Kitten: what do we need /before arrival.

[RayneDance]

As above! We have done some research but is there anything we have forgotten?

We need to keep it to one room to begin with which will be our living room ,I assume we put the litter tray and food in there as well?

It stays there for a week? Whilst it gets to know us?
Do we let it come to us for a stroke or do we go to it?
If it's already been outside can it become an indoor cat!

www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/bringing-a-new-kitten-home

Hard to say what you've forgotten since you've not provided a list but the above link from Cats Protection goes over pretty much everything. Make sure the kitten has a quiet area away from foot traffic/tv noise etc where it can 'hide' in complete shelter and not be bothered.

Best of luck OP, very exciting.

Wet wipes, flash wipes - the two things we used most when ours first arrived!

@dontgobaconmyheart

That's a great link thank you!

Re cat carriers I wonder if there is any difference between softer canvas types or hard ones?

June...

Accidents?

Ours is a little older, about 12 /13 week's so hopefully trained.

Not really, we went for soft because we don’t have loads of space.

Re cat bed, I've read on here that they don't seem to like any beds people buy?
I was thinking about getting a card board box with fleeces? To start with?

Re carrier I was thinking about accidents,we are about an hour away.

Mine love beds tbh, they have a cat sofa, multiple beds and hammocks! They use them all at different times of the day - if you can get one of the cave style beds that can be great for kittens, they're all cosy and protected in it.

Do you want it to be an indoor only cat? It's hard if the cat is a couple of years old and has always had access, I think different if they've never been out, and probably also breed dependant. I have a breed that wouldn't be an indoor cat at all, he was itching to go outside from a very young age!

Yonce ideally I'd like my garden to be it's outdoor space but I'm not sure how I could do that yet. I'm also considering a catio.
I'm not ruling out letting her out, just not sure.
She's already been out though that's the problem.

Ours don’t roam too far but you should keep her in until she’s been spayed at the very least

If she's already been out and is used to it, it definitely will be harder to get her to be an indoor cat - catio is a idea, you could also get one of this tent runs? It's like a mini kids tent with tunnels out into a mesh area that's enclosed - she'll be able to play and run about but will be more secure?

Another kitten. Honestly it's easier with 2....

Yonce ideally I'd like my garden to be it's outdoor space but I'm not sure how I could do that yet.

Look in to cat proofing your garden. There's some companies that do it but it's not cheap - might be worth having a look and seeing if you can do something similar yourself.

If you do go down the indoor route I really recommend "Flat Cats" window coverings so you can have them open. They're also good as fly screens!

Barrel we really considered two still haven't ruled it out,

Yonce that looks absolutely brilliant!
I can't see whether it can be extended and added to..

@RayneDance they can come in sectional ones, where you unzip a tunnel and take a section away, or add it in! Our neighbour has one and it's quite cool looking - she's always getting new bits for it!

Yonce it looks fabulous! A good halfway house untill we can decide what else do to.

Also how long does it take for kittens to get used to you?
How do I get it to bond with my DC.

We put the litter tray at one end of living room, food at the other. There was an armchair in the way so one couldn't be seen from the other.

We blocked off the living room entrance, so he was confined to the one room. After a couple of days he was sniffing around the entrance so we knew he was ready to explore more. Ours only took a couple of days, but I think some take longer

I also got some of the toys from the breeder that he'd played with previously, the scent helps them settle I think.

When he arrived he explored for a bit and I scratched the litter in the tray to show him where it was (got the same litter as the breeder had used). Then he hid under the sofa so I just left him and watched tv quietly and let him come out in his own time. I think this is key to not force them out or grab them unexpectedly. Let them come to you in their own time, and then give them lots of pets and scratches when they do but don't force cuddles!

I wouldn't let them outside until fully vaccinated, spayed, and flea and worm treated. Some people say get a harness and leash and let them explore with you before letting them out on their own.

Good luck! Kittens are the best

With kittens, cardboard box is great for playtime.

Somewhere nice/soft to sleep, doesn't have to be a cat bed for now.

Scratching post.

Cat treats - like Dreamies.

Kittens love to play but as they're baby animals they also like to sleep and be left alone. Don't let your DC treat them as toys and also tell them to be careful when picking them up/stroking them. E.g. support their legs, rear end. You can go to kittens to stroke them but also let them come to you. Some kittens might hide (one of my old kittens did) - he hid for about 2 weeks under an IKEA church bench seat and wouldn't come out - so I had to tempt him out with cat treats, the Da Bird cat toy and just try to sit in the room where he was quietly - reading a book with tea. The first or second time I did that he came out and tried to jump up and steal my biscuit!

Ensure they have water.

What you should also do with kittens - let them have one room at first which is theirs, then let them explore. They'll probably naturally stay away from places like the kitchen, bathroom but they might be interested in people having baths/showers etc.

Time!
Years ago when my children were young we had two kittens who amused each other.
Twenty years later they have both died and when I retired I decided to get another kitten.
Blimey he was worse than a new born requiring attention and games. Someone said kittens sleep a lot, well he certainly didn’t, he would jump out at my ankles if I didn’t play with him.
I was glad when he had been neutered and had his jabs so he could go out.
He repays me now by bringing back lots if half dead animals for me to play with.

Some great tips.
I am concerned about one but when I was a child I did manage with one kitten myself and I have two DC to play with it and DH work from home!
The cat will probably become bonded to him more than us!!

Why has she already been out at 12’weeks?!

FAAARRR too young- do NOT let her out if she’s not be done- cats can become pregnant from 4 months so you could end up with a whole litter.

I came on to say the same. Having two kittens was brilliant, they were siblings and really looked after each other. They were inseparable for the first year

I use a steamer or Method spray for any clean-ups , if the cats get anything on their paws and lick their paws you want it tobe as safe as possible.

Your kitten might not even use the tray until it feels comfortable .

As for getting them to bond , cats choose
Our very shy male loves my DD , she can cuddle him , stroke his face , tickle his chins .
He loves Dh
Meh with DS
Distrusts me and looks at me with wide eyed horror and scarpers

Female cat rules the house , loves DH , does WFH with DH
Takes over DS room
Sits on DD bed
Ignores me , if I call her name she "tuts" and turns her head.

I have done nothing wrong to these animals (except I take them for the vaccines)
I chose them from the CPL site

Cats are bolshy little Fur Over Lords

Yes, 4-5 months is best time to let them out.

That's where your problem is - you are the evil one as you take them in the dreaded car to the dreaded vets who prods them and sticks needles in them and thermometers up their backsides!

Who feeds them?

Over first lockdown a friend got 2 Tonkinese kittens, the now grown cats ignore their adult owners, adore the youngest child/teenager (she feeds them etc) follow her around etc and like the other 2 DC (males).

I know , I'm the Devil Incarnate They don't mind when I hand over the thick end of £230 for their vaccines/worm treatment/flea treatment !

DH feeds them (or DD if she's up early)
If I do they look at the food - at me -at the food "Have you spat in this?"

I swapped MaleCat bowl when the Whisker/Width Ratio was stopping him getting his face in. Was he grateful ? No .

I'm just lucky to have them stomping round the house and I Know My Place