New Kitten Checklist: What Do I Need for a Kitten?

Key Guidance

Before your kitten arrives, it's worth having the basics in place rather than shopping in a panic on day one. Start with a carrier that feels secure and comfortable — one with a removable top is especially handy, since it lets you handle your kitten at the vet with far less stress than tipping them out of a front-loading door. For litter, the general rule is one box per cat plus one extra, and each box should be roomy enough — roughly one and a half times your kitten's body length — so they're not squeezed in. Kittens also develop preferences for a particular litter texture early on, so it helps to find out what they've already been using and stick with that at first rather than switching cold.

A scratching post earns its keep near resting spots or busy areas of the home, ideally tall enough for a full stretch and covered in a rope or sisal material cats naturally like to dig into. Food and water bowls should go in a quiet, low-stress area of the house, and — importantly — well away from the litter box, since cats instinctively avoid eating near where they eliminate. Round out the basics with a bed (or just a doubled-up carrier at first), safe toys, and permanent ID such as a microchip.

On toys, one detail matters more than it might seem: emphasize interactive options like wand or fishing-pole-style toys, and avoid ever letting your kitten play directly with your hands or feet. It seems harmless with tiny kitten teeth, but it teaches a habit that's much less cute later. The RSPCA's own basic list echoes most of this — toys, a scratching post, a litter tray, things to climb, resting and hiding spaces, and a carrier.

What to Expect

Guidance on the first vet visit varies slightly by source, but the two framings land in the same place in practice. AAHA recommends scheduling that first visit within the kitten's first week home, covering a health screen, a parasite check, and a look for congenital defects, while also getting vaccines started. Cornell's Feline Health Center frames it by age instead — a first visit at six weeks old, or sooner if there's any sign of illness — with follow-ups every two to three weeks until core vaccines are complete around sixteen weeks. Since most kittens go to new homes at eight weeks or older, these two pieces of guidance are compatible rather than contradictory: either way, plan on a vet visit very soon after your kitten arrives. Core vaccines typically cover panleukopenia, herpesvirus, calicivirus, rabies, and feline leukemia virus, and a fecal parasite test is recommended for every kitten.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Having only one litter box with no spare, which raises the risk of avoidance and accidents elsewhere in the house.
• Placing the food and water bowls right next to the litter box.
• Giving a kitten string, ribbon, or loose-fabric toys to play with unsupervised, which carries a real choking and intestinal-injury risk.
• Putting off the first vet visit much beyond the first week or two at home.

When Professional Help May Be Worth It

If your kitten shows any signs of illness before their scheduled first visit — lethargy, diarrhea, not eating, or unusual discharge — it's worth moving that appointment up rather than waiting it out. Beyond that, treat the first vet visit itself as a standard, non-optional part of settling a new kitten in, since it's your earliest opportunity to catch a parasite, congenital issue, or illness before it becomes harder to manage. This is general information, not a diagnosis — always check with your own vet about your kitten's specific needs.