Start Right with
Your New Kitten

Bringing home a new kitten can feel exciting and overwhelming at the same time. The Kitten Care Guide exists to help you care for your kitten calmly, one week at a time, with clear guidance you can trust.

Get the Free Kitten Starter Checklist

Start Here: 0-12 Weeks

Solving Your Immediate Kitten Worries

Litter Training Issues?

Quick fixes that work.

Feeding Confusion?

How much & when to feed.

First Vet Visit Anxiety?

What vets check & what to ask.

Nighttime Crying?

Soothing tips for restful nights.

Your Kitten’s First 12 Weeks

Weeks 0-2

The Newborn Stage

Essential care for feeding, warmth, and monitoring health.

Read Week 0-2

Weeks 3-6

Exploration Begins

Introducing solid food, first steps, and socialization.

Read Week 3-6

Weeks 6-8

Weaning & Vetting

Transitioning to kitten food and preparing for the first vet visit.

Read Week 6-8

Weeks 8-12

Ready for Home

Litter training, playtime, and kitten-proofing your house.

Read Week 8-12

Visual Guides for Common Kitten Care Questions

Our Trusted Starter Picks

PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer (12 oz)

Industry-standard formula used by shelters and vets. Highly digestible for newborn and orphaned kittens.

ASIN: B0002YFB8U

View on Amazon

Highly recommended for neonatal care. Mix per label instructions. Keep sterile feeding tools.

PAWISE Kitten Litter Box Starter Kit (Box + Scoop + Bowl)

Shallow 3.3″ entry plus scoop and small bowl. Built for early litter training and easy cleaning.

ASIN: B07FTDRFP3

View on Amazon

Perfect low-sided box for tiny kittens. Pair with non-clumping litter for safety.

Calmeroos Heartbeat Plush Toy (with Heat Pack)

Heartbeat plus optional heat pack replicates maternal presence for orphaned or anxious kittens.

ASIN: B0F22SG15F

View on Amazon

Use during supervised rest only. Remove heat pack for unsupervised sleep.

View Full Starter Kit

Visit the Starter Kit page to see our full, vet-informed checklist and safety-tested recommendations for weeks 0–12.

Popular How-To Guides / Essential Reading

Cover of Kitten Care Guide showing a cute grey kitten on a cream background with text: Kitten Care Guide Week by Week 0-12 Weeks, Complete Checklist & PDF Download.

Kitten Care Guide Week by Week (0–12 Weeks): Complete Checklist, Feeding Chart & PDF Download

Bringing a kitten home is pure joy and a little overwhelming. One minute they’re asleep…

Kitten Care Basics

Health & Wellness

Behavior & Training

Product Reviews

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TheKittenGuide.com made our first few weeks with our kitten a breeze! The guides are straightforward and helped us tackle challenges right away. We felt supported every step of the way.

— John Doe

TheKittenGuide.com made our first few weeks with our kitten a breeze! The guides are straightforward and helped us tackle challenges right away. We felt supported every step of the way.

— John Doe

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I have ready before I bring a kitten home?

Have a Day-One kit: a safe carrier, warm bed, weaning wet food and/or KMR (if needed), shallow food & water bowls, a low-entry litter box with non-clumping litter, a soft toy, gentle grooming tools, and a basic first-aid kit. Pack a towel that smells like you for the carrier to calm the kitten.

Quick actions: Put the carrier and litter box in a quiet room, keep supplies reachable, and download your printable checklist before pickup.

How often and how much should I feed a kitten (0–12 weeks)?

Newborns nurse or bottle-feed roughly every 2–3 hours. From 4–6 weeks, offer small meals 3–4 times/day (weaning food or moistened kibble). From 8–12 weeks, continue 3–4 meals/day of kitten food as appetite increases. Monitor weight — healthy kittens usually gain ~15–20 g/day in early weeks.

Quick actions: Use KMR for neonates as directed, switch gradually to weaning mousse, and track daily weight for the first month.

When can I start litter training my kitten?

Start introducing a low-sided, shallow litter box at about 3–4 weeks (when they begin weaning). Kittens naturally learn quickly if the box is clean, easy to enter, and placed in a quiet spot.

Quick actions: Confine a very young kitten to a small room with the box, place them in the box after naps/meals, and clean accidents with an enzymatic cleaner.

Can kittens eat adult cat food?

kittens need nutrient-dense kitten formulas until they are ~9–12 months. Kitten diets supply extra calories, protein and essential nutrients for growth; use age-appropriate wet or kitten kibble and transition slowly.

Quick actions: Use “mother & baby” or kitten-specific wet food during weaning; mix gradually when changing diets. Check our Starter Kit page for recommended products.

When should my kitten see the vet and what vaccines are needed?

Schedule a vet visit within days of adoption for a wellness check. Vaccinations typically begin at 6–8 weeks, with boosters every 2–4 weeks until ~16–20 weeks (core vaccines: FVRCP; FeLV as indicated; rabies per local rules). Follow your vet’s tailored schedule.

Quick actions: Bring stool sample if possible, ask about deworming and flea prevention, and save vaccine dates in your calendar.

When should kittens be dewormed and protected from fleas?

Deworming commonly starts at 3–4 weeks and is repeated per your vet’s plan (often every 2–4 weeks early on). Flea products must be age-appropriate — some OTC flea meds are unsafe for very young kittens; always get a vet recommendation first.

Quick actions: Ask your vet for a deworming schedule and which flea products are safe for your kitten’s exact age/weight.

What are emergency signs that need immediate veterinary care?

Seek urgent care for trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, severe lethargy, repeated vomiting/diarrhea, refusal to eat >24 hours, pale or blue gums, or severe bleeding. Kittens can deteriorate quickly — when in doubt, call your vet or an emergency clinic.

Quick actions: Keep emergency clinic numbers and carrier ready; if possible, bring a small towel and any vomit/diarrhea sample.

Are heating pads safe for kittens?

Only use pet-specific warming pads with thermostats or safe self-warming mats; do not use unregulated human heating pads. Provide space for the kitten to move away from heat and always supervise neonates.

Quick actions: Choose a thermostat-controlled pet mat (or non-electric self-warming pad) and place a blanket between the mat and the kitten.

When should I spay or neuter my kitten?

Many vets and shelters recommend sterilization by about 4–5 months, and pediatric spay/neuter can be performed earlier (6–16 weeks) when appropriate. Discuss timing with your vet based on health, weight, and local shelter protocols.

Quick actions: Plan the surgery date while the kitten is healthy; follow pre-op instructions from your clinic.

How do I safely introduce my kitten to other pets?

Introduce slowly: start with separate rooms, exchange bedding to swap scents, allow supervised visual contact (baby gate), and then short supervised meetings. Provide escape routes and don’t force interactions, progress may take days to weeks.

Quick actions: Keep initial meetings short, reward calm behavior, and separate animals if either shows stress or aggression.

Start Right withYour New Kitten

Solving Your Immediate Kitten Worries

Litter Training Issues?

Feeding Confusion?

First Vet Visit Anxiety?

Nighttime Crying?

Get Your Free Kitten Starter Checklist

Thank you!

Your Kitten’s First 12 Weeks

The Newborn Stage

Exploration Begins

Weaning & Vetting

Ready for Home

Visual Guides for Common Kitten Care Questions

Our Trusted Starter Picks

PetAg KMR Kitten Milk Replacer (12 oz)

PAWISE Kitten Litter Box Starter Kit (Box + Scoop + Bowl)

Calmeroos Heartbeat Plush Toy (with Heat Pack)

Popular How-To Guides / Essential Reading

Kitten Care Guide Week by Week (0–12 Weeks): Complete Checklist, Feeding Chart & PDF Download

The Four Pillars of Kitten Care

Kitten Care Basics

Health & Wellness

Behavior & Training

Product Reviews

See How We’ve Helped New Kitten Owners Succeed

4.8

Join Our Kitten Community

Join Our Social Media

Frequently Asked Questions

Start Right with
Your New Kitten