How to look after a kitten

If you’re new to cat ownership, we’ve got a cat-alogue of useful tips and guides. Here we’ll look at:

• Preparing your home for the new arrival
• How to introduce your kitten to the family
• How to feed your kitten
• Kitty toilet (ie litter) training

It’s also a good idea to protect your new arrival with peace-of-mind cat insurance.

Preparing for your new arrival

Before you bring your kitten home for the first time, there are a few things that you can plan and buy ready for the big day:

• Your kitten will need a cosy bed, but they’ll only need a small bed for now.
• Food and water bowls. Think about where you’d like to feed your kitten. Remember they’ll need access to fresh, clean water at all times. It’s not a bad idea to get a water fountain, as cats generally prefer running water, plus they can also filter the water.
• A few toys and a scratching post.
• Litter tray. This should be kept somewhere away from the feeding bowls.
• Check your home carefully for any hazards. Move any poisonous houseplants away. Kittens are also extremely good at hiding themselves in the tiniest of spaces! You’ll also need to make sure that they can’t get into or behind the washing machine or tumble dryer.
• Find a good local vet to register with, and arrange for insurance to be in place as soon as you collect your kitten.

Bringing your kitten home

Kittens are so tiny that it can be easy for them to feel overwhelmed when you first bring them home. It’s a great idea to keep them to just one or two rooms to begin with. This way they can build up their confidence and learn where their bed, food and litter tray will be.

This will also really help with house-training – although many kittens are already well used to litter trays, having watched their mums.

Top tip: When looking into buying a cat, find out how well the kitten is toilet trained from the breeder.

You’ll need to make sure that windows and doors are kept closed so that there’s no risk of your kitten accidentally escaping from your home.

During these first few weeks together, it’s the perfect time to establish your kitten’s routine. Keep regular mealtimes, and also introduce some basic rules, such as where the kitten is – and isn’t – allowed!

You can also continue your kitten’s socialisation process by introducing short grooming sessions, getting your kitten used to being handled, and also used to their cat carrier.

Have you had a litter of kittens at home?

If your cat is giving birth, here’s how to care for a litter of kittens. And this is when you can expect the kittens to first open their eyes.

Introducing your kitten to the family

One of the most essential parts of your kitten’s socialisation is introducing them to your family, pets and other people. The key aim is to keep all introductions positive to help develop your kitten’s confidence.

When introducing your kitten to children, remind the children to be calm and to let the kitten come to them – no matter how tempting it is for them to want to hold the kitten!

If you’ve already got other cats or dogs in your home, introductions need to be done really carefully so that they become friends. Check out our guide to kitten socialisation to find out how to introduce a cat to a new kitten.

Is your kitten a bit bitey? Here’s how to stop kittens from biting.

How to feed your kitten

When you bring your kitten home, keep them on the same kitten food they’ve already been eating. Sticking to the food that your kitten is used to will help avoid an upset stomach.

Your kitten will need regular meals, and will probably need their daily food split across four small meals. The feeding instructions on the kitten food will clearly show how much you should give your kitten each day as they grow.

If you’re feeding your kitten pouches or tinned food, clear away any uneaten food after a short time as it doesn’t keep well. On the other hand, if you’re feeding your kitten on dry food, you can leave this down longer. The exception for this is if you have other pets that may want to help themselves – in this case you’ll have to supervise the food carefully!

Top tip: If you have a few pets, you may find it useful to get a feeder which responds to a pet’s individual microchip. These aren’t usually cheap, but they can help ensure the right pet gets the right food. And as they seal when they close, this can help wet food to keep for longer.

As your kitten begins to grow up, you’ll be able to reduce the frequency of the meals – down to three per day by around three months old, then two per day at around six months of age.

Important: Don’t give your kitten cow’s milk to drink, as it can cause diarrhoea.

To find out more, read our full guides on how to feed your kitten, and how much to feed a kitten.

Toilet (ie litter) training

Cats are generally very quick to learn how to use their litter trays, and you may well find that your kitten is already confident with this. But if they’re not quite there yet, it’s best to keep them to one room while they get the hang of it.

You’ll need a simple plastic tray filled with the cat litter of your choice – but never earth from the garden as it may contain bacteria from other animals.

The litter needs to be deep enough for them to dig a little, and it’s a good idea to place the tray on top of some newspaper to catch any litter that falls out. Keep the tray in a quiet place, away from the food and water bowls.

As your kitten grows up and starts going outside, you’ll probably find that the litter tray is used less. But if your cat continues to use the litter tray as they grow up, you might like to upgrade to a larger tray – perhaps with a cover – to give more privacy and to help prevent smells and mess. It’s also a good idea to get them a nice big litter tray if they’re indoor cats.

If you have any concerns regarding your kitten’s development or behaviour, always consult your vet for advice.

Last reviewed by Owe Carter, September 2024.