Bringing home a kitten is one of life's genuinely great moments — and also the moment you realise you have no idea what a kitten actually needs. This checklist covers everything to arrange before your kitten walks (or wobbles) through the door, so their first week is calm instead of chaotic.
The essential new kitten checklist at a glance
- Litter box and cat litter
- Separate food and water bowls
- Kitten-specific food
- A warm, enclosed bed or hideaway
- Toys for solo play and interactive play
- Basic grooming tools (soft brush, nail clipper)
- A carrier for vet visits
- A vet appointment booked in week one
1. Litter setup: the very first thing to get right
Your kitten will need the litter box within minutes of arriving, so set it up before they come home. Choose a box with reasonably low entry for a small kitten but high sides for the enthusiastic diggers — a semi-closed litter tray works well in Indian apartments because the guards stop litter scatter and help contain odour in compact spaces.
Place it somewhere quiet and consistent — not next to the washing machine, not in a corridor with foot traffic, and never right beside food and water. Kittens refuse to eat where they toilet, and vice versa.
2. Food and water: keep them separate
Kittens need kitten-specific food — their protein and calorie needs are much higher than an adult cat's. Ask your vet or pet store for an age-appropriate option, and check the packet for feeding amounts by weight.
For bowls, the golden rule is separation: cats dislike water that sits right against food (splashed kibble makes water taste stale). A double feeding bowl with distinct compartments keeps meals tidy, or use two bowls placed slightly apart. Refresh water daily — many cats drink too little, and stale water makes it worse.
3. A bed they'll actually use
Kittens sleep 16 to 20 hours a day, and new arrivals feel safest in enclosed, den-like spaces. An open basket in the middle of the room usually loses to the underside of your bed. A semi-enclosed option like the Cozy Kitty Cave gives a shy kitten a warm hideaway that's theirs — which speeds up settling in noticeably, especially for kittens adopted from the street or a shelter.
Put the bed in a quiet corner of the room where the family spends time, so your kitten can nap near you without being in the middle of activity.
4. Toys: the difference between a happy kitten and shredded curtains
Kitten energy is non-negotiable — the only question is where it goes. You need two kinds of toys:
- Solo toys — small, light things they can bat around alone: crinkle balls, soft mice, safe household items like a paper ball.
- Interactive toys — a teaser wand you control. Ten minutes of chase-and-pounce twice a day burns energy, builds your bond, and teaches the crucial lesson that toys are prey and hands are not.
Never use your fingers as a toy with a kitten. It's adorable at eight weeks and a bleeding hand at eight months.
5. Grooming from week one
Start gentle grooming immediately — not because a kitten needs much of it, but because a kitten who learns that brushing and paw-handling are normal becomes an adult cat who tolerates nail trims without a wrestling match. A few strokes with a soft brush and a daily 10-second paw touch is enough. When claws get needle-sharp, a nail clipper with a safety guard takes just the transparent tip off safely.
6. The first vet visit
Book a vet appointment within the first week, even if your kitten seems perfectly healthy. In India, kittens typically start their vaccination course between 6 and 8 weeks of age, along with deworming — your vet will set the exact schedule. Bring any papers from the breeder, shelter or rescuer, and note down what food they were already eating.
For authoritative kitten health guidance, International Cat Care is an excellent vet-reviewed resource.
7. Kitten-proofing an Indian home
- Secure window grills and balcony gaps — kittens fit through spaces you wouldn't believe.
- Tuck away charger cables and earphone wires (chewing hazards).
- Move houseplants out of reach — lilies especially are dangerously toxic to cats.
- Keep the washing machine door closed and check inside before every run.
- Watch open flames — a curious kitten and a gas stove are a bad combination.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need for a new kitten in India?
At minimum: a litter box with litter, kitten food, separate food and water bowls, a warm enclosed bed, a few toys, basic grooming tools and a carrier. Book a vet visit in the first week for vaccinations and deworming, usually starting at 6–8 weeks of age.
What should I buy before the kitten arrives?
Buy everything on the list above before arrival day. The litter box, food and bed matter most in the first hour. Setting up in advance means your kitten explores a ready home instead of waiting while you rush to the pet store.
How do I make a kitten feel at home faster?
Start with one quiet room, not the whole house. Keep the litter box, food and bed in that room, visit often, play gently, and let the kitten expand its territory at its own pace over a few days. Enclosed hideaways speed this up dramatically.
Want the shopping part done in one click? The Furtopia Cat Starter Pack bundles settling-in essentials, and the full cat collection covers the rest. Questions? We're pet parents too — get in touch.