Kitten Care
Planning for the arrival of a new kitten
Get ready to welcome your new kitten by making your home safe and comfortable. Start by ‘kitten-proofing’ your space to remove any potential hazards. Enjoy choosing all the essentials — a cosy bed, soft blanket, litter tray, toys, and a secure carrier — so everything is ready for your kitten’s first day in their new home.
Kitten nutrition and healthcare
You can help ensure your kitten grows into a healthy, happy adult cat by providing a balanced diet, plenty of love, and a safe, clean environment. Regular check-ups at your veterinary practice are also essential to support their long-term health and wellbeing.
How to introduce your new kitten to the home
Help your kitten settle in by introducing them to the essentials — their food and water bowls, and their litter tray. Keep the litter tray well away from feeding areas, and ideally provide two trays per cat in the household.
Spend at least an hour a day giving your kitten gentle handling and friendly interaction. This helps them feel safe and quickly become comfortable in their new surroundings. If you have young children, remind them that a kitten is not a toy, but a living creature that must be treated with kindness and respect.
Provide plenty of engaging play opportunities that encourage your kitten’s natural instincts. Toys they can chase, pounce on, and ‘capture’, as well as scratching posts to protect your furniture, will help keep them happy, active, and well-behaved.
Remember, your kitten should not go outside until they are fully vaccinated, as they can easily pick up infectious diseases.
Your Kitten’s First Health Check
Book your kitten’s first visit to the vet as soon as possible. This initial appointment is important to assess their overall health and plan their ongoing care.
Your vet will likely carry out:
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A thorough physical examination to check your kitten’s general health.
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A check for parasites such as fleas, ticks, ear mites, and worms.
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Initial vaccinations and a discussion about the vaccination schedule.
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Advice on neutering and the best time to carry out the procedure.
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A conversation about microchipping before your kitten begins going outside.
This first health check provides your vet with a clear picture of your kitten’s current health and helps guide you on diet, preventative care, and ongoing wellbeing. It also establishes a valuable health record for monitoring your cat’s condition throughout their life.
When should you neuter your kitten?
Many vets recommend neutering or spaying kittens not only to help control the population of unwanted cats but also to encourage calmer, more sociable pets.
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Spayed female cats tend to be more relaxed, playful, and affectionate.
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Castrated male cats are generally calmer, less likely to spray or urine-mark, roam, or engage in fights.
Neutering also has significant health benefits: it reduces the risk of mammary cancer in females and lowers the likelihood of prostate problems in males.
Cat Spaying
Spaying involves the removal of a female cat’s uterus and ovaries, usually before six months of age and before her first heat. This is a major surgical procedure performed under general anaesthesia. Complications are uncommon, and recovery is typically complete within ten days. Most kittens recover quickly and are active shortly after surgery.
Cat Castration
Castration removes a male cat’s testicles under general anaesthesia. This procedure is less complex than spaying, with small wounds that generally heal within a week. It is often performed when the kitten is under six months old. Early castration helps prevent learned behaviours such as spraying and fighting, which can be harder to correct later.
