Your kitten's first week at home

The first week sets the tone for your kitten's whole life with you. The goal is simple: a small, safe, calm world that grows a little each day.

Prepare one safe room

Start with a single quiet room with a litter tray, water, food, a bed or box and a place to hide. Close windows and cupboards, hide cables and remove toxic plants such as lilies. Let the kitten explore the rest of the home only when it is relaxed in the first room.

Food and litter

• Keep the food the kitten already eats for the first days, then change slowly over a week.
• Offer small meals of kitten food several times a day, with fresh water always available.
• Place the tray away from food and show it to the kitten after meals and naps.

Day by day

1. Days 1 to 2: let the kitten come to you. Sit on the floor and talk softly.
2. Days 3 to 4: short play sessions with a wand toy. Never use hands as toys.
3. Days 5 to 7: gentle handling of paws and ears, a first car-free look at the rest of the home.

Vet visit

Book a check-up in the first week. The vet will check weight, parasites and plan vaccines and, later, neutering. Bring any papers you were given.

Call the vet quickly if

The kitten refuses food for a day, has diarrhoea, sneezing with eye discharge, or is very weak and cold.

Log the first weight today. Kittens should gain steadily, and a log makes changes easy to see.