A new kitten's first months: the reminders that matter

Bringing home a kitten is a lot of fun and a lot of small jobs. In the first few months there's a stream of things to remember: vet visits and vaccinations, worming and flea treatment, several small meals a day, litter tray cleaning, and at some point a conversation about neutering and microchipping. Kittens grow fast, so the schedule changes almost every few weeks.

It's easy to remember the fun parts and let the rest slide. This guide will help you set up a simple routine for your kitten's first months, so nothing important gets missed while you're busy enjoying them.

A quick note: every kitten is different, and schedules for vaccines, parasite treatments and neutering vary by vet, country and the kitten's health. Use your vet's advice as the plan, and use reminders to keep to it.

The first vet visit

If your kitten came from a breeder or a rescue, you may have been given paperwork showing what's already been done: first vaccinations, worming, flea treatment, a microchip. Keep it somewhere safe and bring it to your first vet appointment.

It's a good idea to book that first check-up soon after your kitten arrives. At that visit, ask your vet:

• When the next vaccinations are due
• Which worming and flea products to use, and how often
• When to think about neutering
• Whether the microchip is registered to you, and how to update it
• How much and how often to feed at this age

Write the answers down. That list becomes your reminder schedule.

Feeding: little and often

Young kittens usually eat several small meals a day, and the number tends to drop as they grow. Your vet or the food packaging will give guidance. When you're at work or busy with other things, meal times can slip, especially if more than one person in the house is feeding.

Sample reminder: "Kitten lunch: one pouch, fresh water."

If several people share feeding, agree who does which meal. That way the kitten doesn't get fed twice, or not at all. A shared note on the fridge with a tick box helps.

Vaccinations and boosters

Kitten vaccinations are usually given as a course, with a follow-up after a few weeks and then boosters later. Missing the timing can mean restarting a course, so it's worth being precise.

As soon as your vet gives you a date, set two reminders: one a few days before to confirm the appointment, and one on the day.

Sample wording: "Vet on Thursday at 5:30pm for Pepper's second vaccination. Confirm the booking and find the cat carrier."

Worming and flea treatment

Kittens often need worming and flea treatment more often than adult cats, and the right product depends on age and weight. Your vet will tell you what to use and how often. Some treatments are monthly, and others are spaced differently.

Monthly treatments are exactly the sort of thing that gets forgotten, because nothing reminds you. There's no smell, no mess, and no hungry meow. Set a recurring reminder.

Sample wording: "Flea and worm treatment due today for Pepper. Weigh her first if the dose depends on weight."

Don't use dog flea products on cats. Some contain ingredients that are dangerous to cats. If you're not sure, ask your vet or pharmacist.

Litter tray routine

A clean litter tray helps with toilet training and keeps the house fresh. Most people scoop daily and do a full clean regularly.

• Daily: "Scoop the litter tray."
• Weekly: "Full litter tray clean and fresh litter."
• Monthly: "Check litter stock. Order more if you're down to one bag."

Neutering and microchipping

Talk to your vet about when to neuter. They'll suggest an age based on your kitten and your situation. Once you have a date, you'll usually be given instructions for the night before, often about food. Set a reminder so you don't feed them by habit in the morning.

Sample wording: "No breakfast for Pepper tomorrow. Surgery day. Pick up the food bowls tonight."

For microchipping, make sure the chip is registered to your details. Set a reminder to update it whenever you move house or change phone number.

Play, grooming and handling

Not every reminder has to be about health. Short, regular play sessions help kittens burn energy and settle. Getting them used to being handled, having their teeth looked at and being gently brushed makes future vet visits and grooming much easier.

A daily reminder for a few minutes of play or handling can help make it part of your routine.

A kitten care checklist

• First vet check booked soon after arrival
• Vaccination course and booster dates in your reminders
• Flea and worming treatment on the schedule your vet recommends
• Meal times agreed if more than one person feeds
• Daily scoop, weekly clean, monthly litter restock
• Neutering discussed with your vet, with a night-before reminder
• Microchip registered to your current details
• A few minutes of play and handling each day

How ReminderIt helps

ReminderIt reminds you with a real phone call at the time you set, plus a WhatsApp message with Done and Snooze buttons. A monthly flea treatment is easy to swipe past as a notification, but it's much harder to ignore when your phone rings and tells you it's due.

You set it up on WhatsApp in plain words, for example: "Remind me on the 1st of every month to do Pepper's flea and worm treatment." After a vet visit, you can send a photo of the appointment card and ReminderIt will turn it into reminders for you to confirm.

If you share care with a partner, housemate or a teenager who has promised to help, you can add them as someone you remind. Once they've accepted, feeding and litter reminders can reach them directly. If they miss a call, you can get an alert, and there's a weekly summary so you can see what's been done.

There's a 7-day free trial, and no card is needed. If you'd like help building your kitten's schedule, message us on WhatsApp.