New Kitten Checklist: Supplies to Have Before Day One

Before a kitten comes home, you need a low-sided litter box and litter, separate food and water bowls, a sturdy scratching post, a carrier, a soft bed, basic grooming tools, a few simple toys and a kitten-proofed room. Most other gear can wait until you know your kitten’s habits. The checklist below comes first, followed by the reasons behind each item.

The new kitten checklist at a glance

• Litter: low-sided boxes (one per cat plus one), the litter your kitten already uses, a scoop, and a mat for the floor around the box. See how to stop cat litter tracking for more.
• Food and water: a small supply of the food your kitten is eating now, wide shallow bowls, and a latching bin for storage.
• Scratching and climbing: a stable vertical post, a flat scratching pad, and a low cat tree.
• Carrier: a sturdy carrier that opens easily, with a soft blanket inside.
• Beds and hideaways: a warm bed and a safe place to hide.
• Grooming: a brush or comb suited to the coat, nail clippers, and a toothbrush and toothpaste made for cats.
• Toys: a wand toy, a few lightweight toys and a puzzle feeder.
• ID: a name tag, a collar plan to discuss with your vet, and microchip plans.
• Kitten-proofing: a quiet starter room checked for cords, plants, small objects and unlocked cabinets.
• Vet: a first appointment booked for soon after arrival.

Litter: set up the bathroom first

Kittens are small, and a box that suits an adult cat can be a real climb. Cornell Feline Health Center says young kittens, elderly cats and cats with mobility problems need boxes with low sides. VCA’s kitten checklist describes a box deep enough for about 3 inches of litter with room to turn around and cover waste, notes that higher sides reduce scatter, and says kittens tend to prefer clumping litter. A practical middle path is to start with a low-sided box and move to a taller, larger one as your kitten grows. For the lid question, see covered vs uncovered litter boxes.

Litter type is where sources differ for very young kittens. Alley Cat Allies, in its guide to neonatal kittens, describes starting litter training around 4 weeks with a small, shallow pan of non-clumping litter, and says not to use paper or cloth. If your kitten is very young, ask the shelter or breeder what it has been using and check with your veterinarian. Our guide to types of cat litter explains the options.

International Cat Care suggests keeping the same litter and food as the previous home for the first week or two, and placing the box in a quiet corner with the food on the opposite side of the room. Cornell also notes that most cats prefer unscented, fine-grained litter and that you should have as many boxes as cats, plus one, as its house-soiling article explains. For layouts in a multi-cat home, see how many litter boxes per cat.

Plan on scooping daily, and see how often to change cat litter for full changes. It also helps to have carpet cleaner and an enzyme spray ready before the first accident.

Food and water

Put food, water and litter in separate spots. International Cat Care advises keeping them well apart, avoiding double bowls, and choosing wide, shallow bowls, noting that most cats prefer glass or ceramic. VCA’s checklist adds that washable bowls that resist tipping are a good choice.

Buy only a small amount of food at first. Cornell recommends asking what the kitten is eating now, changing foods gradually, and choosing a diet balanced for the kitten life stage. It adds that a diet meeting AAFCO standards usually does not need added vitamins or minerals. VCA’s checklist points to foods labeled for growing kittens or all life stages, and to a latching bin that keeps pets out of the bag. International Cat Care suggests dividing the daily amount into 4 to 5 small meals, changing foods over 7 to 14 days, and not giving cow’s milk.

Keep treats small or break them into pieces. The ASPCA says in its general cat care guide that treats should make up no more than 5 to 10 percent of the diet. Your veterinarian can tell you which food and how much to feed.

Scratching and climbing

Scratching is normal behavior, so give your kitten good places to do it from day one. VCA’s checklist recommends offering both vertical posts and horizontal pads. International Cat Care notes that short posts suit kittens and should be replaced with taller ones as they grow, and that kittens may like soft surfaces such as a large cardboard scratcher. If a cat has already picked the couch, see how to stop a cat from scratching furniture.

Place the post near where your kitten sleeps and plays. If you want a cat tree, a low one is easier for a small kitten to use while learning to move around. Our guide to cat scratching posts covers sizes and materials.

Carrier, beds and ID

A sturdy carrier that is easy to open will serve you at the first vet visit and for years after. VCA’s guidance on bringing home a kitten suggests rubbing a towel on the mother, littermates or kennel to carry the old scent, then putting it in the carrier. It also suggests taking the kitten and carrier into a small, quiet room and letting the kitten come out on its own. Later, leave the carrier open in the feeding area with toys or food inside so it feels familiar. VCA’s checklist also says a kitten should not roam freely in a moving vehicle, so use the carrier for every car ride.

Do not force a kitten out of its hiding spot. International Cat Care recommends raised resting places and a warm bed the cat can hide in, and says to leave a cat alone when it is hiding somewhere safe. A cardboard box on its side with a thick blanket can work as a hideaway.

For identification, International Cat Care describes microchipping as the best long-term option. It suggests considering a collar once a cat is over 6 months old, with a breakaway clasp and room for one to two fingers. VCA’s checklist lists a breakaway collar with an ID tag among kitten supplies, so guidance on timing varies. Ask your veterinarian what they recommend for your kitten.

Grooming basics

Start with a soft brush or comb that suits the coat, nail clippers, and a toothbrush and toothpaste made for cats. International Cat Care says to start grooming early, especially with long coats, and to keep sessions pleasant and rewarding. VCA’s checklist says never to use human toothpaste or human shampoo on a kitten. For loose hair around the house, see how to get pet hair off a couch, clothes and car seats. If you want a hair tool for furniture or the car, see our best pet hair removers.

The aim is to make handling normal. VCA suggests starting with the handling your kitten already enjoys, then working gradually toward grooming, teeth brushing and nail trimming. Your veterinarian can show you how to trim claws and brush teeth.

Toys

Play gives a new kitten an outlet for energy and instincts. VCA suggests starting interactive play from the first day with wand toys and other moving toys. It also advises choosing lightweight toys, avoiding anything small enough to swallow, and putting away string and ribbon.

Add a puzzle toy and rotate toys so they stay interesting. Do not leave string toys out when no one is watching. Let your kitten sleep when it wants to sleep.

Kitten-proofing the starter room

Choose one quiet room for the first few weeks and check it from your kitten’s level. The ASPCA suggests getting down on your hands and knees to look for hazards. It recommends picking up small items such as hair ties, coins and plastic bags, and treats electrical cords as the most dangerous hazard. It also points to curtain and blind cords, and suggests closing cabinets that hold medications, cleaners and trash, with child locks if needed. If you suspect poisoning, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Check every houseplant. The ASPCA’s plant list for cats includes Easter lily, tiger lily and stargazer lily among the plants that are toxic to cats. Kittens can squeeze into surprisingly small gaps, so look behind appliances, under furniture and in any hiding spots. Close windows and put fragile items away.

The first vet visit

Book a visit soon after your kitten arrives. Cornell advises that every new cat see a veterinarian as soon as possible after coming home. The vet checks for internal and external parasites such as worms, fleas, ticks and mites. If you already have a cat, keep the newcomer separate until it has been examined. Cornell also says a cat with an unknown health history should be screened for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

The ASPCA notes that a veterinarian assesses a new cat and decides on diet, and recommends vaccines based on age and health. Bring any paperwork from the shelter or breeder, and ask about vaccines, spay or neuter timing and microchipping.

What to skip

Skip the automatic litter box for now. VCA’s checklist states, “Most robotic litter boxes are not safe for kittens who are 6 to 8 weeks old.” If you are considering one for later, check the manufacturer’s limits and ask your veterinarian. For example, Whisker says kittens need to weigh at least 3 pounds to use the Litter-Robot 4 in automatic mode, and PETKIT lists a 3.3-pound minimum and cats 6 months or older for its Purobot Max 3. Our guide to self-cleaning litter boxes for multiple cats covers how they work.

You can also hold off on large stockpiles of food, a pile of toys or a tall cat tree. VCA’s checklist suggests starting with a shorter tree, and our guide to cat trees for large cats can wait until your kitten is grown. Your kitten will show you what it likes within the first weeks. Start with the essentials above and add the rest gradually.

Kitten Supplies From Our Guides

These products cover several items on the checklist above: a carrier, scratchers and a cleaner for accidents. For more detail on each pick, see our guide to the best cat scratching posts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need before bringing a kitten home?

Have a low-sided litter box with litter, food and water bowls, a scratching post, a carrier, a soft bed, grooming basics, simple toys and a kitten-proofed room. Book a vet visit for soon after arrival.

Should a kitten use clumping or non-clumping litter?

Sources differ. One veterinary checklist says kittens tend to prefer clumping litter, while another organization describes non-clumping litter in a shallow pan for very young kittens. Ask the shelter or breeder what the kitten has been using, and check with your veterinarian.

How many litter boxes does a kitten need?

The general guidance is one box per cat plus one extra. For one kitten, that means two boxes, placed in different quiet spots.

Can a kitten use a self-cleaning litter box?

Not necessarily. One veterinary checklist says most robotic litter boxes are not safe for kittens who are 6 to 8 weeks old. Check the manufacturer’s minimum weight or age and ask your veterinarian before using one.

When should a new kitten see the vet?

As soon as possible after coming home. If you have other cats, keep the kitten separate until the exam is done.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals, Are You Ready for Kittenhood?
• VCA Animal Hospitals, Bringing Home Your New Kitten
• International Cat Care, Preparing for your new cat or kitten
• International Cat Care, Helping your new cat or kitten settle in
• International Cat Care, Scratching on furniture and carpets
• Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: House Soiling
• Cornell Feline Health Center, Choosing and Caring for Your New Cat
• ASPCA, General Cat Care
• ASPCA, Plant List for Cats
• ASPCA, Top 5 Ways to Prep Your Home for a Puppy or Kitten
• Alley Cat Allies, Caring for Neonatal Kittens
• Whisker, Litter-Robot 4 FAQ
• PETKIT, Purobot Max 3 specifications

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