5 Tips for First-Time Kitten Owners

Bringing home a tiny feline friend is both exciting and daunting. There is so much to think about, so the key is to be prepared.

To help you feel confident in your new role as a cat carer, here are our five top tips.

1) Create a Cat-Friendly Space

One day, your tiny kitten will grow into an adult cat who will confidently rule over your house with an iron claw.

However, before we get here, your kitten must get used to their new home. Before you bring your new furry friend back, set up a safe space with all their all resources: litter tray, food, water, bed, scratcher and of course lots of exciting toys.

Pop their clean litter tray on one side of the room (remember, cats need time to adjust to new litter, so wait a while before you switch). Watch our Guide to Transitioning Litters.

Make sure your cat has separate food and water dishes that are far away from their toileting area. Our kitties are very clean, so keeping everything apart will encourage them to eat, drink and toilet as normal.

Next, ensure your kitten has a cosy and safe place to retreat to if they are feeling nervous. Remember, some kittens are more nervous than others and may take a while to come out of their carrier. To help them feel safer, keep the carrier in the room for the first few days.

Lastly, ensure all hazards are tidied away. Our curious cats can get into lots of mischief, so lock away cables and remove anything toxic.

2) Support Your Kitten’s Growth

Cats need the best nutrition to grow into a fit, healthy and flourishing adult cat.

For the first couple of weeks, it’s best to stay on the diet your kitten is already accustomed to. However, that doesn’t mean you need to stick to this diet forever; this is just the food that was needed for the first few weeks.

Your kitten will thrive, not just survive, on a natural high meat content diet. Cats need lots of protein, fat and brain-boosting oils to help them flourish into a fabulous adult feline.

Read our Kitten Nutrition Blog.

3) Groom your Kitten

Did you know cats spend around 15% of their life grooming themselves?

Cats love to keep clean, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need our help. Regular brushing keeps their fur free from tangles, improves their skin condition and reduces the chance of hairballs.

Introducing your kitten to the grooming process early is key. Start when your kitten is relaxed (the best time is when they are asleep on you) and use a soft brush to gently stroke them.

Keep doing this regularly, and they will quickly get used to and enjoy the sensation.

Shop our Kitten Grooming tools

4) Book Regular Vet Appointments

Cats need a lot of veterinary support during their early months and across their lifetime.

Your kitten will need vaccinations, neutering or spaying, and a microchip. Regular health checks will keep your feline fit and healthy across their lifetime.

If you have a cat that is nervous of the vet, read our Guide to Reducing Vet Stress.

5) Protect Against Parasites

Kittens will need regular parasite treatment, especially worming when they are young.

The goal of deworming is to keep the burden low and tolerable. Kittens need to be treated regularly.

• Treat for roundworms every two weeks until they are three months old.
• Treat for roundworm and tapeworm every four weeks between 3 and 6 months.

Explore our range of parasite treatments.

For further kitten support, read our Guide to Letting Kittens Outside.

Don’t forget to shop our hand-picked Kitten Essentials.