Kitten care: your first-year guide
Kittens need a complete growth diet, a vet-guided vaccination and deworming plan, parasite prevention, gentle early handling, and a safe indoor environment. One feline-specific point matters most: a kitten that stops eating needs veterinary attention quickly — much sooner than a puppy would.
- Feed a complete diet made for kittens; don't feed dog food or a home-made mix as the main diet.
- Set up vaccination, deworming and parasite prevention with your vet from the first visit.
- Handle and expose kittens gently and positively very early — their sensitive period is early in life.
- A kitten not eating is urgent — young kittens can't safely go long without food.
Bringing your kitten home
Give your kitten a quiet, safe room to start, with a bed, food and water, a litter tray, and hiding spots. Keep hazards — wires, small swallowable objects, toxic plants (lilies are dangerous to cats) and toxic foods — out of reach. Let them explore at their own pace; kittens sleep a great deal, which is normal.
Feeding and water
Feed a complete and balanced diet formulated for kittens to support growth. Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional needs, so avoid dog food or home-made mixes as the main diet, and don't give cow's milk — most cats are lactose intolerant and it causes stomach upset. Provide fresh water at all times, and encourage hydration (many cats prefer wide, shallow bowls or a fountain).
Litter training
Most kittens take to a litter tray naturally. Use a low-sided tray they can climb into, keep it clean, place it away from food and busy areas, and have one tray per cat plus one spare in multi-cat homes. If a previously reliable kitten stops using the tray, or strains in it, mention it to your vet — straining to urinate can be an emergency.
Vaccination, deworming and parasites
Kittens need a primary vaccination series (typically starting around 6–8 weeks and finishing at 16 weeks or older; see our vaccination planner), deworming from the first weeks of life repeated on schedule, and routine parasite prevention — using only cat-safe products (some dog flea products are toxic to cats). Your vet sets the exact plan.
Socialization and play
A kitten's sensitive period for socialization is early in life, so gentle, positive handling and calm exposure to normal household sights and sounds from the start help create a confident adult cat. Play is essential: use wand toys and small toys (not your hands) to satisfy hunting instincts, and provide scratching posts to redirect natural scratching away from furniture. Never punish — redirect instead.
Indoor safety, grooming and dental care
Kitten-proof windows and balconies, secure hazards, and remove toxic plants and foods. Introduce grooming and gentle tooth-brushing early and positively so they're accepted for life. Provide climbing and resting spots — cats love height — and keep an eye on growth and body condition, raising concerns at vet visits.
Use only cat-safe parasite products year-round in warm conditions, and keep rabies vaccination in mind — India is rabies-endemic, so discuss timing and local requirements with your vet. In heat, ensure shade and plentiful water, and take particular care to keep an indoor kitten safe from open windows and balconies.
Do & don't
Do
- Feed a complete kitten diet and provide constant fresh water.
- Start a vet-guided vaccination, deworming and cat-safe parasite plan early.
- Handle and socialize gently from the start; provide play and scratching posts.
- Keep the litter tray clean, accessible and away from food.
- Kitten-proof windows, balconies and hazards.
Don't
- Give cow's milk — most cats are lactose intolerant.
- Use dog flea/tick products on a kitten — some are toxic to cats.
- Ignore a kitten that stops eating — it's urgent.
- Play with your hands (encourages biting) or punish natural behaviour.
- Feed dog food or a home-made mix as the main diet.
When kitten signs need faster attention
Kittens are small and can deteriorate fast — some signs need prompt care.
- A kitten that stops eating, even for a short time
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, or a pot belly and poor growth
- Weakness, collapse, or a very quiet, cold kitten
- Straining in the litter tray with little or no urine
- Difficulty breathing, or a suspected toxin (lilies, human food, chemicals)
Frequently asked questions
My kitten won't eat — how urgent is it?
Urgent. Young kittens can't safely go long without food, so a kitten that stops eating should be seen by a vet promptly rather than watched overnight. See our not-eating guide.
Can I give my kitten milk?
Best not to. Most cats are lactose intolerant and cow's milk commonly causes diarrhoea. Fresh water and a complete kitten diet are what they need.
When do kittens finish their vaccinations?
The primary series typically finishes with a dose at 16 weeks or older. Exact timing depends on your kitten and region — see our vaccination planner and your vet.
How do I stop my kitten scratching furniture?
Provide scratching posts and redirect them there; scratching is normal and necessary. Never punish. Positive redirection and the right surfaces solve most problems.
Is it safe to let my kitten outside?
Many owners keep cats indoors for safety, especially as kittens. If you do allow outdoor access later, ensure vaccination and parasite prevention are up to date and discuss timing with your vet.
Sources
- SourceAAHA/AAFP — 2021 Feline Life Stage Guidelines. aaha.org
- SourceWSAVA — 2024 Guidelines for the Vaccination of Dogs and Cats. wsava.org
- SourceCompanion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) — General Guidelines. capcvet.org
- SourceInternational Cat Care — Fleas and flea control in cats (cat product safety). icatcare.org