A kitten’s first week home sets the tone for years. Everything is new — smells, sounds, you — and the fastest route to a confident cat is, counterintuitively, a smaller world to start with.

Start with one room

Set up a base camp: litter tray in one corner, food and water far from it, a cozy hiding spot and a scratching post. Let the kitten explore this kingdom fully before opening the rest of the home, one room at a time.

Build trust on their terms

Sit on the floor and let the kitten come to you — wiggling a wand toy is the world’s best icebreaker. Handle paws, ears and mouth gently every day now, and future vet visits and nail trims become no big deal.

Expect a few squeaky midnight concerts as they adjust. A warm blanket, a ticking-clock toy and a consistent routine turn the volume down within days.