New kitten checklist

Kittens. Fluffy balls of joy and mischief. Whether they’re exploring the sofa, curling up on the bed, or climbing their way up your trousers, there’s no denying how much fun kittens can be.

If you’re bringing your new kitten home soon, make sure you’re prepared for this exciting new journey.

The first step to welcoming your kitten home is to make sure you have everything you need. Toys, food, litter boxes – all essential.

Make sure they have somewhere comfy to sleep. They might decide that the box it arrives in is just as comfortable. But have multiple beds around so they can pick and choose where they want to snooze.

They’re going to need some food bowls for all the KatKin they’ll be eating. Try to find low and bowls to avoid whisker fatigue (overstimulation of the whiskers). The general rule of thumb is to have one more food bowl than you have cats. Which helps avoid fighting. (So if you have two cats, put down three bowls of food. And keep water bowls about three feet away from the food.)

Everybody poops. And kittens are no exception.

Cats use litter trays to relieve themselves when they’re indoors. Have it set up ready for when you bring them home. Choose one around 1.5x their length. And fill it with a good quality cat litter. (Like KatKin’s Scoop Planet sustainable cat litter.) With the sandy, gritty consistency cats instinctively choose as their toilet.

Make sure your home is safe for your new kitten. They’re very curious and will explore everything – and you know the saying. So make sure their curiosity won’t harm them by moving any hazards – like plants, cleaning supplies and toxic food – out of paws' reach.

Kittens are playful. (And that's an understatement.) So having plenty of toys is important. And playing with your kitten will help to build a good bond. It'll also make sure they’re getting enough exercise. There are so many different toys available out there – it’s totally up to you what you choose.

If your kitten is under 6 months old, don’t bother with catnip toys yet – it doesn’t affect kittens that young.

Scratching posts, cat trees, and climbing spaces encourage your kitten to exercise. Provide entertainment. Give your kitten somewhere extra to snooze. And they’ll save your furniture from sharp claws.

Trips to the vet are inevitable. And you’ll need a sturdy carrier for the journey. Plus any other travelling you two do together. Buy a good quality carrier that will fit them when they’re grown up too.

Keeping your cat well groomed will help to prevent matted fur and reduce hairballs – and any reason to not clean the rug is a winner by us. Make sure you get grooming tools suited to your cat’s fur. Long-haired cats will need more frequent grooming than short-haired cats.

Top tip: Get your kitten used to being regularly groomed as young as possible. To save battles when they’re adults.

Cats and kittens have an excellent sense of smell. Blankets that hold onto their individual scent are ideal to take on journeys and trips to the vet to reduce anxiety. They can also be used to introduce two cats to each other. Plus they’re cosy for both you and them. And can double as a lap protector if your cat likes making biscuits a bit too vigorously.

Everyone needs a little treat every now and then. Make sure you grab some kitten-friendly treats – they’re great for training and rewards. And can be added to puzzle toys for extra enrichment. Our Nibbles are the perfect kitten treats, by the way.

Because cats are curious, they can be a bit accident prone. And there’s nothing worse than being saddled with an unexpected vet bill. Pet insurance is an important safety net to help protect you against unexpected costs in case of an emergency. Make sure you research the different levels of pet insurance coverage to find the best one to suit you and your cat.

Socialising kittens is really important to help build their confidence and to gradually introduce them to new experiences. New sounds like hair dryers and washing machines can be a scary experience for kittens. So it's key to introduce these sounds slowly. Gently accustom your kitten to being picked up and stroked. Always move slowly and use a soft voice when talking to them.

If you’re introducing them to another family member, another cat, a dog or a child, it's essential to start slowly with short bursts. Always be around for these first introductions and never leave them unattended. Older cats can take a little while to get used to new family members, so allow them to have their own space. And don’t force an interaction. They will come around eventually.

After bringing your kitten home, it’s best to keep feeding them the same food for at least a week. Too much change at once can be stressful for cats.

Once they’re settled in, you can switch them to whichever food you prefer. (We recommend KatKin.) Most brands of cat food will have a specialised kitten food recipe which has a lot more fat and calorie content than their adult food to help your kitten grow. Make sure you stick to the recommended allowance when feeding to avoid too much weight gain.

Here at KatKin, we do it differently. Our food is suitable for cats and kittens of all ages. And you can switch to it all in one go rather than in stages.

Kittens are little copycats. They’ll learn by watching others. This applies when using the litter tray. They learn how to use them by watching their siblings or mother do it first. If you are litter training your kitten, place them in the litter tray and gently scratch the litter with their front paw. Do this a couple of times a day – especially after they’ve eaten. They’ll catch on in no time.

Make sure the litter tray is kept somewhere quiet, away from where they eat, is always accessible and is kept clean.

The type of litter you use is important too. Choose a litter that is gritty or sandy in texture. This is the kind of substrate cats will naturally look for when they need to go. Something like our Scoop Health cat litter has a sandy feel but has the added benefit of keeping an eye on your kitten’s health by monitoring the PH of their urine. Learn more about How to litter train your kitten with our helpful guide.

Whether you get your kitten from a breeder, friend, or rescue, it’s a good idea to get them checked out at the vet.

Not only for general health. Kittens need vaccines to protect them against lots of diseases. And if your kitten is old enough, they’ll need regular flea and worming treatments for when they’re outside.

Your vet will also be able to microchip them – a painless but important procedure where a microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) is inserted under the skin. This chip can be scanned if your cat becomes lost without a collar. Also they can be returned to you.

Choosing the best food is essential to help your kitten grow and develop. Cats are obligate carnivores. Which means they need meat to thrive. Most cat food off the shelves is filled with fillers and grains – yes, even the ‘high-protein’ ones. KatKin can be fed to your cat from any age and is made from 100% fresh, gently cooked, human-quality meat. Also you know it’s the good stuff.

Start your cat on fresh cat food to help them grow and keep them happy and healthy.