8-12 weeks is the time when kittens usually leave their mothers and siblings and find a new home and family. If rehomed earlier than 8 weeks, they’ll miss out on learning important socialisation and communication skills.

If you’ve just brought home a new kitten, now’s the time to register them at your local vet practice and book a health check. There’s a lot to plan - microchipping, vaccinations, and neutering. But don’t worry, we have it all covered here!

Kitty Behaviour

Your kitten will become more and more confident as the days go by, and ready to explore their surroundings. They’ll still spend a lot of time sleeping, around 18-20 hours a day at this stage. When awake, they’ll be running, hiding, stalking, pouncing, and playing. They may want to sharpen their claws as well so make sure you’ve given them a scratching post or two and cat toys for them to play with.

It’s a good idea to get your kitten used to being placed in a cat carrier for their trips in the car and vet visits. Leave the cat carrier open on the floor so that your kitten can explore it freely without being shut inside. You can also put blankets or toys with their scent on in the carrier so that the smells are more familiar.

How Much to Feed a Kitten

At this age your kitten will need a diet specially designed for young and growing kittens. It needs to contain all the essential nutrients for normal growth and bone development. Kittens need their rapid growth and development supported by a diet high in nutrients that provides twice as much energy than an adult cat diet provides. But extra vitamins and supplements aren’t necessary and may be harmful.

Your little bundle of fluff only has a small tummy so will need to be fed regular small meals – perhaps 3 or 4 times a day. Kittens should have access to fresh water all the time. And don’t give them cow’s milk as this can cause diarrhoea!

If your concerned you’re not feeding your kitten enough, check the portion sizes on the packaging. Avoid over-feeding though - an overfed kitten can become obese and prone to bone and joint problems. Your vet or vet nurse can monitor your kittens’ weight and body condition score (this checks if they’re too lean or carrying too much body fat) and advise you if they’re putting on weight too quickly or are doing just fine.

Grooming and Dental Care

Cats naturally have good grooming skills and most short-haired cats will manage to keep themselves neat and tidy. Longer-haired cats need more maintenance so brush their coats once or twice a week, and more often when they’re moulting. This will keep their coats mat and tangle free and gives you the opportunity to bond with your cat.

Introduce a grooming routine while they’re young so you can both enjoy this time together. And now is the time to get your cat used to having their teeth brushed. This will help to prevent dental disease from becoming a serious problem, especially as they get older.

Housetraining

Housetraining or litter box training is usually easy with kittens. Show them where the litter box is and keep it really clean. If they’re reluctant to use it, try placing them in the litter tray after they’ve eaten their meal, and scratch the litter with your finger. This should encourage them to give it a go!

If your kitten has been to the toilet elsewhere in the house, pop the waste in the litter tray. The smell may help your kitten find and use the tray the next time they need to go. 

Cats can be fussy about the type of litter you use, and where the litter tray is placed. Rehomed kittens are likely to prefer the same type they were used to in their previous home. The tray should be placed away from their kitten food and water bowls and in a quiet place. Remember if you’ve got more than one cat, they’ll need a tray each, plus an extra one, to avoid any accidents.

Kitten Neutering

Now’s the time to think about neutering your kitten. Your vet will discuss the best time to castrate or spay your kitten at their first vet appointment. You’ll be able to find out all the pros and cons of the procedure and how neutering affects their health and welfare.

Cats can become pregnant when they’re just 4 months so it’s best to have all the facts so you can make the decision before you get any unwanted pregnancies. Male cats can start to reproduce as early as 4 months old too, so if you’ve got a male kitten, it’s just as important to think about getting them neutered too.

Socialisation and Training

It’s very important that socialisation starts from 2 weeks onwards. Your kitten will have learnt lots of social and communication skills from their mother and siblings. But now they’ll need to be exposed to a variety of people, other animals, noises, objects, and experiences too. This will help them settle into their new home, and cope with any changes to their environment in the future.

The period from 9 weeks is known as the juvenile period. This lasts until around 6 months old and is typically where training has it's greatest impact.

If their new home has other cats or dogs, they may not become firm friends straight away, so it's best to introduce them gradually. Leave your new kitten in their carrier and allow them to get used to the sight and smells of the other pets – don’t leave them together if they get frightened or distressed though. You can gradually let them out together if they seem happy and willing to give it a go. They’ll soon get to know each other and become friends over time.

Healthcare

Now’s the time when kittens lose the immunity from infectious diseases that had been passed to them from their mother. Now they’ll need to be protected by regular vaccinations. Kittens should have their first vaccinations at 8-9 weeks with a second course 3-5 weeks later. After that they’ll need yearly booster injections.

Your vet will provide you with a vaccination record, so you don’t forget to make the appointments! It’s also a good time to have your kitten microchipped so if your cat wanders off or is stolen, there’s a higher chance they’ll be returned to you. Collars and name tags can come off, leaving your cat without any identification.

Diarrhoea is common in kittens of this age because of all the changes they go through. Leaving their mother and littermates, meeting their new family, and a change of home can all cause stress and an upset tummy. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t last long as your kitten will soon settle in. Keep your kitten hydrated by providing them with fresh water, however if you are concerned, speak to your vet as there could be another cause.

You should be continuing to worm your kitten every 2 weeks until they’re 12 weeks. After that, they’ll only need worming every 3 months. They’ll also need their first flea treatment. Never give flea treatments to your cat that have been designed for dogs – always check that the treatment is suitable for your kitten’s age and weight before giving it to them.

It can all seem like a lot to remember, especially if you’re new pet parents so, if unsure, ask your vet for advice. Kittens often head off to their new homes at around 8 weeks of age, so 8-12 weeks is an important stage in their lives.

Being away from their mothers and siblings and placed within a new family can be stressful at first. Some may take quite a while to settle in their new surroundings. Try to keep excited children at a distance and keep your new furry friend inside until they’ve had all their vaccinations, worming treatments and they’ve been microchipped. With patience and love, they’ll soon be happy and joining in with their new family! 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis – https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.