Section 03
First Days at Home
The first few weeks shape how safe your new cat feels. Here is exactly what to prepare, what to expect and how to help your cat settle in.
What to Buy Before Your Cat Arrives: The Complete Shopping List
The essential new-cat shopping list — carrier, litter box, litter, bowls, food, scratching post, bed and toys — plus what you can skip.
How to Cat-Proof Your Home: Windows, Plants, Cables and More
A room-by-room safety checklist: window and balcony screens, toxic plants like lilies, cables, strings, medications, chemicals and other hidden hazards.
Helping a New Cat Adjust: Why Your Cat Is Hiding and What to Do
Why new cats hide, how long adjustment takes, how to set up a safe room, and a day-by-day plan to help your cat feel at home.
Litter Training a Kitten or Cat: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to litter train a kitten or new cat, where to put the box, which litter to use, and how to fix accidents outside the litter box.
Introducing a New Cat to Children, Other Cats and Dogs
Step-by-step introductions that work: teaching children to handle cats safely, slow cat-to-cat introductions using scent, and safe cat-dog meetings.
Kitten Care Routine: Feeding, Sleep, Play and Development
A practical daily routine for kittens: how often to feed, how much they sleep, how to play safely, socialization and vet milestones in the first year.
Quick checklist
Print or save our interactive new kitten checklist and tick items off as you shop. Most first-week problems — hiding, litter accidents, night-time crying — are normal and temporary.