Kitten 0–12 months

Kittens change faster than cats at any other stage of life, and the first sixteen weeks do most of the work. Feed a growing kitten little and often rather than on an adult's twice-a-day schedule — young kittens have small stomachs and high energy needs, so three to four meals a day is normal early on, tapering toward two as they approach their first birthday. Choose a food labelled complete and balanced for growth, and check body condition weekly by running your hands along the ribs; a kitten should feel lean but not bony. A kitchen scale is the most reliable way to catch a fading appetite before it turns into a problem.

The health calendar is busiest in the first four months. Kittens start a vaccination series that runs every few weeks until around sixteen weeks of age, because maternal antibodies fade at different rates and a single shot does not reliably protect. Deworming usually runs alongside it, and most vets schedule the spay or neuter somewhere between four and six months, though the right timing depends on the individual cat. Book a first visit within a few days of bringing a kitten home rather than waiting for something to go wrong.

The socialization window closes early, somewhere around nine weeks, which means the handling a kitten receives now shapes how it meets the world later. Invite gentle visitors, handle paws, ears and mouth so nail trims and ear checks stay easy, and offer a scratching post before the sofa becomes the habit. Kitten-proof the house the way you would for a toddler: blind cords, windows without screens, lilies and other toxic plants, and small objects that can be swallowed.