Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cats

Are you ready for a kitten? The must-read guide to kitten care before you adopt

Paige Cerulli
By

Bringing a new kitten into your home is an exciting experience, but it’s also a big decision that you should put some serious thought into. Kittens are long-term commitments, and their high-energy, inquisitive nature means they require more care and attention than older cats. It’s also important to understand the vet care your kitten needs as well as the supplies that you’ll have to buy and the financial obligation that comes with having a kitten. Familiarizing yourself with kitten care basics and the financial side of owning a kitten can ensure that you’re truly ready to bring home a new pet.

Grey kitten sitting outside on a stump
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Naming your kitten

When you bring home a new kitten, you’ll need to spend some time figuring out the perfect name for your new buddy. There are many online lists of potential kitten names that can help give you some ideas, but often the best strategy is to just sit back, watch your kitten, and get to know his personality. The more you learn about your kitten, the better you’ll be able to tell which name fits him perfectly.

Recommended Videos

When naming your kitten, avoid any names that sound very similar to the names of other people or pets in your home to avoid confusing him. When you choose the right name, use it often so your kitten learns to recognize it.

Related

Essential items to have

Windermere Veterinary Services recommends that you stock up on some essentials before your new kitten comes home:

  • a crate that’s large enough to hold a litter box, cat bed, and food and water dishes to keep your kitten safe when you’re not available to supervise
  • a travel carrier to take your kitten to the vet and groomer
  • kitten food that’s formulated for a kitten’s unique nutritional needs
  • a cat bed that’s easy to wash and that gives your kitten a cozy spot for naps
  • a kitten collar with a bell and a safety breakaway snap
  • food and water bowls, ideally made of stainless steel or porcelain for easy cleaning
  • ID tags with all of your contact information, just in case you and your kitten are ever separated
  • a smaller litter box with a lower edge that your kitten can easily get into
  • non-clumping or pelleted cat litter; you can switch to clumping or pelleted litter once the kitten is a little older
  • grooming essentials, including a flea comb, brush, and nail trimmers
  • toys, treats, and catnip
  • at least one scratching post or cat tree

Behaviors to expect

According to VCA Hospitals, kittens are highly playful and active. That’s important because they learn how to communicate and hunt by playing. Kittens love to chase and pounce, and they’ll often play with their littermates when they’re young. As your kitten ages, you’ll see her start to play with objects and hunt more, particularly around the time when she’s weaned. You can support your kitten’s play instincts by providing her with a variety of toys and by interacting and playing with her.

Just as kittens learn by playing, they also learn by exploring, and that means they can get into plenty of mischief. When you’re not around to supervise your kitten, leave her in a safe area, like her crate, or in a room that’s kitten-proofed. You’ll need to use child locks to keep her out of cupboards and make sure that any furniture or items that could be tipped over are secured. You can give your kitten access to catnip, toys, scratching posts, and other items that she can play with so she can explore safely.

Orange and white kitten playing with a feather toy
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Vet appointments

According to Windermere Veterinary Services, during your kitten’s first year of life, you’ll need to head to the vet multiple times to ensure your kitten gets the care he needs. Kittens achieve multiple medical milestones during that year, and it’s important to have your kitten spayed or neutered when he’s four months of age or older.

Your kitten will also need several vaccinations, including the rabies vaccine, as well as vaccines for diseases like feline leukemia, feline distemper, and calicivirus. Exactly when your kitten will need these vaccines will depend on his age, but plan on two to three vet appointments for those vaccines.

Your vet will also discuss other health concerns, like flea and tick prevention. Your vet can recommend some flea treatments that are suitable and safe for your kitten; younger kittens can’t use the same flea treatments that are safe for older cats.

During each appointment, your vet will also weigh your kitten to track his growth progress. Those appointments are a perfect time to discuss your kitten’s diet and nutrition with your vet, too.

Kittens can bring lots of love and laughter into your home, and being prepared for your kitten’s arrival can help to ensure that the process goes smoothly for you and your new family member. The more you can learn about kittens beforehand, the easier the experience will be. Before you adopt a kitten, make sure that you spend some time shopping for essentials and that you find a vet who can guide you through your kitten’s healthcare.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Paige Cerulli
Paige Cerulli
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Paige's work has appeared in American Veterinarian, Business Insider, Healthline, and more. When she's not writing, Paige…
Your cat trilling is actually a good thing – here’s why
This cat behavior explained
Alert cat looking into the camera with wide eyes

When you share your life with cats, you'll hear them make all sorts of different noises. Meowing, purring, and even hissing or growling are all sounds that your cat uses to communicate. But there's another noise that your cat may use and reserve for special occasions and special people. Have you heard your cat trilling? And have you wondered just what this distinct sound means?

The trill is a less common vocalization, but if your cat trills at you, you're a lucky person. Why do cats trill? This is how to recognize cat trilling — and why it's such a good sign.

Read more
Why doesn’t my cat meow? Here are 5 reasons why your feline friend is silent
Physical and mental reasons why a cat suddenly stops meowing
Bengal cat lying down, looking at the camera

It's not exactly news that cats communicate with humans by meowing, In fact, you may have already learned to recognize what each of your cat's meows means. If your cat stops meowing, though, you might have a problem.
Some causes of this odd change are normal and harmless -- and some will even resolve quickly -- but there are also potential causes that can be much more serious. This is why it's important to get your vet involved early on. If you're wondering "why doesn't my cat meow?" you'll want to get to the bottom of the issue to determine whether your cat needs additional help.

Why doesn't my cat meow? Emotional upset could be the cause
If you think that "my cat doesn't meow," it might be because they're stressed or upset. If your cat is experiencing significant change, like having just moved into a new home, they may be staying quiet out of fear. The same is true if you've recently brought a new pet home. Your cat may be trying to avoid the new pet and any resulting fights that could occur if they meow and make noise. Alternatively, something like the loss of a companion or a recent illness could cause a kitty to feel shut down and quiet.

Read more
Is your cat hissing and growling a lot? These 5 tips will work wonders on your feline friend
Follow these tips if your cat is constantly hissing and growling
Tiger cat outdoors hissing

Understanding pet behavior can be a challenge, and if you see your cat hissing and growling, knowing what to do can help you deal with it and calm them down. Growling and hissing are natural behaviors for your cat. They're communicating to you that something is wrong. It's up to you to determine what's going on so you can take the right steps to address the issue and help your cat feel better. In turn, the behaviors should stop, and both you and your kitty should feel happier. If your cat is hissing and growling, put these tips to use to help fix the problem.

Try to identify the cause of the cat's hissing and growling
It's uncommon to see a cat hissing and growling for no reason. Usually, they are prompted by some sort of issue or change in a cat's environment. If you can identify this issue, then you can take steps to make your cat feel safe and stop the hissing and growling.

Read more