Your First Week With a New Kitten
Bringing a kitten home is exciting and overwhelming. Here's how to set both of you up for success.
Before They Arrive
Essential Supplies
- Food and water bowls (shallow, wide)
- Kitten-specific food (not adult cat food)
- Litter box (low sides for kittens) + litter
- Scratching post
- Cosy bed or blanket
- Cat carrier
- Toys (feather wands, small balls, crinkle toys)
Kitten-Proof One Room
Start with one room, not the whole house. It's less overwhelming.
Remove/secure: Electrical cords, toxic plants (lilies are fatal to cats), small objects they could swallow, blind cords, open windows, household chemicals.
Day 1: Arrival
Resist: Holding them constantly, introducing them to everyone, letting other pets in.
Days 2-3: Building Trust
- Sit on the floor at their level
- Let them come to you — don't chase
- Offer treats from your hand
- Play with a feather wand (not your hands — teaches biting)
- Talk softly and frequently
- Begin gentle, brief handling sessions
Days 4-5: Expanding Territory
- Open one additional room
- Let them explore while supervised
- Show the litter box location in the new area
- Begin a feeding schedule (3-4 times daily for kittens)
Days 6-7: Establishing Routine
Kittens thrive on routine:
- Morning: Feed, play, litter box check
- Midday: Play session, cuddle time
- Evening: Feed, active play (burns energy before bed)
- Night: Feed, quiet time, sleep
Key First-Week Tasks
Vet Visit (within 48-72 hours)
- Health check and deworming
- Vaccination schedule start
- Microchip discussion
- Flea prevention
Socialisation
The critical socialisation window for cats is 2-7 weeks. If your kitten is older, you still need to gently expose them to:
- Different people (age, gender, appearance)
- Household sounds (vacuum on low, TV, music)
- Gentle handling of paws, ears, mouth (prep for vet visits)
- Carrier training (leave carrier open with treats inside)
Litter Training
Most kittens are naturally inclined to use litter. If not:
- Place them in the box after meals and naps
- Gently scratch their paw in the litter
- Never punish accidents — clean with enzyme cleaner
- One litter box per cat + one extra
Common First-Week Issues
Hiding: Normal for 2-7 days. Don't force them out. Leave food near their hiding spot.
Not eating: Stress-related. Try different food textures. If not eating after 24 hours, call your vet.
Diarrhoea: Common due to diet change and stress. If persistent (>48 hours), see vet.
Biting during play: Redirect to toys immediately. Never use hands as toys.
Pet Capsule helps you track your kitten's vaccination schedule, weight milestones, and first-year care tasks.