Your first week with a new puppy or kitten

The first week sets the tone for your life together. A young animal has just left everything it knows. Your job is to make the new world feel small, safe and predictable.

Before day one

Prepare one quiet room or corner with a bed, water, food and, for a kitten, a litter tray placed away from the food.
Pet-proof it. Tuck away cables, close gaps behind furniture, and put cleaning products and medicines out of reach.
Mesh windows and balconies if you have a cat. Kittens climb and squeeze through surprisingly small gaps.
Ask what it has been eating and buy the same food, so the stomach has one less change to cope with.

Days one and two: let them settle

Keep the first days quiet. Limit visitors, let your new pet explore at its own pace, and let it hide if it wants to. Sit nearby, speak softly and let it come to you.

Puppies usually need to go to the toilet after waking, after eating and after play. Take them to the same spot each time and praise them quietly when they go.

Days three to five: build a routine

Animals relax when the day is predictable.

Feed at the same times each day.
Keep short, gentle play sessions, then let them rest. Young animals sleep a lot.
Begin handling practice: touch paws, ears and mouth briefly, with a treat. It makes vet visits and grooming much easier later.
Start simple name and recall games with a puppy, using food rewards.

Book the first vet visit

Arrange a check-up in the first week or two. Bring any records you were given and ask about:

vaccinations and when the next doses are due;
deworming and flea and tick prevention;
microchipping and licensing, which are legal requirements for dogs and cats in Singapore (see our licensing guide);
sterilisation, and the right age for it;
the right food and portion sizes.

Days six and seven: widen the world, slowly

Once your vet says it is safe, introduce new sights and sounds a little at a time: a short walk, a visitor, the sound of the lift. Watch your pet's body language and stop before it is overwhelmed. Good early experiences matter more than lots of them.