How to look after a kitten

Getting a new kitten can be daunting and exciting – but fear not!

Our feline behaviourist Lucy Hoile is here to share her expert know-how on raising your little lion to be a happy and confident cat.

Read on to learn about things to get ahead of their arrival, kitten-proofing the house, settling your kitten in, and more.

• How to kitten-proof your home
• What to get for your kitten
  > Think about preventative kitten healthcare
• What to do when you first bring your kitten home
• Looking after your kitten day-to-day
  > Playtime
  > Feeding and sleeping
  > Handling
• Other questions about looking after a kitten
  > Can I let my kitten outside?
  > Can a kitten be left alone during the day?
  > Should kittens be kenneled at night?
  > How to soothe a crying kitten
  > How to raise a kitten to be cuddly

How to kitten-proof your home

Your kitten will want to explore their new territory and it’s important to make sure your house is as safe as possible.

• Secure anything that can get tangled, e.g. cords, cables, or string
• Store away any cat toys that should only be out under supervision, like fishing rods
• Block up any nooks and crannies where your kitten could get stuck, e.g. low furniture, gaps around the fridge, washing machine, or wardrobe
• Remove anything your kitten could choke on, especially small items
• Put away any foods that are toxic to cats, such as fish bones, chocolates, and raisins
• Check your garden and replace plants which are poisonous to cats
• Store away harmful chemicals like antifreeze, human medication, and cleaning products

What to get for your kitten

If you love shopping you probably can’t wait to pick up some bits for your kitten. But it’s easy to spend on unnecessary things, so here’s a list of essentials you’ll want to get:

• An appropriately sized litter tray (more than one is ideal)
• Non-scented litter
• A scratch post to manage their scratching behaviour
• A cat tree, or they’ll be climbing your curtains and furniture
• Easy-to-access food and water bowls
• A complete diet that’s age-appropriate
• Lots of different toys – kittens have a super high prey drive so look for a variety of textures, sounds, and scents
• Different styles of beds that they can get in and under as well as climb up high to reach

> Think about preventative kitten healthcare

Looking after your kitten’s health from an early age can help make sure they live a long and happy life.

• Vaccinations – these protect against common diseases like cat flu and feline parvovirus
• Kitten insurance – helps you cover potentially expensive vet bills if your kitten becomes poorly or has an accident
• Microchipping – this has now become UK law and helps reunite you with your kitten if they go missing
• Neutering – helps reduce your kitten’s risk of medical issues and stops unwanted pregnancies

What to do when you first bring your kitten home

That first day at home is exciting for you but can be overwhelming for your new kitten. Keep visitors away and put your kitten in one room to adjust and decompress.

1. Choose somewhere quiet that has space to hold all their things
2. Set their water and food bowls down and place their litter tray away from their eating area
3. Make sure they have somewhere comfortable to sleep along with plenty of places to hide
4. Leave their carrier open so they can go in and out as they please

Be sure to spend time with them in the room to interact and watch their behaviour.
Once they act more confidently – tail up, being friendly, not hiding – you can let them into a new room.

Take things slow and steady and always at your kitten’s pace. Below are a few more things to remember in those early days with your kitten:

• Don’t make big changes to your home, such as redecorating or having lots of guests over
• Once your kitten is confident in each new room you can open up a new area for them to explore
• As they start exploring new areas of the home you can start bringing out your kitten’s things
• Add extra beds and cat trees in different rooms so your kitten can establish the whole house as their territory

Looking after your kitten day-to-day

> Playtime

• Kittens need active playtime and respond best to moving toys, so give them something to chase!
• Playtime should be in short sessions multiple times a day, which is where another kitten comes in handy
• Give them something small they can safely chase and bite, such as a stuffed mouse
• Find a long thin toy they can grab hold of and kick with their back feet, or else they’ll do it on your arm

> Feeding and sleeping

• Having plenty of downtime is important for kittens, so make sure they have enough places to sleep and won’t be disturbed
• Give them small meals frequently throughout the day
• Empty your kitten’s litter tray daily to keep it nice and clean

> Handling

• Let your kitten lead interactions and respond when they approach you, rather than going to them
• Stroking for too long can overstimulate them, so keep sessions brief and frequent
• Not all cats like being picked up and in time you’ll get to know how your kitten feels about this
• Keep your kitten upright with all four paws supported if picking them up and put them down if they’re struggling to get away
• Avoid flipping your kitten on their back

Other questions about looking after a kitten

> Can I let my kitten outside?

You can let your kitten outside once they’re neutered, chipped, and vaccinated. You also want them to have settled inside the home first and see it as their territory.

Supervise your kitten so they can adjust to the outdoor space and don’t run off exploring. Check out this article on letting your cat outside for tips and best practices to keep your kitten safe and happy outdoors.

> Can a kitten be left alone during the day?

It’s not fair to frequently leave your kitten home alone or in a quiet house where they don’t get much playtime. That’s why I usually suggest getting two kittens as they can keep each other entertained.

Look for two kittens who complement each other’s personalities and are already playing together.

If you can dedicate enough playtime to your kitten but occasionally need to leave them alone, here’s how to make sure they’re OK:

• Leave safe toys (no strings) around and pick ones they’ve not played with for a while to keep them entertained
• Put out an activity toy or puzzle feeder that’s kitten-friendly and not too challenging
• Turn on the radio or TV for gentle background noise
• Ask someone to come in and check on your kitten
• Use an automatic feeder with a timer so they can be fed little and often, which helps stop pangs of hunger

> Should kittens be kenneled at night?

Cats like to feel in control and want to use their territory, not be shut up in a small space. That’s why you shouldn’t put them in a crate or kennel at night.

Your kitten can stay in one room overnight if you’re worried about something happening to the house. But expect frustration as they want to be with you and may vocalise and scratch at the door.

Cats are usually happiest being with their owners overnight. But if this can’t happen, start as you mean to go on. That means you need to:

1. Put them overnight in a room from day one
2. Be consistent and get your kitten used to spending each night in that room
3. Make sure it’s warm and comfortable for sleeping

> How to soothe a crying kitten

Kittens shouldn’t cry unless they’re frustrated and are trying to get attention. Usually, that’s due to being shut in a room and wanting to get out.

As we’ve mentioned, think long-term about your kitten’s set-up. If you put them in a room overnight and then let them out when they start crying, they’ll keep doing it.

They’ll come to you to be soothed so show them affection when they ask for it. And always speak to your vet if you’re worried your kitten isn’t well.

> How to raise a kitten to be cuddly

Like us, kittens have unique personalities and boundaries for what they do and don’t like.

How much your kitten wants to be around you also comes down to good socialisation and positive experiences with people. For example, a feral cat may always be feral as they’re used to being in survival mode.

While you can’t force your kitten to be cuddly, you can show them affection and take their lead on interactions.