Bringing a Kitten Home: Your First Week Checklist

Set Up a Safe Room First

A new kitten is leaving everything it knows. The kindest first step is one quiet room, not the whole house. Choose a room you can close off, and put everything the kitten needs inside it: food, water, a litter box, a bed, a few toys, and a safe hiding spot such as a cardboard box or a covered bed.

Keep the room calm and limit visitors for the first few days. Let the kitten explore at its own pace. A small, safe space builds confidence far faster than free run of a large, unfamiliar home.

What to Have Ready Before Arrival

Gather these basics before the kitten comes home:

• The food the kitten is currently eating, so you do not switch suddenly.
• The litter the kitten is used to, for the same reason.
• Shallow food and water bowls, ideally ceramic or stainless steel.
• A low-sided litter box a small kitten can climb into easily.
• A sturdy carrier for the ride home and future vet trips.
• A soft bed and a few safe toys without small parts.
• A scratching post or pad placed near where the kitten sleeps.

Food and Litter Transitions

Sudden changes to food or litter are a common cause of upset in the first week. Ask what the kitten is eating and what litter it is used to, and keep those the same when you bring it home. If you want to switch later, do it gradually over a week or more by mixing the new food or litter with the old in increasing amounts.

If you are stocking up, our recommended products page lists kitten food and litter options we consider useful for families, with a note on transitioning each one.

Introducing Other Pets

Keep existing pets separated from the kitten's safe room for the first few days. Let them smell each other under the door first. When you do introduce them, do it slowly, in short sessions, and always supervised. Never force an interaction. Most kittens and resident pets adjust well when given time and a gradual, calm introduction.

The First Vet Visit

Book a vet visit within the first week, even if the kitten seems healthy. Bring the vaccination and health records you received at placement so your vet can review them and set up a schedule for any remaining kitten vaccines. This visit also establishes your kitten as a patient, which is valuable if you ever need urgent care.