The first weeks at home: what's normal and when to call the vet

Moving is a big deal for a little kitten

For a kitten, moving means new smells, sounds and people all at once, plus being separated from everything familiar. So in the first few days, its behavior may differ from what the breeder described. That doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong, but this is exactly the time to watch closely. This article will help you tell normal settling in from situations where your kitten needs a vet.

Please note: we don't diagnose and we don't give medical advice. If anything worries you, call your vet. It's better to ask one question too many than to miss something important.

What's common in the first few days

• Hiding — under the sofa, behind a wardrobe, in a cat bed. Give your kitten time and a safe spot, and don't pull it out.
• A slightly smaller appetite on day one. Nerves can put a kitten off its food, but it should gradually start eating.
• Lots of sleep. All those new impressions are exhausting.
• Crying at night. The kitten is calling for its mother and littermates, or simply exploring unfamiliar territory.
• Caution with people. Some kittens come to say hello within an hour; others need a few days.

To make settling in easier, keep your kitten in one quiet room with a litter tray, water, food, a bed and a hiding place for the first week or two, and open up the rest of the home gradually.

What helps prevent health problems

• The same food. A sudden change of diet on top of the stress of moving can upset a kitten's stomach. Feed the same food it had at the cattery, and only change it later, gradually.
• The same litter. Your kitten will recognize it and find the toilet faster.
• Peace and quiet. Don't invite visitors in the first few days, and don't introduce your kitten to every family member and pet at once.
• A safe room with no toxic plants, cables or small objects that could be swallowed.
• A routine vet visit in the first weeks, even if everything seems fine. We explain how to prepare in “Your kitten's first vet visit”.

What to keep an eye on every day

Keep a short diary for the first few weeks. It will help both you and your vet if you ever need advice:

• whether your kitten is eating, and roughly how much;
• whether it's drinking;
• whether it's using the tray, and what its stools look like;
• how active and playful it is;
• its weight — if you have kitchen scales, weigh your kitten every few days.

Keeping track of weight

Weight is one of the simplest ways to check that your kitten is growing well. You can weigh it on kitchen scales in a small box, or weigh yourself holding your kitten and subtract your own weight. Write the result down at the same time of day each time. A growing kitten's weight should go up steadily; if it stalls or drops, tell your vet.

When to call the vet

Kittens are small and their condition can change quickly, so it's best not to wait. Contact your vet if you notice:

• your kitten refuses food or eats almost nothing;
• repeated vomiting;
• diarrhea, especially if it doesn't settle or contains blood;
• straining in the litter tray with little or no result — this needs urgent attention;
• lethargy: your kitten doesn't play, barely responds and lies down all the time;
• difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing;
• discharge from the eyes or nose, frequent sneezing or coughing;
• limping, or signs of pain when you touch your kitten;
• your kitten may have eaten something dangerous: part of a plant (especially lilies), thread, medication or household chemicals.

In that last case, don't wait for symptoms and don't try to handle it yourself — call your vet straight away.

How to prepare for the call

It helps your vet if you can briefly explain:

• your kitten's age and when it moved in;
• what exactly you noticed, when, and how it has changed;
• what you're feeding and whether you've changed the food;
• which vaccinations and parasite treatments have been done — they're recorded in the veterinary passport.

Don't give your kitten anything from your own medicine cabinet unless a vet has prescribed it: medicines for people can be dangerous for cats.

A word about staying in touch with the breeder

A responsible breeder usually stays in touch after the move. Feel free to ask about your kitten's habits, food and routine — but when it comes to health, the final word always belongs to the vet who examines your kitten.

The takeaway

The first weeks are a time for patience and observation. Hiding, crying at night and a slightly smaller appetite on the first day are part of normal settling in. Refusing food, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or problems with the litter tray or breathing are reasons to contact your vet right away.