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Your kitten's first week home

Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.

International Cat Care says to start a kitten in one quiet room with food, water, a bed, a litter tray, toys and a hiding spot. Let the kitten come out of the carrier on its own, keep the first day calm, and keep the same food and litter for the first one to two weeks.

Checked October 29, 2026.

By Peabody editors. How we write and check.

A small, safe first room

International Cat Care suggests starting a kitten in one quiet room. Put in food and water bowls, a comfy bed, a litter tray, toys and a scratching post. VCA also says to keep the food and water away from the litter box.

Before the kitten arrives, remove dangers such as cords, poisonous plants, breakables, medicines and cleaning products. Keep windows closed and secure the cupboards.

  • Add a hiding spot, like a cardboard box on its side with a soft blanket
  • Keep a carrier in the room so the kitten has a place to retreat

Arrival day

Open the carrier gently and let the kitten walk out when it is ready. Never pull it out. ICatCare says to keep the first 24 hours calm, with few visitors and no children crowding in.

If the kitten hides, sit quietly in the room and let it come to you. You can hold out a hand to sniff. VCA says that if a kitten stays hidden for 30 minutes, a grown-up can gently lift off the top of the carrier and show it where the food, water and litter are.

Food, litter and sleep

Keep the same food and the same kind of litter the kitten had before, for the first one to two weeks. ICatCare says that to change foods, mix old and new over 7 to 14 days.

Kittens eat little and often, and they sleep a lot. Don't wake a sleeping kitten for play or cuddles, and stop playing if it seems worried.

Going outside

ICatCare says kittens should wait at least one week after finishing their first set of shots before going outdoors, and that is usually around 13 to 14 weeks old. Ask your vet what shot schedule fits your kitten.

When to call the vet

International Cat Care says to contact your vet team if a kitten is still not eating or using the litter after the first day, or if a cat stays jumpy or reactive, because illness or pain can cause that.

For the children

Ages 4-6: Help a grown-up fill the water bowl and sit quietly on the floor so the kitten can come sniff your hand. Ages 7-10: Help set up the first room, check the water every day, and keep a short log of when the kitten eats, plays and sleeps.

"Let the kitten come to you, and let it sleep when it wants to."

This is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice, and it doesn’t replace a trainer or a behaviorist who can see your kitten.

Sources