New Kitten Checklist: Your First Year
Start here
Before your kitten arrives, set up a quiet room with a litter tray, food and water bowls, kitten food, a carrier, a scratching post, toys and a bed. Then book a vet visit within the first week to start the vaccination and deworming plan, and take feeding, litter and socialisation gently.
Bringing home a kitten is joyful and a little chaotic. This checklist walks you through the whole first year — what to buy, when to see the vet, the vaccine and worming timeline, feeding, litter and socialisation — so nothing important slips through the cracks.
Before your kitten arrives: supplies
Have everything ready in advance, and set up a small, quiet starter room with all of it in one place. A single calm space is far less overwhelming for a kitten than the run of the whole house on day one. The essentials:
- Litter tray and litter — a low-sided tray a kitten can climb into, plus an unscented litter; have one tray per cat plus one spare.
- Food and water bowls — shallow, ideally ceramic or stainless steel, placed away from the litter tray.
- Complete kitten food — the same one the breeder or shelter was using, to avoid stomach upset from a sudden switch.
- Carrier — a sturdy, secure carrier for the trip home and every vet visit after.
- Scratching post or pad — tall or long enough to stretch out on, to protect your furniture and their claws.
- Safe toys — wand toys and small balls; avoid string or anything they could swallow when unsupervised.
- Bed and a couple of cosy hiding spots.
- Grooming brush and, later, a cat-safe nail clipper.
- Identification — a microchip (arranged with your vet) and, if you use a collar, a quick-release safety one.
The first vet visit
Book a check-up within the first week of bringing your kitten home — sooner if they seem unwell. This visit sets the foundation for the year. Expect your vet to:
- Weigh your kitten and do a nose-to-tail physical exam, checking for congenital issues, ear mites, fleas and dental development.
- Discuss and start a vaccination and deworming plan tailored to your kitten's age.
- Screen for parasites and, where appropriate, test for feline leukaemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
- Talk through flea and worm control, feeding, microchipping and the right time for neutering.
Bring any paperwork from the breeder or shelter, plus a fresh stool sample if your vet asks, so they can check for intestinal worms.
Vaccine and deworming timeline
Kitten vaccines are given as a series, not a single shot, because the protection a kitten gets from its mother gradually fades and each dose builds lasting immunity. The schedule below follows the general pattern in the AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidelines — your vet will set the exact dates, which can vary with your kitten's age, health and local disease risk.
| Age | Typical vaccines / treatments | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~3–9 weeks | Deworming every 2–3 weeks | Worms are commonly passed from the mother; usually starts before you get the kitten. |
| ~6–8 weeks | First FVRCP; deworming; flea prevention as advised | FVRCP protects against feline herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia. |
| ~10–12 weeks | Second FVRCP; first FeLV; continue deworming | Feline leukaemia (FeLV) is recommended for all kittens; given as a two-dose series. |
| ~14–16 weeks | Final FVRCP; second FeLV; rabies | The FVRCP dose at 16 weeks or later is the most important; rabies timing follows local law. |
| ~4–6 months | Neutering; monthly deworming until ~6 months | Neuter timing varies — confirm with your vet. |
| ~12 months | Booster vaccines | FVRCP and others boosted a year after the kitten series, then at intervals your vet sets. |
For the full picture of what each vaccine does and when boosters fall, see our dedicated cat vaccination schedule.
Feeding your kitten
Kittens grow fast and need a food made for it:
- Choose a complete "kitten" or "growth" food — richer in calories and protein than adult food.
- Feed small, frequent meals: young kittens often need around four meals a day, reducing to three, then to two by about a year old.
- Introduce changes gradually over about a week to avoid tummy upset.
- Fresh water always — and remember cats do not need milk; many are lactose intolerant.
- Follow the portion guidance on the pack as a starting point, and adjust with your vet as your kitten grows.
Not sure on amounts? Our cat feeding calculator gives a starting estimate you can confirm with your vet.
Never miss a kitten milestone
Tavi keeps your kitten's vaccine dates, deworming, weight and vet visits in one place, with gentle reminders so the whole first-year schedule stays on track. Free for your first pet.
Litter training
Good news: most kittens already know how to use a litter tray, having learnt from their mother. Your job is to make it easy and appealing:
- Place the tray somewhere quiet, private and easy to reach — never next to food or water.
- Use a low-sided tray small kittens can climb into.
- Scoop daily and clean fully often; cats avoid a dirty tray.
- Have one tray per cat plus one extra in a multi-cat home.
Socialisation and handling
The early weeks are a golden window. Kittens are most open to new experiences before about 7 to 9 weeks, but gentle socialisation continues for months and shapes a confident, friendly adult cat. Keep sessions short and positive:
- Handle your kitten gently and often — paws, ears and mouth — so vet visits and nail trims are easy later.
- Introduce everyday sounds, visitors, and other pets slowly and calmly.
- Make the carrier a normal, pleasant object: leave it out with a soft blanket and treats inside.
- Play daily with wand toys to burn energy and build a bond — and never with your bare hands, which teaches biting.
First-year milestones at a glance
| Age | What is happening | Your focus |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12 weeks | Settling in; start of vaccine series; very playful | First vet visit, starter room, gentle handling, kitten food 4×/day |
| 3–4 months | Baby teeth falling out; vaccines continuing | Complete vaccine series, continue deworming, provide chew-safe toys |
| 4–6 months | Rapid growth; neutering window | Discuss and book neutering and microchipping; reduce to 3 meals/day |
| 6–12 months | Approaching adult size; energy peaks | Plenty of play, regular flea/worm control, monitor weight |
| ~12 months | Reaching adulthood | Booster vaccines, transition to adult food, move to 2 meals/day |
Printable first-year checklist
Tick these off as you go (print this page or copy the list):
- ☐ Starter room set up with litter tray, bowls, bed, scratching post and hiding spots
- ☐ Home kitten-proofed (cables, toxic plants, medicines, windows)
- ☐ Kitten food matching what they were already eating
- ☐ Carrier bought and left out to become familiar
- ☐ First vet visit booked within the first week
- ☐ Vaccination series started and dates recorded
- ☐ Deworming and flea prevention on schedule
- ☐ Microchip arranged (and registered to your details)
- ☐ Neutering discussed and booked
- ☐ Feeding routine set and adjusted as they grow
- ☐ Daily play and gentle handling for socialisation
- ☐ Pet insurance considered
- ☐ One-year booster and adult-food transition planned
Frequently asked questions
What supplies do I need before bringing a kitten home?
The essentials are a litter tray and litter, food and water bowls, a complete kitten food, a carrier, a scratching post, safe toys, a bed, and a brush. Set up a quiet starter room with everything in it before your kitten arrives so they have a calm, safe space to settle into rather than the whole house at once.
When should a kitten first see a vet?
Book a first check-up within the first week of bringing your kitten home, sooner if they seem unwell. The vet will weigh them, check for congenital problems, discuss a vaccination and deworming plan, screen for parasites and diseases where appropriate, and talk through feeding, flea and worm control, neutering and microchipping.
What is the kitten vaccination schedule?
Core kitten vaccines usually begin around 6 to 8 weeks and are boosted every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks or older. The core FVRCP vaccine protects against three common viruses, rabies is given around 12 to 16 weeks where required, and feline leukaemia is recommended for kittens. Your vet sets the exact dates.
How often should I deworm a kitten?
Kittens are commonly wormed every 2 to 3 weeks from around 3 weeks of age until 8 to 12 weeks, then monthly until about six months, because worms are often passed from the mother. After that, most cats are wormed regularly based on lifestyle. Always use a product and schedule your vet recommends for your kitten's age and weight.
What and how often should I feed a kitten?
Feed a complete food labelled for kittens (growth), which is higher in calories and protein than adult food. Young kittens need small, frequent meals — often four a day, reducing to three, then to two by around a year. Provide fresh water at all times and follow the portion guidance on the food, adjusting with your vet.
When can I start litter training and socialising my kitten?
Most kittens already know how to use a litter tray by the time they come home; just keep it clean, private and easy to reach. Socialisation is most powerful before about 7 to 9 weeks but continues for months — gently introduce handling, sounds, other pets and the carrier in short, positive sessions.
Tavi's guides are informational and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. Vaccine, deworming and neutering schedules vary with your kitten's age, health and local disease risk and law — always follow the plan your own veterinarian sets. Sources include the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) feline vaccination guidelines, the Cornell Feline Health Center, the Merck Veterinary Manual and PetMD.