Your kitten's first week at home

The first week matters. Your kitten has moved into a place full of new smells and sounds, so hiding or eating little on the first day is normal. A little preparation and patience make the week go smoothly.

Before your kitten arrives

• A litter box and litter. See litter box basics.
• The food it's used to. Ask the previous home what it eats and buy the same.
• Food and water bowls, away from the litter box.
• A carrier for trips and vet visits.
• A scratching post and safe toys. See why cats scratch and bite.
• A hiding place: a box with a hole, or a covered bed.

Make your home safe

• Put netting on windows and balconies. Falls from high floors are very common in flats.
• Tidy away cables, string, hair ties and needles.
• Keep the washing machine, oven and bin closed, and check inside the washing machine before you run it.
• Remove plants that can be toxic to cats, such as lilies, or put them somewhere it can't reach.
• Keep cleaning products and medicines in a closed cupboard.

Day one

• Give it one quiet room with food, water, the litter box and a hiding place.
• Open the carrier and let it come out on its own.
• Hiding under the bed is normal. Sit in the room and talk softly.
• Show it the litter box, especially after meals and naps.

The rest of the week

• Open up more of the home once it's eating, using the litter box and looking relaxed.
• Play two or three times a day with a wand toy, not your hands.
• Introduce other pets slowly: swap smells first with a blanket or towel, then let them see each other through a gate or a cracked door. See introducing a new cat and cats and dogs in one home.
• Teach children to be gentle, and never to pick it up when it doesn't want to be held.
• Keep the same food for the first few days. To switch, mix the new food in gradually over about a week.

The first vet visit

Book a check-up in the first week, even if your kitten seems fine. The vet will examine it and plan vaccines and deworming; kittens usually need several vaccine doses a few weeks apart. Ask about the right time to neuter, too. See how to choose a vet.