Calming a new kitten before problems start

Cat anxiety is real and genuinely underestimated — cats are wired to hide stress, so by the time you notice something's wrong, it's often already been building for a while. The good news is you're ahead of that curve entirely. You've got a new kitten and you want to set the right foundation before any habits or stress responses get established. That's exactly the right instinct. Before I point you in the right direction — is this your first cat, and has your kitten been home for a few days already or is this still very new?

That's completely normal for four days in — under the sofa is classic kitten behaviour, and easy startling at this stage just means she's still mapping her environment. None of that is a red flag. But you're right to think proactively, because British Shorthairs can be quite sensitive to change even though they look placid. What's the living situation like — open plan, busy household, other pets, or is it fairly quiet?

That's an ideal environment for her to settle into. Here's my recommendation: get the Feliway Classic Starter Kit — it's a plug-in diffuser that releases a synthetic version of the facial pheromone cats deposit when they rub their face on things, which is essentially their signal to themselves that a space is safe. You plug it in near where she spends most of her time, and it runs continuously. The key is placement — it needs to be in the room she actually uses, not a hallway, and it shouldn't be blocked by furniture or curtains. One diffuser covers a single room well. For a one-bed flat, that's probably all you need. This isn't a treatment for a problem — it's exactly what you said you wanted: a calm baseline. Starting it now, while she's still orienting, means you're reinforcing the settling process rather than trying to undo stress later.

Each refill lasts about 30 days. For a new kitten, I'd run it continuously for the first three months at minimum — that covers the main settling window and any small disruptions like your routine changing or visitors. After that, you can reassess. Some owners keep it going long-term as a background measure, especially if the cat is on the sensitive side. Others stop after the initial period and only restart it around specific events like moving furniture, fireworks season, or if they introduce another pet. There's no harm in long-term use. The refills are inexpensive enough that a lot of people just keep it ticking over.

A few small things that cost nothing: make sure she has at least one hiding spot she chose herself — don't keep coaxing her out from under the sofa early on, let her come out on her own terms. Give her a high perch if possible, even a cleared shelf, because height makes cats feel safer. And keep her feeding spot, litter tray, and sleeping area in consistent locations — cats find routine very settling. The diffuser does the heavy lifting on the environmental side, but those habits compound it. You're genuinely starting this well.