Bringing Your New Kitten Home: Tips And Essentials

If you are about to get a kitten then you have a lot to look forward to. But, you also have to be prepared because that cute little bundle is going to be a handful when you first bring them home. 

Here are the essentials you’ll need and tips to make sure your kitten settles in safely and feels at home, with as little stress as possible. 

Before the kitten arrives 

Buy the essentials

• Cat carrier 
• Litter tray and scoop 
• Bag of litter 
• Food and water bowls 
• Wet or dry kitten food 
• Kitten treats 
• A bed – this ultimate snuggle bed is super cosy  
• Scratching post 
• Toys – kittens love feather wands 

Prepare your home 

• Choose the room the cat will be in and put all the above items in here – make sure the litter tray is as far away from the food bowl as possible. 
• Hide electrical wires – you could cover cables with tin foil as this will scare cats away from them.  
• Use plug socket covers to cover electrical sockets 
• Walk around your house and check for any dangers – including locking open windows and hiding away any small, sharp objects as well as removing plastic bags. 
• Make sure you can and do close the dustbin and toilet lids to avoid kittens falling in. 
• Block off small gaps such as chimneys.
• Don’t forget about the garden – your kitten won’t be outside for a while but you need to walk around and make sure there isn’t anything that could be dangerous for them including removing weed-killer and pesticides. 
• Remove any plants that are toxic to cats from your home and garden – this includes lilies which are particularly poisonous. 

When the kitten arrives 

• The journey home can be daunting – place the cat carrier somewhere flat and secure, cover with a blanket and consider using a calming pheromone spray. 
• When home, place them in the chosen room in their cat carrier and let them come out and explore in their own time. 
• Don’t worry if they aren’t interested in food to start with – once they settle in their appetite will start to come back. 
• Spend a few days with your kitten helping them to settle in and to establish a bond with you. 
• Slowly allow them access to the house – keep them in one room for the first few weeks and then slowly allow them to discover the rest of the house. 
• You may want more than one litter tray around the house – make sure this is emptied twice a day and cleaned once a week. 
• Be consistent with training and use treats to reward good behaviour. 
• Use the kitten’s name regularly while you are playing to help him or her learn it. 
• Register your kitten with the vet and start making plans to have them microchipped. 
• Book an appointment with the vet for their first health check and vaccinations, if necessary. 
• Kittens should be kept inside the house until they have been neutered and a week after the second set of injections – keep windows and doors shut to avoid them escaping. 
• Keep your kitten inside until around four months old, then go outside with your cat until they are around six months old when they will be able to do this alone.

Now you know that you are fully prepared for your new family member, you can look forward to welcoming a kitten into your home.