
• Contract left unsigned until collection day
• Paperwork that looks different for every kitten

Build it once, print it for every kitten

Writing a pack by hand for every kitten takes hours and invites mistakes. Purrline's printable kitten packs pull milestones, health records, weights, growth charts, the pedigree and the signed contract into one branded document.

Everything comes from your litter and kitten tracker, so there is nothing to copy across, and the buyer's details come straight from your buyer waiting list. Print it, save it as a PDF, or email it before collection day.

Key takeaways

• Include pedigree, registration, vaccinations, worming, microchip, vet check and signed contract
• Record vaccine batch numbers and weights at every treatment
• Add milestones, a growth chart and photos — buyers treasure them
• Provide a clear diet sheet and settling-in guide
• Most kittens should go home no earlier than 13 weeks

Ready to produce professional kitten packs in minutes? Start a 7-day free trial of Purrline Pedigrees.