Preparing Your Home for a Kitten: A Room-by-Room Checklist

Kittens are small, fast and endlessly curious. An hour or two of preparation before your kitten arrives will save you a great deal of stress — and keep them safe. Here is a practical checklist.

Essentials to buy before collection day

• A secure carrier for the journey home
• Litter tray and litter — one tray per cat, plus one spare
• Food and water bowls — shallow, wide and stable
• The same food they are used to — sudden changes cause upset stomachs
• A scratching post — tall and sturdy enough for a full stretch
• Toys — wand toys and balls, nothing with small detachable parts
• A bed in a quiet corner, and a hiding spot such as a cardboard box

Kitten-proofing, room by room

Kitchen and laundry

Keep appliances closed, store cleaning products in latched cupboards, and never leave a dishwasher or washing machine open unattended.

Living areas

Secure trailing blind cords, tie back curtains, and check behind and under furniture for gaps. Move fragile items until the kitten settles.

Bathroom

Keep the toilet lid down and the door closed. Store medicines and toiletries out of reach.

Bedrooms and study

Tidy cables and chargers, which are irresistible to chew, and keep small objects off the floor.

Plants and foods that are dangerous to cats

Remove or make inaccessible: lilies (extremely toxic — even the pollen), tulips, azaleas, oleander, sago palm and dieffenbachia. In the kitchen, keep chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, alcohol and anything containing xylitol well out of reach.

Setting up a safe room

Before your kitten explores the whole house, give them one quiet room with their tray, bed, food and water. A day or two in a small space helps them settle far faster than being released into a whole house at once. Then open up one room at a time.

The first 48 hours

• Show them the litter tray first, and after every meal and sleep
• Keep noise low and let them hide if they want to
• Avoid baths unless they are genuinely dirty
• Book a vet check within the first few days so your vet has a baseline
• Keep them indoors until they are settled and, ideally, desexed

Our kitten care guide covers feeding, grooming and settling in more fully, and our FAQ answers the questions families ask most. If your question is not there, please get in touch.

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