Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your First Kitten

Before bringing your new kitten home, there are a few things that you will need to buy and some things that you might need to prepare for.

Firstly, you should think about kitten-proofing your home, just like you would do for a baby. Kittens are curious and will often explore new environments by putting things in their mouth and chewing. Therefore, you need to make sure you pick up anything that your kitten could choke on and tidy away things like cables to remove the temptation to chew on them – and avoid having to replace them! It's also a good idea to think about any small spaces that your kitten might be able to crawl into so you can block them off and avoid your kitty getting stuck.

Before bringing your kitten home, it’s a good idea to get stocked up on everything they might need. Your first purchase should be a cat carrier to bring them home in. If you're driving your kitten home, you need to make sure you can secure their carrier, as you should never have your cat loose in the car whilst driving.

But what else do you need for a kitten? The essentials include:

These basics will get you started and help your kitten settle into their new home as quickly as possible.

Your kitten can be vaccinated from around eight or nine weeks old. If you're adopting your kitten from a rescue centre or getting them from a breeder, they might already be vaccinated, otherwise one of the first steps to keeping your kitten healthy is to make sure they get their vaccinations.

This will protect them against common cat diseases, including:

Once your kitty has had their vaccinations, they’ll need a booster to keep their jabs up to date – this is usually done once a year.

As well as vaccinations, you will want to protect your cat from parasites, such as fleas, ticks, and worms. There are a few different types of products available, such as tablets, liquid spot-on treatments, creams and special collars. If you’re not sure which is suitable for your cat, your vet will be able to offer advice on the best products to use.

You can let your kitten venture into the great outdoors under supervision as soon as they’ve had their vaccinations and microchip. A cat collar and lead is a great way to keep an eye on your kitten when they play outside for the first time. However, if you’re wanting to let them outside without supervision, then you should wait until they are at least six months old.

But you don’t have to let your kitten outside at all. One of the big questions when getting a new kitten is whether your cat should stay indoors or be allowed to go outdoors. In the UK, it's very common for cats to be outdoor cats, but in other countries, it's often seen as much more responsible to keep your cats inside.

Some people choose to keep indoor cats due to the fact that outdoor cats will hunt, killing local wildlife and most likely bringing it home to you. Additionally, an outdoor cat is also more likely to pick up a disease or parasite and they are more at risk of getting lost or injured – especially those who live close to busy roads. Some cats may also need to be kept indoors due to health problems, such as cats with feline immunodeficiency virus.

If you want a compromise between indoor and outdoor, consider completely enclosing your garden or setting up an outdoor cat run or "catio" to allow your kitty to enjoy the outdoors without some of the risks that may bring.

It is recommended to spay (female) or neuter (male) your kitten at around four or five months old after they have been vaccinated.

Cats breed very fast - in fact, females can start having kittens when they are practically still kittens themselves. Unless you fancy an unwanted litter of kittens (despite how cute they may be), then the best thing to do is to spay or neuter your kitten as soon as possible.

Your kitten's food is one of the most important things to think about before you even bring them home. When it comes to what to feed your kitten, they need a complete food that provides all of the essential nutrients they require to grow and thrive.

You can choose between wet food and dry food, however many cat owners will combine the two, both for variety and to help them save money - as wet food alone can become expensive.

Your kitten’s litter box provides your new feline friend with somewhere to go to the toilet while indoors, so it’s within your best interests to litter train them!

It’s advisable to start training with an open tray, but when it comes to litter, there are many types to choose from. Explore what's on offer and try a few to work out what's best for both you and your kitten.

When you bring your new kitten home, let them sniff around and get used to their litter tray. To start training them to use it, place your kitten in the litter tray after every meal or nap and ensure you keep the litter tray in the same place so your kitten knows where to find it. Additionally, it’s important to keep your litter tray clean, as cats can be reluctant to use one that isn't fresh, hindering your training!

You should give your kitten a treat when you notice them using the litter box to encourage them to use it by associating it with a positive experience.

Learning how to understand your kitten’s body language will help you bond with your kitten that little bit more. By understanding your cat's behaviour, you can work out what they're feeling or what they want.

It’s not always easy to work out exactly what your cat is trying to tell you, as they may use their eyes, ears, tail or their whole body to communicate. For example, if your kitten's ears are slightly forward, they're feeling curious and playful. If they're straight and upright, something has got their attention. If their ears are flat against their head, they're feeling angry or scared (and might also be hissing or growling at you).

Once you’ve worked out what all of these different looks mean, you can determine how to keep your kitten happy.

It probably won't come as any surprise to you that kittens love to play. Whilst they're growing, they're curious about everything and they're learning to pounce and hunt. But even grown cats love to play and can get bored if you don't entertain them.

In order to keep your cat entertained, there are all kinds of toys for your kitten to play with. Teaser toys are sticks or poles with feathers or other attractive things on the end, perfect for waving in the air or along the ground.

Alternatively, there are lots of toys for your kitten to chase, such as balls and toy mice. Or you can choose soft toys like Kongs, as these are great for your cat to grab onto - they love to roll around with them and kick them with their back legs.

If you’ve got a little extra space, your cat will love having tunnels and tents to run through, as well as cat towers, scratchers, and houses. These are great for providing different levels for your kitten to climb, places to hide away and surfaces to scratch.

We hope you love every moment with your new family member! For more kitten and cat advice, explore our blog for some expert advice to guide you as your cat goes through every stage.