Kitten Care: A Simple Guide for Your First Weeks
New kitten? What to feed and how often, when it can leave its mother, first vet visits, the litter box, settling in and making it a friendly, confident cat.
3 min readUpdated 2026-09-29
A new kitten is pure joy, and a little nervous at first. A few simple habits in the first weeks make it a healthy, confident, friendly cat [1][2].
When can a kitten leave its mother?
Once it's weaned (no longer nursing), which starts at around 6 to 7 weeks [1].
What should a kitten eat, and how often?
- Kitten food: kittens need extra energy and nutrients, so feed a food made for kittens [1].
- Small, frequent meals: about 4 to 6 small meals a day at regular times [2].
- Until about 9 to 12 months, keep feeding kitten food, with fewer meals as it grows [1].
- First 1 to 2 weeks: keep the same food it ate before coming home [2].
How do I help my kitten settle in?
- Start with one quiet, safe room [2].
- Hide cables, remove poisonous plants and breakables, and keep windows closed [2].
- Put the litter box in a quiet corner, with food on the other side of the room and water a little away from the food [2].
- Give it places to hide: the open carrier, or a box on its side with a soft blanket [2].
- For the first 24 hours, let it explore at its own pace. Play when it comes to you, and let it sleep [2].
When does a kitten need the vet?
Book a vet visit soon after it comes home. In the first months, your vet will plan vaccines and parasite prevention. Vaccines usually start at about 2 to 3 months [1]. Until the vaccines are complete, keep it away from unvaccinated cats [1]. Only use flea and tick products that are made for kittens [1].
How do I make my kitten friendly?
- Gentle human contact before 10 to 12 weeks helps kittens feel at ease with people [1].
- Play every day with interactive toys. It builds your bond and reduces scratching and chewing [1].
- Introduce other pets slowly, and keep young children's first cuddles short and supervised [2].
Did you know? Letting your kitten come to you, instead of picking it up the moment it arrives, helps it trust you faster [2].
Kitten care FAQ
How many times a day should a kitten eat?
About 4 to 6 small meals at regular times, fewer as it grows [1][2].
Can I switch its food right away?
Keep the old food for the first 1 to 2 weeks [2]. If you want to switch foods after that, ask your vet for the best way to do it.
When should my kitten be spayed or neutered?
That's a question for your vet, who will advise on the right time.
Sources (2)
The official and scientific references behind this article.
- Kitten Care — MSD Veterinary Manual (Cat Owners), https://www.msdvetmanual.com/cat-owners/caring-for-cats/kitten-care (accessed 2026-09-29)
- Helping your new cat or kitten settle in — International Cat Care (iCatCare), https://icatcare.org/articles/helping-your-new-cat-or-kitten-settle-in (accessed 2026-09-29)
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