Welcoming a new kitten into your home is an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with important responsibilities. To ensure your kitten grows into a happy, healthy cat, it’s essential to provide proper care, nutrition, and socialization from the start. This weekly care schedule is designed to guide American pet owners through every stage of their kitten’s early development. From feeding routines and litter training to playtime and vet visits, this structured plan will help you stay on track. With the right approach, you’ll build a strong bond with your furry friend while setting them up for a lifetime of well-being.
Week 1 Cate Care Guide: Safe Zone Setup
Create a “sniffing station”: place a blanket with the mother cat's scent in a confined space (can be simulated with Feliway spray).
Temperature control: maintain 22-25°C, use Petmate heating pads.
Hazardous material detection: test with a toilet paper tube - anything that passes through the tube can be inadvertently ingested!
Week 2 Cate Care Guide: Nutrition Transition
Days 1-3: 75% original food + 25% new food (recommend Wellness CORE line)
Days 4-6: 50/50 mix, observe stool score (refer to Purina stool chart)
Day 7: full new food + fish oil added (at 5mg per lb of body weight)
Week 3 Cate Care Guide: Socialization Bootcamp
Daily 20-minute touch practice: progressive contact from chin → ear root → paw pads
Environmental sound desensitization: play vacuum cleaner/doorbell recording (start at 10% volume)
Stranger interaction: invite 2 friends to visit weekly and build positive associations with Churu snack
Week 4 Cate Care Guide: Health Checkpoint
Basic program: weight graph recording (normal weekly weight gain 100-150g)
Parasite screening: bring fecal samples for PCR testing (detects 32% more parasites than routine testing)
Vaccine planning: personalized reminder calendar with reference to AAFP core vaccine schedule
Pro Tips from NYC Feline Experts
Behavioral Science: slow down eating with the Lickimat feeder and exercise jaw muscles simultaneously
Localized Solutions: Sign up for Chewy Autoship to ensure supplies arrive on time!
Emergency Signal: Sneeze more than 3 times in a row and get checked for feline herpes virus immediately
