New Kitten Checklist: Everything You Need for Week One

Bringing home a kitten is one of life's great joys — and a much calmer experience when you've got everything ready before they arrive. Kittens are tiny, fast and curious, so a little preparation saves a lot of first-week chaos. Here's the complete checklist: what to buy, how to settle them in gently, and the vet and legal admin that catches new owners out.

The essential kit

Have all of this ready *before* pick-up day:

• A cosy bed. Kittens sleep enormous amounts, so a soft, enclosed or sofa-style cat bed in a quiet corner gives them somewhere safe to retreat. Many kittens also love a covered cave bed for that snug, hidden feeling.
• Litter tray and scoop. The rule is one tray per cat, plus one spare — so two for a single kitten — kept well away from food and water. Start with a low-sided open tray a kitten can climb into easily. A sturdy litter scoop makes daily cleaning painless, and cats are fussy about cleanliness, so scoop at least daily.
• Food and water bowls, placed apart from each other and from the litter tray. Use wide, shallow bowls to avoid whisker fatigue, and consider a water fountain — cats are notoriously poor drinkers and moving water encourages healthy hydration from day one.
• Food. Find out exactly what the breeder or rescue has been feeding and start with the same — sudden diet changes upset tiny tummies. Change gradually over a week or two if you want to switch.
• A scratching post. Start the right habit immediately, before the sofa ever becomes a target. A small, sturdy post or a cat tree gives them somewhere of their own to scratch and climb. See why cats need to scratch.
• Toys for play and bonding. A feather wand (the gold standard for interactive play), a crinkle tunnel for ambush games and zoomies, and a few small balls switch on their hunting instinct safely. Browse everything for cats.
• A secure carrier. Essential for the journey home and every vet trip. A sturdy, well-ventilated carrier that opens from the top as well as the front makes vet visits far less stressful.
• Grooming basics. Even short-haired kittens benefit from getting used to a soft brush early; long-haired kittens need regular brushing from the start to prevent mats.

Kitten-proof your home

Kittens get everywhere and chew everything. Before they arrive, get down to their level and look for hazards:

• Tuck away or cover trailing cables and blind cords (a strangulation risk).
• Remove or move toxic houseplants — lilies are deadly to cats, even the pollen, and several other common plants are dangerous.
• Secure cleaning products, medicines and small swallowable objects.
• Block gaps behind appliances and check washing machines and tumble dryers every time before use — kittens love to climb in.
• Make sure windows and balconies are secure.

The first week: keep it small and calm

The single biggest mistake is giving a kitten the run of the whole house on day one — it's overwhelming. Instead:

• Start with one quiet room containing their bed, litter tray, food, water and a couple of toys. Let them get confident in that small space first.
• Let them explore in their own time. Sit on the floor and let them come to you rather than chasing or grabbing. Confidence grows fast once they feel safe.
• Keep noise and visitors down for the first few days, and supervise children closely — kittens need lots of sleep and gentle handling.
• Show them the litter tray after meals and naps; most kittens take to it quickly. Accidents happen — clean them with an enzymatic cleaner (not ammonia-based) and never punish.
• Gradually open up the rest of the house once they're settled and using their tray reliably.

The vet & legal admin (don't skip this)

• Register with a vet and book a first health check soon after they arrive.
• Vaccinations: kittens need a course of initial vaccinations — your vet will set the timings. Keep them indoors until your vet confirms it's safe to go out.
• Microchipping is now the law: in England, all cats must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age. Make sure your kitten is chipped and the details are registered to you.
• Neutering: arrange this with your vet (commonly around four months, but ask) — it prevents unwanted litters and has health and behaviour benefits.
• Flea and worm treatment: ask your vet for the right products and schedule for a kitten's age and weight.
• Insurance: worth sorting early, before any condition can be classed as pre-existing.

Socialisation and play

The first couple of months are a golden window for gentle, positive experiences — calm handling, household sounds, meeting people quietly. Play is how kittens learn and burn energy: use wand toys so they chase the toy, never your hands (it seems cute now, but it teaches biting and scratching of skin). Several short play sessions a day tire them out and build your bond.

Frequently asked questions

How many litter trays for one kitten? Two — the "one per cat plus one" rule — in separate, quiet spots away from food.

What toys are safe for a kitten? Wand toys you control, balls and tunnels. Avoid anything with small parts that can be swallowed, and never leave string, ribbon or hair ties out unsupervised — they're a serious internal hazard.

When can my kitten go outside? Not until fully vaccinated and neutered, and your vet says it's safe — usually a few months old. Let them settle indoors completely first.

What should I feed my kitten? Start with whatever they're used to, then transition gradually to a complete kitten food. Kittens need kitten-specific food for growth, fed little and often.

How do I stop a kitten scratching the furniture? Provide a sturdy scratching post from day one, place it where they like to be, and reward them for using it — habits set early stick.

A quick note: Everypaw is a pet-supplies shop, not a veterinary service. For vaccinations, neutering, and any health worry, your vet is the right first call — and remember lilies and certain plants are highly toxic to cats. The PDSA, Blue Cross and Cats Protection all offer free UK kitten-care advice.

Get set up from everything for cats, cat beds and cat trees & scratchers.