New kittens arriving at the weekend and I'm panicking!

[catquestioner]

This sounds ridiculous (I know) but I'm worried I won't know how to look after them. (For what it's worth, I've managed to drag bring up DS4 so think I may be being a tad silly)

But ....

Do I need to 'kitten proof' the house? And if so, how?

Do I keep them in one room or let them explore? And then how many litter trays will I need?

Do they need a collar/name tag thingy?

I've bought dried food only (high meat content or something) that the lady in pets at home recommended...is just dry ok?

Any other hints would be much appreciated...

Thanks

[issey6cats]

you will need two litter trays one each, wood pellet litter is better for not ponging and breaking down better than clay based , apart from very small items they could eat off the carpet like small lego bits there isnt really much you can do to kitten proof a house,

dangly toys like the fish on rod ones and catnip mice go down very well

let them explore the downstairs first shut your bedroom doors, they dont need a collar at this stage but when you do start letting them out a collar and tag is a good thing to start with this lets your neighbours know the cats are owned and not strays that have appeared in the neighbourhood

i would suggest kitten wet food aswell as dry diet only can cause renal problems later on in life

fresh water in thier bowls only no kitten milk its not good for them
and last but not least enjoy your new furbabies

[MrsGrumps]

Th eonly kitten proofing I did was to make sure they could not get under the kitchen units and then under the floorboards. Other than that as previously said.

Enjoy them, they are a joy to have especially in sibling pairs.

[Sparklingbunting]

How fab. Remember to keep windows and doors closed so they don't escape.

MN rules-photos on profile too.

[suzi2]

Do I need to 'kitten proof' the house? And if so, how? - Also watch for blind cords or toys they could get tangled/strangled in. They can be fast and escape easily. And get into trouble with things you can't imagine! Just supervise them really to start with and confine them to one 'safe' room when you're out. IME anything on a worktop, shelf or windowsill will be knocked off, so ditch anything precious or breakable for a while. They'll also climb a lot (nice curtains? take them down for a bit!) and likely go at full speed playing so may inadvertently scratch sofas and things.

Do I keep them in one room or let them explore? And then how many litter trays will I need? One room for a good few days and then open up new areas gradually so they can 'build' their territory. If you have young kids it's also good to give them a place the kids aren't allowed at all as a rule. Younger they are, the more likely they are to 'forget' their litter tray, but if you introduce rooms slowly they should remember where it is. They may prefer one each as they get older. I'd go for one upstairs and one down for when they get upstairs.

Do they need a collar/name tag thingy? Nope -a lot of them are dangerous. quick release ones are best, but then a lot of cats lose them. They shouldn't get out until they're towards a year old, but best to get them microchipped when they're getting their vaccinations anyway in case they escape.

I've bought dried food only (high meat content or something) that the lady in pets at home recommended...is just dry ok? It can be, though some cats need more wet food in their diet if they don't drink enough. A good quality dry food (I'd recommend Royal Canin) will provide most of the nutrition, a wet one's just for variety really as there isn't an awful lot to them. Just watch feeding guidelines and do small frequent meals.

Any other hints would be much appreciated... Enjoy them - they grow up and get all serious far too quickly ;-)

[oshuk]

Get a couple of scratching posts. We had those from day 1 and our kits never scratched the furniture. Having said that, when we moved to a house with a pine table, they scratched the legs to bits

[americaninbritain]

Make sure you spend plenty of time with them when they're this little. It helps how attached/social they turn out. Granted, it doesn't guarantee anything e.g. my mom got a kitten that fell in love with my sister instead and is afraid of everything in spite of the other cats in the house being attention seeking little monsters.

Also make sure you don't have any pesticides, medicines or cleaning products around. They lick their feet, so if they've walked through something, they will ingest it.

If you can avoid letting them become outdoor cats, that's best. Cats can be purrrrfectly happy indoors if they have plenty of toys, scratching posts, and things to climb. By keeping them indoors you will protect them from cars, owls, etc., and you protect your local song bird population from decimation.

Make sure you get them a vet check soon just to make sure that they are 100% healthy and figure out when you start needing to get vaccinations, deworming, etc., and to learn about when your neutering/spaying options.

You can see my cats over on my flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenaallen/5450082493/in/set-72157625849528847. Happy, healthy, indoor kitties.

[catquestioner]

Thank you for all your advice. They have settled in a treat and without to much drama.

[americaninbritain]

Great news