Kitten initial equipment: checklist for the first days

Before your kitten moves in, a litter box, bowls, previous food, a place to scratch, a transport box and a quiet place to retreat should be ready.In addition, there is an apartment in which there is nothing lying around that can be eaten or swallowed. You can check off the list below point by point. Then you will find out what is important in the first days and weeks.

The checklist before moving in

Litter box and litter

• As many toilets as cats, plus one.This is what the Cornell Feline Health Center recommends. For a single kitten that's two toilets, for two kittens three.
• Low edge:According to Cornell, kittens need a toilet with sides that allow them to get in easily.
• Without hood:Most cats prefer simple, open toilets.
• Fine, unscented litter:Most, although not all, cats like this. When picking up, ask which litter your kitten knows.
• Scoop and bag for daily cleaning. A dirty toilet is avoided.

Food and water

• The previous food:Ask what your kitten has eaten so far and continue feeding it. If you want to switch, Cornell says, do it gradually, gradually mixing the old food with the new.
• Kitten food as complete food:Make sure that the food for the kitten life stage is complete and balanced. Then no additives are needed. Cornell advises giving supplements only after consulting your vet's office.
• Separate bowlsfor food and water, far away from the litter box.
• Fresh watermust be available at all times.

You can use this to calculate how much your kitten needs per dayCat food calculator. Select the life phase of kittens under one year old. What it shouldn't get is listed in the overviewWhat can cats eat?, for example atMilk.

Scratching, climbing, rest

• Scratching possibility:Scratching is normal marking behavior. Cornell advises paying attention to the cat's preferences: those who scratch the sofa prefer a vertical trunk, while those who scratch the carpet prefer a flat piece of cardboard on the floor. It's best to offer both at the beginning.
• Retreat:a cave, a box with a blanket or a place under the bed where your kitten won't be disturbed.
• Toy:Fishing, balls, fiddle boards. Toys with strings or threads should only be put away under supervision and then put away afterwards.

Care and transport

• Transport box:for the drive home and every vet appointment. A box that opens at the top makes it easier to put it in.
• Brush or comb:Cornell recommends practicing brushing early on because it will become much easier later on. Less loose hair in your stomach also means fewer hairballs.
• Claw scissors:Let us show you in practice how to trim your claws before you try it yourself.

Make the apartment kitten-proof

Kittens explore the world with their mouths. That's why the initial equipment also includes a tour of the apartment:

• Lilies out.International Cat Care calls lilies extremely dangerous: All parts of the plant are poisonous, including pollen, leaves and stems. Even less than one leaf, a little pollen in the fur or water from the flower vase can be fatal. More on this in the entryAre lilies poisonous to cats?
• Check houseplants.According to International Cat Care, Dieffenbachia is also considered particularly dangerous. Bid insteadCat grassto.
• Put away small parts.The Cornell Feline Health Center lists string, yarn, rubber bands and paper clips as common things cats swallow that can cause vomiting or an intestinal blockage.
• Secure medication and food.Human medications, antifreeze, chocolate and onions are on Cornell's list of common causes of vomiting and poisoning. See alsoChocolateandOnions.
• Secure windows and balconiesbefore your kitten gets there unsupervised, for example with a protective net.

The first days

Start small:First, give your kitten a room with a toilet, bowls, scratching area and hiding place. Once it is eating safely, using the toilet and playing there, you can gradually open up more rooms.

When picking up ask:Cornell advises asking about previous vaccinations, food, parasite treatment and care. Get your vaccination certificate or pet ID card with you.

Observe quietly:Does it eat, drink, pass feces and urine? A kitten not eating is not a case to wait and see. The Cornell Feline Health Center warns that for kittens under six weeks of age, just 12 hours without food can be life-threatening. For older cats, Cornell cites 24 hours as the limit at which loss of appetite can have serious consequences. More on this inCat won't eat: When it becomes dangerous.

Other cats in the household:According to Cornell, keep the kitten separated until the veterinary office has examined it, especially if the history is unknown. How getting to know each other works afterwards is explained belowMerge second cat.

The first dates

1. Vet check as soon as possible:Cornell recommends having any new cat examined quickly. If the previous history is unknown, tests are carried out for FeLV (leukosis) and FIV (feline AIDS) and internal and external parasites are examined.
2. Vaccinations:In the description from Cornell (USA), the basic immunization usually begins at six to eight weeks and is repeated every three to four weeks until the kitten is 16 to 20 weeks old. You will determine the exact vaccination plan for your kitten with your practice, as the recommendations differ depending on the country and lifestyle.
3. Chip and registration:According to the veterinary fee schedule, the implantation of a transponder costs 10.24 euros in a simple rate, and the documentation costs 5.50 euros. You then enter your kitten in a pet registry, such as Tasso or Findefix. In cities with cat protection regulations such as Wiesbaden, this is mandatory for outdoor cats.
4. Castration:International Cat Care recommends neutering routinely around four months of age. Costs and process are inNeutering a cat: costs, process and timing.

How you can recognize a healthy kitten

It's worth taking a closer look when making your selection. Cornell cites clear, shiny eyes without tears, clean nose and ears, pink and moist gums, and a shiny coat without bald spots or dandruff as signs of good health. A fat, bulging stomach or a very thin body can indicate parasites. A healthy kitten is active, alert and enjoys playing. Be careful with an animal that constantly runs away, hides or sleeps a lot.

Whether it's a purebred cat or a house cat from an animal shelter, both can be wonderful companions. Size and appearance of a purebred cat are easier to predict. The test shows which breed suits youWhich cat is right for me?, you can find all portraits underCat breeds.

Frequently asked questions

Read more

• How much does a cat cost per month? The honest calculation
• Neutering a cat: costs, process and the right time
• Photographing cats without stress
• Cat names: ideas for your kitten
• Cat age calculator

Kittens grow faster than you can imagine. Capture the first few weeks with photos, and if you want to make it something lasting, you can find ours hereCat portraits based on your photo.

Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: Cornell Feline Health Center: Choosing and Caring for Your New Cat; Cornell Feline Health Center: Feeding Your Cat; International Cat Care: Poisonous plants; Cornell Feline Health Center: Vomiting; Cornell Feline Health Center: Anorexia (mit Carolyn McDaniel, VMD); International Cat Care: Neutering your cat; Bundesministerium der Justiz: Gebührenordnung für Tierärztinnen und Tierärzte (GOT) mit Gebührenverzeichnis, Stand Änderung vom 15.03.2023; Landeshauptstadt Wiesbaden: Katzenschutzverordnung, einfach erklärt