New Kitten Checklist: What to Do in the First 30 Days

Start with one small, quiet room instead of giving your kitten full access to the house on day one. This lowers stress and helps them learn where the litter box, food, water, and bed are. Include a hiding spot, a sturdy scratching surface, safe toys, and a carrier left open as part of the room setup.

Choose an unscented, fine-textured litter if possible, and use a box with low sides so a young kitten can enter easily. Cornell advises keeping the litter box clean and placing food and water well away from it. In multi-cat homes, the general litter box rule is one box per cat plus one extra.

Kitten-proof the room before arrival. Remove strings, rubber bands, hair ties, small swallowable objects, exposed cords, toxic plants, and accessible medications or cleaners. ASPCA also recommends checking the home for hazards before bringing a new puppy or kitten home.

Plan a wellness visit as soon as you can after adoption or purchase. VCA recommends early kitten wellness care, including a physical exam, vaccines, deworming, and parasite prevention planning. Bring any records you received, plus a fresh stool sample if your vet asks for one.

Your vet may discuss FVRCP vaccination, FeLV vaccination, rabies timing, fecal testing, deworming, FeLV/FIV testing in some situations, and age-appropriate flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. PetMD notes that kittens generally need wellness visits every 3 to 4 weeks from about 6 to 8 weeks of age until 16 to 20 weeks.

Typical 2025-2026 U.S. cost ranges for a first kitten visit are about $75 to $150 for the exam alone, $25 to $45 per FVRCP vaccine, $30 to $60 for rabies where age-appropriate, $35 to $70 for fecal testing, $15 to $40 for routine deworming, and $25 to $60 for a microchip. Regional and hospital differences can be significant.

Feed a complete and balanced kitten food made for growth, and follow your vet's guidance on portion size and meal frequency. Cornell recommends a nutritionally complete diet matched to life stage. Most young kittens do best with multiple small meals each day rather than one or two large meals.

Keep fresh water available at all times. Some kittens drink better from wide bowls or fountains, but a clean bowl is enough to start. Track appetite, stool quality, energy, and weekly weight if you can. A kitchen scale can help you notice slow growth early.

If your kitten has diarrhea, vomiting, poor appetite, a swollen belly, or seems tired, contact your vet promptly. Parasites are common in kittens, and digestive signs are not something to ignore.

Most kittens learn litter box habits quickly when the setup is easy and predictable. Keep the box in a quiet, easy-to-reach spot. Scoop at least daily. If accidents happen, clean the area thoroughly and look at the setup first: box height, litter texture, cleanliness, and stress level all matter.

Offer scratching posts or pads from the first day. ASPCA explains that scratching is normal claw maintenance and communication behavior, not bad behavior. Reward your kitten for using the approved surface, and place scratchers near sleeping areas and social spaces.

Avoid punishment for accidents, scratching, or rough play. Instead, redirect to the behavior you want and make that option easy to repeat.

Use the first month to build positive routines. Merck describes an early socialization period in kittens and notes that daily handling during the first month of life is linked with more outgoing, human-social behavior later. For a newly adopted kitten, gentle daily handling, short play sessions, and calm exposure to normal household sounds can still be very helpful.

Use wand toys, soft balls, food puzzles, and short interactive play sessions. Avoid using hands as toys, because that can encourage biting and pouncing on people. Practice carrier time with treats or meals so the carrier becomes a familiar resting place, not only a signal for travel.

If you have resident cats, go slowly. Cornell advises keeping a new cat separated from other cats until your vet has examined them, especially if health history is unknown. Then begin gradual scent exchange and controlled introductions.

Even indoor kittens benefit from permanent identification. AVMA supports ISO-compliant microchip identification, and PetMD notes that indoor cats can still escape unexpectedly. If your kitten is already microchipped, confirm the number and update the registration with your current contact information.

Talk with your vet about parasite prevention that fits your kitten's age, weight, and lifestyle. PetMD notes that year-round prevention is commonly recommended, including for indoor cats, because fleas and some parasites can still enter the home.

Before the first month ends, make a plan for upcoming boosters, spay or neuter timing, nail trims, carrier training, and emergency care. A little structure now can make the next several months much smoother for both you and your kitten.