The first 48 hours with a new kitten set the tone for weeks of settling in. Getting your home ready before they arrive — not scrambling after — makes an enormous difference to how quickly the kitten adjusts.
The Non-Negotiables
Litter Box
The rule of thumb is one litter box per cat, plus one extra. For a single kitten, start with two: one in the main living area, one in the bedroom. Kittens need to be able to find a box quickly — don't place them in hard-to-reach areas. Use an unscented, fine-grained clumping litter. If your kitten is slow to use the box, Dr. Elsey's Kitten Attract adds a natural herbal attractant while remaining unscented to people.
For kittens under 8 weeks, use a very shallow box or cut a U-shape entry into a standard box — they can't step over high sides.
Food and Water
Feed kitten-specific food until 12 months — adult food doesn't meet the nutritional needs of a growing kitten. Wet food is particularly important for kittens to establish good hydration habits. Ceramic or stainless steel bowls are easier to keep clean than plastic, which scratches and can harbor bacteria; plastic bowls are also often linked to feline chin acne.
Safe Space
Confine the kitten to one room for the first few days. An overwhelmed kitten in a large home hides and takes much longer to socialize. One room with their bed, food, water, and litter box lets them explore and claim territory at their own pace before expanding their world.
Carrier
Buy this before you bring the kitten home — you need it to collect them. Leave it open with familiar bedding inside from day one so the kitten associates it with safety, not just vet visits.
First Vet Visit
Book within the first 48 hours for a health check and to establish a vaccination schedule. Kittens need primary vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks in most protocols. If you got the kitten from a breeder, bring their vaccination record.
