Last Updated: 27/05/2026
New Kitten Checklist: Everything you Need for the First Few Months
Bringing home a new kitten is exciting, but can feel overwhelming! Our complete checklist has everything a new parent needs to know.
Author: Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
Bringing home a new kitten is exciting, and a lot to think about all at once. Food, vaccinations, worming, desexing, litter, sleep, safety. This checklist walks through the essentials so you can tick things off one by one, without missing anything important.
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Before they come home
Decide indoor, outdoor, or both
The RSPCA recommends indoor-only for safety, with a secure outdoor enclosure or harness walks for enrichment. Whatever you choose, lock it in early. Cats trained to one setup from a young age cope far better than those whose access changes later. For a full breakdown of the trade-offs, read indoor vs outdoor cats: the pros and cons, and if you're leaning indoor with adventures, our guide to teaching your cat to walk on a lead will help you get started.
Adopt where you can
Thousands of cats are surrendered in Australia each year. RSPCA, Animal Welfare League and PetRescue are good starting points, and our guide to adopting a cat walks through what to expect. If you go through a breeder, ask to meet the kittens and their mother, and check evidence of microchipping, vaccinations and worming. How to find a good cat breeder covers the red flags to watch for.
Stock the basics
The first few days
- Bring unwashed bedding from their previous home. The familiar smell helps them settle. A Feliway diffuser or spray can also take the edge off the move.
- Confine them to a small, safe space at first. One or two rooms with food, water, bed and litter tray close by. Expand their territory as their confidence grows.
- Catify the space. Cats feel safest with hidey holes and high vantage points. A cat tree, an igloo bed and a couple of scratching posts cover the basics.
- Introduce other pets slowly. Scent swaps first, then short supervised visits. Our introducing your new cat to the household guide has the full process.
- Start training from day one. Kittens learn fast, and getting on top of biting, scratching furniture and basic manners early saves a lot of headaches later. You can even teach simple tricks. Our kitten training guide covers all of it.
Health admin
Kitten healthcare can feel like a lot at once. Our kitten vaccination guide and flea, tick and worming guide for cats are worth bookmarking before you start ticking things off.
- Microchip and council registration. Most kittens are microchipped before sale or adoption. Update your details any time you move or change numbers. Council registration is separate and varies by state, so check with yours. See microchipping your cat in Australia and council registration for cats in Australia for the detail.
- Vaccinations. Kittens need three F3 vaccinations roughly four weeks apart at 8, 12 and 16 weeks, then yearly boosters for life. Your vet may also recommend FIV or Feline Leukaemia vaccines depending on lifestyle.
- Worming. Every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly for roundworm and hookworm, with tapeworm cover at least every three months. Look for products containing praziquantel such as Milbemax or Drontal. How often should you worm your cat? breaks down the schedule.
- Heartworm, flea and tick prevention. Even indoor cats need heartworm cover (one mosquito is all it takes). Monthly combination products such as Nexgard Spectra, Revolution Plus or Bravecto Plus cover fleas, worms, heartworm and paralysis ticks in one go.
- Desexing at 5 to 6 months. Cats can fall pregnant from as young as four months, so timing matters. Desexing also reduces roaming and territorial marking. Read everything you need to know about desexing before booking the procedure.
- Start dental care early. Get your kitten used to having their mouth handled now. Adult teeth come through from around 12 weeks (see our kitten teething guide). Once they're all in at around 6 months, introduce a soft toothbrush and pet-safe toothpaste. Dental care for kittens has the full routine.
- Consider pet insurance before any issues arise. Most policies exclude pre-existing conditions, so taking out cover while your kitten is healthy gives you the most value. Why should I get pet insurance for my cat? walks through the trade-offs. Alternatively, set up a dedicated pet savings account.
Feeding your kitten
Feeding a kitten well sets them up for the next 15 to 20 years. Our kitten feeding guide is a good overall starting point if you want the full picture.
- Choose a complete and balanced kitten diet. Look for an AAFCO statement on the pack. Our vets' picks of the best kitten food are a good place to start.
- Feed wet and dry together. Dry helps with teeth and cost, wet helps with hydration and long-term urinary and kidney health. Mixed feeding from the start also prevents fussy habits later. Our guide to cat wet vs dry food breaks down the pros and cons.
- Three meals a day until 5 to 6 months, then two. Follow the feeding guide on the pack as a starting point and adjust to your kitten's weight and condition. How much to feed a kitten takes the guesswork out of portions.
- Switch to adult food at 9 to 12 months. Large breeds like Maine Coons stay on kitten food until 13 to 15 months.
- Know the toxic foods. Chocolate, grapes and sultanas, onion, garlic, macadamias, caffeine, alcohol, xylitol and paracetamol are all dangerous. Lilies and Advantix (a dog-only flea product) are also lethal to cats.
Emergencies and what to do if your kitten is unwell
Kittens get into mischief in ways you'd never imagine, and early treatment usually means the best outcome. Worth saving your vet's number and a 24-hour emergency clinic's number in your phone now, before you need them.
- Call your vet straight away if your kitten is: lethargic, off their food, vomiting, has diarrhoea, or you suspect they've eaten something they shouldn't.
- Watch for common household hazards. Chewed power cables, swallowed objects (string, needles, hair ties, small toys), toxic plants like lilies, and dog-only flea products such as Advantix are some of the most common kitten emergencies. Keep our list of toxic food and household items for cats handy.
- Book a first-week health check. Even if your kitten seems well, an early vet visit lets you confirm their vaccination schedule, ask questions and get them comfortable with the clinic.
Litter and grooming
- Get toilet training off to a good start. Cats are naturally clean, so most kittens pick up the litter tray quickly. Place it somewhere quiet, gently pop them in after meals and naps, and never punish accidents. Our guide to toilet training your kitten covers the full setup.
- Skip clumping clay and crystal litter for young kittens. They sometimes taste-test their litter. Stick to paper, corn or tofu-based options until they're a bit older. Our complete guide to cat litter walks through the options.
- Brush regularly. Daily for long-haired breeds, weekly for short-haired. Shedding ramps up in spring, so increase brushing as the weather warms. Our cat grooming guide has the techniques and tools by coat type.
- Get them used to nail trims early. Handle their paws often from day one so trims aren't a fight later. Our guide to how to trim cat nails walks through the technique step by step.
New Kitten FAQs
The first few months set the tone for the next 15 to 20 years. Get the routines in place now (preventative health, good nutrition, a calm and enriched home) and you're laying the foundation for a healthy, happy cat. Enjoy this stage, kittens grow up fast.
References
Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites Guidelines for the Diagnosis, Treatment and Control of Feline Endoparasites in the Tropics https://www.troccap.com/feline-guidelines (accessed October 12, 2023)
Companion Animal Parasite Council, General Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (2023), https://capcvet.org/ (accessed October 5, 2023).
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 27 May 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
