Getting two kittens tomorrow and feeling nervous. Need some advice

[jokerismyfave]

I'm getting two little boy kittens from same litter tomorrow, they are 8 weeks old. I'm nervous but very excited.

I have a few questions though, at night time I am going to bring them up to my room to sleep in their bed on the floor, so do I leave my bedroom door open and let them roam about upstairs? I'm worried about the stairs. If I should close my bedroom door and keep them in bedroom then should I bring their litter trays into the bedroom and their water?

Also is it okay to feed them on a schedule of 8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm and 9 pm?

Thanks in advance

[Beamur]

How exciting.
Personally I wouldn't have them in my bedroom just yet, but they will need their litter tray if you do.
I kept mine in a safe room overnight when small. They are nearly a year old now and have the run of the house.
Keep the same feeding schedule and food as they're on for now.

[OohKittens]

Mine sleeps with me at night (he is 14 wks been home just over a week). Hopefully in a week or so once the raggies have got used to him I will just let him roam at night. I'm lucky that he's not a biter he is very loving and sweet but that's the breed (nfc). Some kittens will pounce on your legs at night. With food I just free feed, so their bowls never run out of biscuits. But I do this because mine are grazers.

[OohKittens]

Also very excited for you, please post photos

[jokerismyfave]

@Beamur thank you! I do have a safe room I could put them in overnight, my house is pretty open plan so couldn't leave them downstairs but could put in my dressing room. This is a silly question - should I put a lamp on for them or fine to just shut them in dark?

[jokerismyfave]

@OohKittens thank you! Does your kitten sleep in his bed on the floor or in bed with you? He sounds lovely would love to see a pic! And of course I will post plenty tomorrow

[OohKittens]

None of mine have ever slept in a cat bed, they would much prefer a cardboard box, any item of clothing on the floor or one of the kids beds. The ragdolls sleep on one of the kids beds every night. Kitten sleeps next to my face, here he is Falkor

[Elpheba]

We were in the same boat in Feb and I remember feeling so nervous! I'd read to just keep them in one room. Unfortunately the only room we had that was suitable was a really big kitchen but that is "their" room and so we stuck with it. We figured they had each other for company and so we did and still do leave them downstairs in said kitchen during the night.
We free feed too, just keep the bowl topped up. They don't seem to over eat. Good luck and enjoy tiny cuddles- they grow so fast!

[jokerismyfave]

Aww he is adorable @OohKittens 😍 what a beautiful boy! See I've heard that, spend loads on toys and bed and they prefer a cardboard box 😂

@Elpheba thank you! See that's my problem, because during the day their litter box etc going to be in the kitchen but I can't leave them in the kitchen overnight as kitchen and living room is open plan. When you say you free feed, is it just dry food you use?

[Beamur]

My other cat had run of the house which is why I kept my kittens shut in. Now they're out they sleep on my bed
They were skinny little things when they arrived and I didn't want to squash them. My previous cat used to wake me up a lot too and I was enjoying the extra sleep! But the kittens are much quieter and I often just wake up in the morning to find them snuggling into my neck.
My older cat sleeps in a cardboard box.

[CodenameVillanelle]

Is there a reason they can't stay in the open plan living room and kitchen?
You will not get a bit of sleep if you try to keep two kittens in your bedroom overnight.
It's probably best to get them used to sleeping elsewhere unless you genuinely want them to sleep in your room forevermore. My cat knows he can't come into my bedroom when the door is closed and doesn't scratch or meow. Yours might though! So shutting them in a room might be necessary. Although they usually get used to their litter box being in one place and might get confused if you keep moving it.

[GuppytheCat]

If they share your bedroom, they will hurtle over your face in a game of chase at 3 a.m., so it depends on whether you’re ok with that.

One of mine liked to climb in bed with me and hunt my feet. Another bit stuck between the bed head and the wall:
‘Can you see her?’
‘Yes, but don’t move at all or you might squash her...’

[GuppytheCat]

‘Bit’ = got

[jokerismyfave]

@CodenameVillanelle no I suppose they could have the kitchen and living room during the night, my only concern is that my stairs are in the living room so I'm worried they climb up them and fall. Also should I leave a light on for them?

@GuppytheCat hahaha yeah that doesn't sound ideal actually, I quite like my sleep 😂

Okay, I'm thinking I may just leave them in kitchen/living room overnight so as not to confuse them, moving their litter tray etc.

[jokerismyfave]

This is the stairs in my living room. As you can see they have gaps between each step so worried they attempt to climb it and fall.

[jokerismyfave]

Excuse the mess, just finished kitchen renovation 😅 I may be mad

[jokerismyfave]

Excuse the mess, just finished kitchen renovation 😅 I may be mad

[Beamur]

They will have so much fun on those stairs.
Tbh, I would keep them and their litter tray in the kitchen and not have a smelly litter tray in your bedroom.
Cats have excellent night vision and won't need a lamp on.

[jokerismyfave]

@Beamur okay kitchen/living room it is!

[jokerismyfave]

@Beamur okay kitchen/living room it is!

[twittawoo3]

My sil lived in a home which actually looks identical to yours and her cat loved the stairs like that!
We let our kittens sleep in our room and they would sleep on our faces, put their paws in our mouths, drink our water from cups next to our bed and run all over us..not the most fun 😂

[Shmithecat2]

They'll be fine with those stairs. Definitely make sure they have access to a litter tray overnight! Make sure you use the same litter that they're currently using (to avoid tray refusal), and feed them the same food (to avoid bad tummies). Get a nice big scratching tree, and enjoy!!!!! I've got 6 cats and would have more if DH would let me. I managed to wangle a 6th ('but we don't have a black and white one'. Pretty surprised that worked tbh 😂), and I get so much joy from them. I love them all, they're all such funny characters, but I'm pretty sad that we probably won't ever have a kitten again.

[Shmithecat2]

Oh, and feeding wise, I would leave biscuits down all day, and a bit of wet food at intervals.

Ps - pics or it didn't happen 😁

[islandislandisland]

Have to say I did have a bit of a chuckle at feeding schedule having been summoned to the kitchen to replace unacceptable flavours of wet food multiple times today by my two little princesses..they'll let you know what they want and when soon enough! Enjoy

[jokerismyfave]

@Shmithecat2 wow 6 cats you'll be kept busy! Never say never, you don't know what's round the corner, another kitten perhaps?

[jokerismyfave]

The kitten at the very back is Milo and the kitten second from the front is Barnaby 😀 will post more tomorrow when they are home