New Kitten Tips

Kittens should not be weaned until they are at least 7 weeks old. It is common for kittens to be brought into their new homes when they are 8 to12 weeks old, but some breeders of purebred cats prefer to wait until the kitten is 3 or 4 months old to ensure she's healthy.

  1. Isolation

    • Keep your kitten confined to one room to keep her safe from attacks by other pets and to learn litter training. When introducing a kitten to an older pet, give your original pet lots of praise, but keep him on a leash or your kitten in a carrier if you are not sure how your older pet will react. They can sniff each other when your kitten is in a carrier.

      Supervise all interaction between your other pets and your new kitten until you're sure they will get along. Isolation in one room may also be required if you are not used to living with a kitten and are not sure if your kitten can get into chemicals, laundry baskets or valuable objects. Adjust your home for your kitten's safety.

    Litter Training

    • Kittens are easy to litter train, but keep in mind that they still have problems controlling their bladders and bowels until they are about 6 months old. Clean up any accidents with an enzyme-based cleaner, which helps eliminate the smell. Kittens sometimes find the litter box to be a toy and enjoy digging or lying about in it. This phase passes, especially if your kitten is given other toys, a scratching post and a window to look out.

      Do not yell or fuss if your kitten has an accident. Just pick her up and place her gently into the litter box. She'll get the idea. Take your kitten to the vet if she has accidents after weeks or months of being trained. This could be a sign of illness.

    Inoculations

    • Take your new kitten to a veterinarian within a week of bringing her kitten home. Many kittens will have contracted worms by the time they are 2 months old. They also need to be inoculated against deadly and contagious diseases, such as chlamydia and feline leukemia. Kittens need inoculations every two weeks until they are about 20 weeks old. Ask your vet if a rabies shot is required in your area.