Bringing home a kitten: what to expect in the first week

The first week with a new kitten is a mix of joy and adjustment. Your kitten is leaving its mother, littermates and everything familiar, and you are learning its habits. A calm, predictable start helps both of you.

Here is a gentle roadmap for the first seven days, based on what we tell every family who takes home a kitten from LaziBlues.

The ride home and the first hour

Bring a secure carrier lined with a soft towel. Many kittens meow during the trip, which is normal. Keep the carrier flat on the car seat and speak softly.

When you arrive, carry the carrier to the starter room, close the door and open the carrier. Let your kitten come out when it is ready. Show it the litter box, food and water, then sit quietly nearby.

Day one and two: a small space

Keep your kitten in one room for the first days. A bathroom or spare bedroom works well. The smaller space helps your kitten find the litter box and feel secure.

Expect hiding, a quiet appetite and some crying at night. Sit with your kitten, offer a small meal and let it explore. Keep visitors and noise to a minimum.

Litter box habits

Place your kitten in the litter box after meals and after naps, and praise it when it uses it. Kittens usually take to the box quickly, especially if you use the same litter your breeder used.

If accidents happen, clean them with an enzymatic cleaner and never punish your kitten. Keep the box clean and in a quiet, accessible spot.

Feeding in the first week

Feed the same food your kitten ate at the cattery, in small, frequent meals. Keep fresh water nearby. A few days of slightly loose stool can happen with stress, but call your vet if it lasts or your kitten seems unwell.

Do not rush to change foods or add treats. Consistency is calming.

The first vet visit

Schedule a checkup within the first few days. Bring the health certificate and vaccination records you received from your breeder. Your vet will examine your kitten, discuss booster shots and parasite prevention and answer questions.

Keep your kitten in its carrier at the vet and away from other animals in the waiting room.

Sleep and nighttime

Kittens are most active at dawn and dusk and may sleep little at first. A warm bed, a ticking clock or soft music, and a toy to curl up with can help. Play with your kitten before bed to tire it out.

Resist the urge to let a crying kitten out unless something is wrong. A consistent routine will help it sleep through the night within a week or two.

Meeting the rest of the family

Introduce people one at a time, and let children sit on the floor to pet the kitten gently. Hold off on introducing other pets until your kitten is settled, then do it slowly and with supervision.

Every kitten adjusts at its own pace, and a British Shorthair’s calm nature usually helps.

When to call your vet or your breeder

Call your vet if your kitten refuses food for more than a day, vomits repeatedly, has diarrhea that persists, seems lethargic or has trouble breathing. Kittens can decline quickly, so do not wait.

We are always a message away for questions about your kitten, long after it has gone home.

Setting up for the weeks that follow

After the first week, you can begin to open more of the house. Do it gradually, one room at a time, and make sure each new space is kitten-proofed. Keep your kitten’s routine consistent with regular meals, play and sleep.

Continue socializing your kitten gently with new people, sounds and handling, including nail trims and brushing. Early positive experiences help a British Shorthair grow into a confident adult.

Keep the vet schedule for boosters and parasite prevention, and talk with your vet about when to spay or neuter.

Playing and bonding

Play is how your kitten learns and how you bond. Use a wand toy for chasing and pouncing, and let your kitten catch it often so it feels successful. Avoid using your hands as toys, which can teach biting.

Short sessions of five to ten minutes, a few times a day, are ideal. Finish with a snack or a cuddle.

Gentle handling matters too. Touch paws, ears and mouth briefly each day with a treat, so that future nail trims, brushing and vet visits feel normal.

Talk to LaziBlues

LaziBlues is a home cattery in Westchester County, New York. See the coats we raise on our kittens page, read more frequently asked questions, or contact us to ask about an upcoming litter. You can also call 914-421-0505.