Reviewed by Dr. Terry White, DVM
Dear Cat Lovers,
Congratulations on welcoming a new feline baby into your life! Whether you're a first-time cat owner or it's been a while since a kitty last purred its way into your heart, we understand that this exciting time comes with lots of questions and a bit of uncertainty. At EverPal, we’re committed to supporting every pet live a happy, healthy life. Therefore, we've crafted the ultimate guide, designed specifically for new kitten parents like you!
What's In The Complete Guide For New Cat Owners?
What You Need On Day One: Essential items to prepare as soon as a kitten comes home
What You Need Later: Essential items you will need to raise a kitten, including vaccinations
Essential Tips On Litter Box and Litter: Learn how and when to clean litter box and litter, clumping or non-clumping litter
Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats: Learn the pros and cons of keeping your cat indoor only or allowing your cat outside
Nutrition and Feeding: Dive into the essentials of a balanced diet to keep your cat healthy and happy
Kitten Proofing: Learn how to create a safe environment for your new companion
Behavior and Bonding: Decode your cat's behavior and learn how to build a lasting bond through play, communication, and affection
Toxic Substances for Cats: Learn about the common toxic items for cats
Did You Know?
Kittens can get pregnant as young as four to six months of age
Cats, unlike dogs and women, do not bleed to signal readiness for mating.
If not spayed, a cat will go into heat repeatedly throughout her life, as cats do not go through menopause.
Cats are designed to give birth when it's warm, spring through early fall.
Learn about spaying or neutering from your veterinarian
What You Need On Day One
There are at least two items a new cat owner should prepare as soon as the kitten arrives at your home.
Food: You need food specifically for kittens. Puppy food is not a good choice because it does not have enough protein or taurine for felines.
Litter box filled with litter: These are two different items: a little box and litter. Most cats do not like having them next to the washing machine and dryer, and they really don't want it near their food bowls. If you really struggle to have a proper litter box filled with litter, a cardboard box filled with sand is fine temporarily.
Essential Tips On Litter Box and Litter
The litter box needs to be cleaned out once or twice daily, and the litter should be completely changed out every 1 to 2 weeks. During litter replacement, clean the box with a fragrance-free detergent and ensure it's fully dry before adding fresh litter.
Can I delay cleaning the litter box?
We do not recommend it. Cats love to be clean so they would not want their toilets to be dirty. The consequence of delaying cleaning the box is that your cat may urinate and defecate outside their designated areas. The repeated behavior of going outside the box can lead to what we call inappropriate elimination, which will make it difficult for you to co-live with your cat baby.
Is clumping litter or non-clumping better?
If you are not familiar with these terms, clumping Litter means it forms scoopable balls when wet, making cleanup easy. Non-clumping litter is often clay-based, preferred for its odor absorption.
Besides clumping or non-clumping, there are also other variations:
Scented Litter: Masks odors for human noses.
Unscented Litter: Chosen for cats sensitive to fragrances.
Lightweight Litter: Offers more uses per bag.
Dust-Free Litter: Ideal for those with respiratory sensitivities.
Natural Litter: Made from biodegradable materials like corn, wood, pine, wheat, cedar, and recycled paper.
Flushable Litter: Can be flushed down the toilet in some areas (check local regulations).
When deciding clumping vs non clumping litter, in fact most cats have a preference for litter, so the best way to find out is to try a few different types and see which one your cat picks. Make sure you give each option enough time for the kitten to decide. It is generally recommended to allow at least one to two weeks for each type of litter. This period gives the kitten enough time to adjust and show a clear preference. Switching too quickly may not give an accurate indication of which litter your cat prefers.
Nutrition and Feeding for Kittens
If you know what your kitten was eating before arriving, try to continue with the same food. You can always adjust the diet later by mixing the foods together, if needed.
Training your kitten to eat only one type of food, typically kibble, can backfire. Adult cats aren't inherently finicky; they're just used to what they were fed as kittens.
It's crucial to expose kittens to a variety of foods. This diversity can be lifesaving if they need a special diet due to illness, like therapeutic canned food or a differently flavored kibble. Introduce various canned foods, meats, dry, and dehydrated options. While they can have a go-to quality food, emergencies or health issues like urinary problems might require a switch, especially to canned food for more water intake. Some cats may refuse to eat unfamiliar foods, even to the point of starvation.
Should I feed canned or dry food?
Now's the time to decide on feeding canned, dry, or both as a new cat owner. Cats have preferences in taste and texture, so explore what they enjoy. Always provide fresh water. Offering canned food daily adds necessary moisture to their diet. Rotate flavors and textures (pate, shredded) to keep things interesting and make dietary changes easier if your cat falls ill.
Kitten Proofing: Your Guide to Keeping Your Cat Safe
It is important to keep your home safe for kittens because cats have no sense of what is dangerous or not. At around 10 weeks, cats start to get bold so you will see them jump off things, chew chords, dart around underfoot. You’d be surprised, but kittens are perfectly capable of jumping on top of tall dressers. Therefore, keep in mind of these:
Safety Checks
Always check the washer, dryer, and dishwasher before use, as tiny kitties may sneak in for a nap.
Inspect reclining furniture before adjusting it to avoid accidentally harming a napping kitten.
Toy Precautions
Keep potentially dangerous items like string, yarn, milk-jug bands, and hair bands out of reach to prevent the need for surgical removal if ingested. Your cat could view them as “toys”.
Gradual Space Introduction
Start with confining your kitten to a small, safe area like a bathroom or laundry room, using doors or gates.
Ensure the kitten can’t slip through gate slats—kittens can be surprisingly squeezable.
Expand their accessible space gradually as they grow, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the home and remember litter box location.
Remember, what seems small to you is vast to them, and they're great at finding hidden nooks for sleeping.
Supervised Exploration
Don’t allow unsupervised access to the whole house to prevent mishaps.
If they encounter trouble, return them to their designated safe space and close the door.
Guidance from EverPal Veterinarians on How To Best Care For Your Cat
Early preventative care and nutrition planning goes a long way for your kitten's long-term health. Schedule a same-day appointment with one of our licensed veterinarians to help you navigate the journey as a new pet parent.
We currently provide veterinary services in San Francisco, South San Francisco, Daly City, Oakland, and Berkeley in California.
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