It’s spring! The days are getting longer, the flowers are blooming, and kitten season is here. Are you getting ready to welcome a cute new kitten into your family? Those tiny paws and enormous personalities bring plenty of joy, but a little preparation makes their homecoming much easier.

Whether you’re adopting your first kitten or adding another feline friend to the household, here are our practical tips for a calmer start, plus useful products from The Paw Principality.

1. Start small with a quiet, cosy room

Your whole home can feel enormous to a little kitten. Set up a quiet room with a comfortable bed, a hiding spot, food, fresh water and a litter tray before they arrive. Keep the litter area separate from food and water. A cardboard box with a soft blanket can make a lovely retreat.

Bring your kitten home in a secure carrier, open it in their prepared room and let them come out in their own time. Keep early visits gentle and brief. Sitting nearby quietly is often more reassuring than lots of cuddles straight away.

2. Kitten-proof before curiosity takes over

Secure windows and flyscreens, tuck away electrical cords and blind cords, and remove small objects, ribbons, hair ties and anything that could be swallowed. Keep cleaning products, medicines and toxic plants out of reach. Lilies are especially dangerous to cats, so leave them out of a cat household entirely.

Check washing machines, dryers, recliners and cupboards before using or closing them. A kitten can find a hiding place you never knew existed!

3. Keep mealtimes familiar, then make changes gradually

Ask the rescue, breeder or previous carer what your kitten has been eating and keep that routine initially. If you change food, transition gradually rather than swapping everything overnight. Choose a complete and balanced food formulated for kitten growth, and follow age-appropriate feeding directions. Young kittens need regular meals, not an adult cat’s feeding routine.

For wet food formulated specifically for growing kittens, try ZIWI Peak Chicken with Lamb (Kitten) Can 85g or ZIWI Beef with Mackerel (Kitten) Can 85g. Both are nutritionally complete kitten wet foods, with added taurine, vitamins and minerals. Their 85g cans offer a convenient wet-food option for your kitten’s feeding routine. Follow the packaging guide for portions appropriate to your kitten’s age and weight.

For a dry-food option to discuss with your vet, consider Talentail Cat Chicken 1.5kg. Its recipe features 75% chicken and oils, with ingredients sourced from Australia and New Zealand. Before using it as your kitten’s main food, confirm on the packaging or with your vet that the formula is suitable for kitten growth; a complete adult-cat food is not automatically appropriate for a growing kitten.

Prefer another option? ORIJEN Kitten Dry Cat Food features smaller kibble designed for kittens. Choose one suitable main diet rather than introducing several new foods at once, and ask your vet for help with portions or mixed feeding.

Always provide fresh drinking water. If your kitten is not yet weaned, seek veterinary or rescue guidance about an appropriate kitten milk replacer and feeding plan.

4. Make the litter tray easy to find and easy to enter

Start with the litter your kitten already knows where possible. Choose a tray they can comfortably climb into, put it in a quiet, accessible spot and gently show them where it is after meals and naps. Scoop waste daily and clean the tray regularly. Never punish an accident.

Rufus & Coco Corn Litter is a biodegradable clumping litter made from corn and plant fibres. Its scoopable clumps make daily clean-up easier, while its absorbency and odour control help keep the litter area fresh. Available in 4kg and 9kg bags. For very young kittens or kittens that taste litter, ask your vet about the most appropriate litter type before choosing a clumping product.

The High-Sided Cat Litter Box has a perforated entrance step and raised sides to help contain scatter. Check that your kitten can comfortably manage the entrance; a low-entry starter tray may be easier for a very small kitten.

A Double Layer Cat Litter Mat can help catch scattered litter, while the Litter Scoop With Holder keeps your daily clean-up tools together. In a multi-cat home, aim for one tray per cat plus an extra, spread across separate locations.

5. Build confidence through gentle play

Short, supervised play sessions help your kitten explore, practise natural hunting behaviours and build a bond with you. Let them stalk, chase and catch a toy, then enjoy a rest. Use toys rather than fingers and toes so they learn what is appropriate to bite and pounce on.

The Shiny Scrunchy Toy is lightweight and crinkly for batting and chasing. Choose a size that cannot be swallowed, supervise play and remove it if damaged. The Feline Frenzy Kitten Mittens Catnip Toy offers a soft, crinkly alternative. Young kittens may not respond to catnip yet, so let their interest guide you.

Provide a stable scratching surface too, and praise your kitten for using it. Put string, ribbon and wand-style toys away after supervised play.

6. Use treats for tiny moments of trust

A small reward can help make gentle handling, carrier practice and coming when called more positive. Treats are extras, not a substitute for balanced kitten meals.

For a lickable option, Inaba Churu Hairball Control Tuna 56g has a creamy texture and added insoluble vegetable fibre for hairball support. Check the pack’s minimum-age guidance and ask your vet whether a hairball-control formula is appropriate for your kitten before offering it. It is not an essential addition for every kitten. Start with a tiny amount, supervise, and squeeze onto a dish or spoon rather than letting your kitten chew the packaging.

FDA Freeze Dry Australia Chicken Breast Chunks 100g are a single-ingredient alternative made from 100% Australian chicken breast, with no fillers or additives. They can be useful as small rewards or crumbled over food for a little variety. Check age suitability on the packaging, break chunks into tiny, manageable pieces for your kitten and supervise feeding. Introduce one new treat at a time and keep portions small.

7. Goat milk powder: an optional extra, not a kitten essential

Wondering about goat milk powder? NAS Goat Milk Powder contains 100% goat milk powder and can be prepared as a drink or used as a food topper according to its directions.

It is not a complete kitten diet and is not a substitute for a kitten milk replacer for unweaned or orphaned kittens. Goat milk contains lactose, and some cats do not tolerate dairy well. Ask your vet whether it is suitable for your kitten’s age and needs before introducing it. Fresh water and complete kitten food remain the everyday essentials.

8. Keep supplements purposeful

A healthy kitten eating an appropriate complete and balanced growth diet does not automatically need extra supplements. More is not always better, and adding several new products at once can make it hard to identify what is causing a tummy upset.

NAS Omega Oil Cat Hairball 200ml combines salmon oil with other oils, including flaxseed, MCT and olive oils, plus vitamin E. It is formulated for hairball support and skin and coat care, and its product information includes kittens. Follow the label’s kitten-specific directions and ask your vet about a suitable amount before adding it to meals. Regular gentle brushing is useful too; a hairball supplement is not an essential purchase for every new kitten.

For digestive support, Inside Out Cat is a blend of prebiotics, probiotics and digestive enzymes designed to support digestion and nutrient absorption. Check kitten suitability and the correct dose with your vet before use. Choose a supplement for an identified need rather than combining multiple gut-support products without advice.

Persistent diarrhoea, vomiting, poor appetite or unusual tiredness needs veterinary attention, not simply a new supplement. Young kittens can become unwell quickly, so contact your vet promptly if something seems wrong.

9. Introduce the family slowly

Give your kitten time to settle before meeting other pets. Begin with separate spaces and scent swapping, then progress to calm, supervised introductions when everyone is comfortable. Do not force face-to-face meetings. Keep dogs controlled and give your kitten safe escape routes.

Teach children to sit quietly, let the kitten approach and handle them gently. Make sure your kitten has somewhere to sleep undisturbed. Little bodies need plenty of rest between adventures.

10. Book a new-kitten vet check

Arrange a veterinary check soon after homecoming and bring any health records with you. Your vet can help plan vaccinations, parasite prevention, microchip checks, desexing and nutrition for your kitten’s age and circumstances. Never use a dog flea treatment on a cat.

Keep your kitten safely indoors while they settle in, and discuss longer-term safe indoor living or secure outdoor enclosure options with your vet.

A little preparation, a lovely new beginning

You do not need to buy everything at once. Start with a safe space, appropriate kitten food, water, an accessible litter setup, a carrier and a few supervised toys. Treats, goat milk powder and supplements can wait until you know what is appropriate for your individual kitten.

Most importantly, be patient. Some kittens march in as though they own the place; others need a little longer to find their confidence. A gentle routine and a safe place to land are a wonderful start to life together.

Getting ready for tiny paws this spring? Explore the linked essentials at The Paw Principality and build a thoughtful welcome-home setup for your newest family member.

This article offers general care information and does not replace individual veterinary advice. Check product labels for age suitability, feeding directions and supervision requirements.