Kitten Health Milestones: What to Track in the First Year
Vaccination windows, weight gain, litter training, and vet visit prep for kittens— a simple first-year timeline on iPhone.
The first year flies. Kittens need serial vaccines, parasite prevention, and growth checks—easy to miss a booster when life is busy. A lightweight milestone log keeps vet visits productive.
Month 1–2: baseline and litter
Track:
- Adoption or birth date
- First vet exam and flea/tick plan
- Food brand and daily amount
- Litter type and box location success
Weight weekly if possible—healthy kittens generally gain steadily.
Core vaccine series (typical U.S. schedule—follow your vet)
Your clinic sets exact timing. Commonly:
| Age window | Often includes |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | First FVRCP; fecal check |
| 10–12 weeks | Booster FVRCP |
| 14–16 weeks | Final FVRCP; rabies per local law |
| 16+ weeks | Spay/neuter discussion |
Log date given and next due after every visit. Phone photos of vaccine stickers help.
Socialization and behavior notes
Note positive exposures: carriers, car rides, gentle handling, other pets. Fear periods happen—dated behavior notes explain sudden hiding to your vet.
Month 3–6: growth and teeth
- Monthly weight
- Teething and chewing targets (document what they destroyed—sometimes funny, sometimes useful)
- Parasite prevention renewals
Month 6–12: adolescent energy
- Activity and appetite shifts
- Any vomiting hairballs vs illness (frequency matters)
- Transition to adult food per vet guidance
Before each vet visit
Export or screenshot:
- Weight trend
- Food and treats list
- Questions ranked top three
Kittens cannot narrate symptoms—you bring the timeline.
Multi-cat homes
Separate profiles per kitten if you log medications or weights. Color-coded notes prevent dose mix-ups.
When to call sooner than scheduled
Lethargy, diarrhea lasting more than a day, not eating 12+ hours, or breathing changes warrant a phone call—do not wait for the next routine slot.