New Kitten Starter Kit: 10 Essentials Every First-Time Cat Owner Actually Needs

Most “new kitten checklist” articles include 30 items, half of which you’ll never use. This one doesn’t. Here are the 10 things you genuinely need in the first week, why each matters, and the specific products worth buying versus the gimmicks to skip.

The 10 True Essentials

1. Litter Box (Get a Bigger One Than You Think)

Kittens will use any litter box. But they’ll use it better if it’s sized appropriately, the general rule is 1.5x the cat’s body length. A tiny kitten litter box will be too small within 4 months.

Buy an adult-sized uncovered box now. Skip the “kitten” boxes.

Recommended: Frisco Open Front Cat Litter Box →, large, high-backed, easy to clean.

2. Cat Litter That Works

Clumping clay litter is the standard. Kittens can safely use it by 8 weeks old (some vets recommend waiting on walnut or corn litter for very young kittens). Dr. Elsey’s Ultra is a reliable all-around choice, strong clumping, low dust, cats consistently prefer it.

Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Cat Litter →

3. A Litter Scoop With a Good Handle

This sounds trivial until you’ve used a cheap one that bends under load or has tines too wide to catch small clumps. The OXO Good Grips scoop has a comfortable handle and tine spacing that works across all major clumping litter brands.

OXO Good Grips Litter Scoop →

4. Food and Water Bowls (Flat, Not Deep)

Cats have sensitive whiskers that cause discomfort when they brush the sides of deep bowls while eating, this is called “whisker fatigue” and it’s real. Flat, wide dishes prevent this and reduce mess. Stainless steel or ceramic resist bacteria better than plastic.

Stainless Steel Cat Food Bowls →

5. High-Quality Kitten Food

The “kitten” label matters here, kittens need more protein, fat, and calcium than adult cats during their first year of growth. Choose a food with a named meat first ingredient (chicken, salmon, turkey) and no corn or wheat as primary fillers.

Both wet and dry food have valid roles, wet food increases hydration significantly, dry food is convenient. Many vets recommend primarily wet food for kittens.

6. A Carrier (You’ll Use This Forever)

You need a carrier before you bring the kitten home, for the trip. Hard-sided carriers are safer in cars (they don’t compress in accidents). Buy one large enough for your cat at adult size, you don’t want to rebuy this.

Frisco Two-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Carrier →, airline compliant, top-loading (easier to place a reluctant cat), durable.

7. A Scratching Post (Not a Toy, a Serious Post)

Scratching is a cats’ way of maintaining nails, stretching their spine, and marking territory. They will scratch something. Put a scratching post where they already want to scratch (next to the furniture they’re targeting, or at the base of the couch). Sisal-wrapped posts work better than carpet ones.

SmartCat Pioneer Ultimate Scratching Post →, tall enough for a full-body stretch, extremely stable.

8. A Wand Toy

The one toy that works across virtually all cats, all ages. Get Da Bird or a similar feather wand and use it for 10-15 minutes twice daily. This is the single most important enrichment investment for a kitten, it burns energy, prevents destructive behavior, and builds your bond with the cat.

Da Bird Feather Wand →

9. Nail Clippers

Start trimming your kitten’s nails from week one, not because they need it immediately, but because you want your cat to be comfortable with the process before it becomes a necessity. Kitten nails are tiny and grow fast; trim the transparent tips weekly using proper cat nail clippers.

Safari Professional Nail Trimmer →

10. A Safe First Night Space

Don’t let a new kitten have the run of the house immediately. Contain them in a single room (ideally a bathroom or bedroom) for the first 1-2 days with litter box, food, water, and bedding. This reduces overwhelm, makes litter box training easier, and prevents the kitten from hiding somewhere inaccessible from stress.

A soft, warm bed in a quiet corner in that first room:

K&H Self-Warming Kitty Bed →

What to Skip

Automatic litter boxes, wait until your cat is an adult and trained on a standard box before adding the complexity of a self-cleaning unit.

Cat towers immediately, kitten energy is fine on ground-level scratchers. Add vertical space once they’re bigger and more confident.

Cat grass or catnip, not harmful, just not a week-one priority. Introduce after your kitten is settled.

First Vet Visit

Schedule a vet appointment within the first week. Your kitten needs:

Physical exam
FVRCP core vaccine series (if not already started)
Flea check
Discussion of spay/neuter timing (typically 4-6 months)

Bring any paperwork from the breeder or shelter, including previous vaccine records.

FAQ

How do I stop my kitten from biting me? This is normal play behavior, kittens learn bite inhibition from littermates. When your kitten bites hard, immediately stop play and ignore for 30-60 seconds. Never use your hands as toys. Redirect to wand toys every time they engage in play-biting.

Is it better to get one kitten or two? Two kittens from the same litter is genuinely the easiest path for many first-time cat owners. They entertain each other, develop better social skills, and you spend less time as the sole source of stimulation. Two cats is more expensive in food and vet bills, but the companionship benefit for both you and the cats is significant.

When should I switch from kitten food to adult cat food? Around 12 months for most cats. Large breed cats (Maine Coon, Ragdoll) may benefit from staying on kitten food until 18 months due to their longer growth period.

We evaluate pet products and media independently. To learn more about our editorial standards, read our Editorial Policy.