The First Week With a New Kitten: Feeding, Litter, Sleep, Play, and Vet To-Dos
- Set up one small, quiet starter room with food, water, a bed, hiding spots, toys, and a low-sided litter box placed away from food and water.
- Feed a complete kitten diet on a regular schedule. Most young kittens do best with several small meals daily, and any sudden food change should be gradual unless your vet advises otherwise.
- Expect lots of sleep, short bursts of play, and some hiding during the first few days. Gentle routines help kittens settle faster.
- Book your kitten's first exam within the first week if one was not done recently. Your vet may discuss FVRCP, rabies, FeLV vaccination, fecal testing, deworming, FeLV/FIV testing, and microchipping based on age and history.
- See your vet promptly if your kitten is not eating, has diarrhea, vomiting, labored breathing, eye discharge, severe lethargy, or is not using the litter box normally.
Getting Started
Bringing home a kitten is exciting, but the first week can feel busy for both you and your new pet. Most kittens do best when life starts small and predictable. A quiet room, a consistent feeding routine, easy litter box access, and short play sessions can make the transition smoother while your kitten learns that your home is safe.
During this first week, focus on the basics rather than doing everything at once. Feed a complete kitten food, keep fresh water available, scoop the litter box often, and offer safe toys and scratching options. Many kittens sleep most of the day, then switch into energetic play bursts. Hiding, cautious exploring, and clingy behavior can all be normal early adjustment behaviors.
This is also the right time to build your relationship with your vet. Kittens usually need repeated veterinary visits every 3 to 4 weeks through the vaccine series, and many need parasite screening, deworming, and age-appropriate vaccines. If your kitten's medical history is incomplete, your vet may also recommend FeLV/FIV testing and a plan for microchipping, spay or neuter timing, and preventive care.
If anything seems off, trust your instincts. A kitten that will not eat, has repeated vomiting or diarrhea, struggles to breathe, seems very weak, or has significant eye or nose discharge should not wait for a routine appointment.
Your New Pet Checklist
Home setup
- ☐ Carrier for safe transport and future vet visits
A hard-sided or secure soft-sided carrier is safest for car travel.
- ☐ Starter room with bed, hiding spot, and washable blanket
A small quiet room helps reduce stress during the first few days.
- ☐ Food and water bowls
Keep bowls away from the litter box.
- ☐ Scratching post or cardboard scratcher
Offer scratching options from day one to protect furniture and support normal behavior.
- ☐ Kitten-safe toys
Choose wand toys, soft balls, and puzzle toys; avoid strings left out unsupervised.
Feeding and litter supplies
- ☐ Complete kitten food for the first 1-2 weeks
Use the current diet at first when possible, then transition gradually if changing foods.
- ☐ Low-sided litter box
Small kittens need easy entry.
- ☐ Unscented litter
For kittens younger than about 8-10 weeks, non-clumping litter is often preferred for safety.
- ☐ Litter scoop and mat
Scoop at least daily and keep the area easy to reach.
First-week veterinary to-dos
- ☐ Initial wellness exam
Schedule within the first week if your kitten has not been examined recently.
- ☐ Fecal parasite test
Commonly recommended for kittens because intestinal parasites are common.
- ☐ Deworming
Your vet may repeat treatment based on age, exam findings, and fecal results.
- ☐ Age-appropriate vaccines
FVRCP often starts at 6-8 weeks and repeats every 3-4 weeks until 16-20 weeks; rabies timing depends on age and local law.
- ☐ FeLV/FIV test
Often discussed for kittens with unknown history or exposure risk.
- ☐ Microchip
Permanent identification is worth discussing early, even for indoor cats.
Safety basics
- ☐ Kitten-proof cords, plants, medications, and small swallowable objects
Lilies, string, hair ties, and many human medications are especially risky.
- ☐ Nail trimmer or scratching alternatives
Useful later, but scratching surfaces matter more in week one.
Feeding in the first week
Feed a diet labeled for growth or for all life stages, and try to keep the same food your kitten was eating before adoption for the first several days if possible. Sudden diet changes can contribute to stomach upset. Young kittens usually do best with multiple small meals each day rather than one or two large meals.
If your kitten is under about 4 months old, many pet parents offer 3 to 4 meals daily. Older kittens may transition toward fewer meals, but your vet can help tailor the schedule to age, body condition, and the food you are using. Fresh water should always be available. If your kitten eats poorly for more than a meal or two, especially if very young, call your vet.
Litter box setup and early training
Most kittens learn litter habits quickly when the setup is easy. Start with a low-sided, uncovered box in the kitten's main room. Keep it away from food and water, and place it somewhere quiet but easy to find. In general, homes should have one litter box per cat plus one extra, with at least one on each floor.
Unscented litter is usually best tolerated. For kittens younger than about 8 to 10 weeks, non-clumping litter is commonly recommended because very young kittens may ingest litter while exploring. After meals, naps, and play, gently place your kitten near the box so they can build the habit without punishment or force.
Sleep, hiding, and normal adjustment
Kittens sleep a lot. Long naps mixed with short, intense bursts of play are normal. Some kittens settle in immediately, while others hide under furniture, stay quiet, or only explore at night for the first few days. That does not always mean something is wrong.
Give your kitten a predictable routine and a safe place to retreat. Cardboard boxes, covered beds, and carriers left open in the room can all help. If your kitten is hiding but eating, drinking, using the litter box, and becoming a little more curious each day, that is often reassuring.
Play and socialization
Short, frequent play sessions help kittens burn energy and learn appropriate behavior. Wand toys, soft balls, and food puzzles encourage stalking, pouncing, and problem-solving. Rotate toys to keep interest high, and avoid using your hands or feet as toys so biting does not become a habit.
Gentle handling matters too. Brief, positive experiences with being touched on the paws, ears, and mouth can make future nail trims, medication, and veterinary visits easier. Keep sessions short and end on a calm, successful note.
First-week vet to-dos
If your kitten has not had a recent exam, schedule one within the first week. Your vet will review age, weight, hydration, eyes, ears, heart and lungs, teeth, stool quality, and body condition. Kittens commonly need a plan for FVRCP vaccination starting around 6 to 8 weeks, boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks, rabies vaccination when old enough under local law, and FeLV vaccination for kittens under 1 year of age.
Your vet may also recommend a fecal test, deworming, flea control, FeLV/FIV testing if history is unknown, and discussion of microchipping and spay or neuter timing. Kittens often need repeat veterinary visits every 3 to 4 weeks until the early vaccine series is complete, so this first appointment is really the start of a care plan rather than a one-time task.
When to worry
See your vet immediately if your kitten has trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, significant diarrhea, weakness, collapse, pale gums, severe eye discharge, or stops eating. Young kittens can become dehydrated or low in blood sugar faster than adult cats.
Call your vet promptly for sneezing with eye discharge, a swollen belly, fleas, worms in stool, straining in the litter box, or a kitten who seems much quieter than expected. Early care can prevent small problems from becoming emergencies.
First-Year Cost Overview
Last updated: 2026-03
Questions to Ask Your Vet
Bring these questions to your vet appointment to get the most out of your visit.
- You can ask your vet which food and feeding schedule fit your kitten's age, weight, and growth rate.
- You can ask your vet when your kitten should receive FVRCP, rabies, and FeLV vaccines based on exact age and local requirements.
- You can ask your vet whether a fecal test, deworming plan, and flea prevention are recommended right now.
- You can ask your vet if FeLV/FIV testing makes sense for your kitten's background or exposure risk.
- You can ask your vet what weight gain is appropriate and how often you should weigh your kitten at home.
- You can ask your vet when to plan microchipping and how to register the chip correctly.
- You can ask your vet when spay or neuter is recommended for your kitten and what recovery usually looks like.
- You can ask your vet which signs would mean your kitten needs urgent care instead of waiting for the next routine visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should a new kitten eat in the first week?
It depends on age, body size, and the food being used. Most young kittens do best with several small meals a day of a complete kitten diet. Follow the feeding guide on the food as a starting point, then ask your vet to adjust based on weight gain and body condition.
Is it normal for my kitten to hide at first?
Yes. Many kittens hide, sleep more, or explore mostly at night for the first few days. It is more reassuring if your kitten is still eating, drinking, and using the litter box. If hiding comes with poor appetite, diarrhea, breathing changes, or weakness, call your vet.
How many litter boxes do I need for one kitten?
At least one easy-to-access litter box in the kitten's main area is essential. In general, the household rule is one box per cat plus one extra, and at least one box on each floor of the home.
When should my new kitten see a vet?
Ideally within the first week after coming home if a recent exam was not already done. Kittens usually need repeated visits every 3 to 4 weeks during the vaccine series and early preventive care period.
What vaccines does a kitten usually need?
Most kittens need FVRCP starting around 6 to 8 weeks of age with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until 16 to 20 weeks. Rabies is given when old enough according to local law, and FeLV vaccination is recommended for kittens under 1 year of age. Your vet will tailor the schedule to your kitten.
Should I let my kitten sleep in my bed right away?
Some pet parents wait until the kitten is settled, reliably using the litter box, and safe overnight. During the first week, a small kitten-proof room is often easier and safer than full access to the home.