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Kitten: what do we need /before arrival.

54 replies

RayneDance · 08/08/2022 08:26

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!

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GonnaGetGoingReturns · 09/08/2022 12:11

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 09/08/2022 10:49

I know , I'm the Devil Incarnate Grin 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 Grin

That's hilarious!

Most of my cats have been mine, e.g. no one else in their lives - but when I lived with a boyfriend years ago I had 2 cats (brother and sister) and I'd be good/bad parent depending on which one of us took them to the vets/fed them!

Gerwurtztraminer · 09/08/2022 14:53

Separate litter tray from food are as much as possible as they don't like these being in close proximity. Put the litter tray somewhere as tucked away as possible as most cats need to feel quiet & safe before they will 'go'. Otherwise expect a present under the bed.

Block off all access under beds and furniture in the room that will be their 'safe space' and anywhere else you don't want them hiding or worse, getting wedged or stuck. There is nothing worse than trying to extricate a new frightened kitten that won't come out from behind the washing machine or in the furtherest dusty depths under a bed. Keep all wardrobe and kitchen cupboard doors shut as they are bound to go exploring and then someone shuts it and they go 'missing' for hours as you frantically call the name they haven't learnt yet.

Instead, give them various safe dark quiet spaces to hide that are easier for you to find them (a big cardboard box with a hole in it or the top flap down works well).

Make sure they have something to climb for a high up vantage point. Many cats feel safer up high and looking down on you (unless they are a dark space floor dweller, as above). A cat tree is best but anything hefty can be bodged to provide climbing options. If you don't it will use the curtains and perch on the rail, guaranteed.

Put away any dangling wires or cords, especially ones that if yanked hard enough could bring something heavy down on them. This includes all plugged in devices, router, TV's etc. Playful kittens will pounce on anything that looks fun!

Buy some cat toys and play with them regularly. Gets some of the manic energy out and helps bond with them. Get a scatching post or mat, cover your rugs or carpets, especially around doorways as they will scratch it to be let in if door shut.

Yes I have owned a fair few of the beasts.

RayneDance · 09/08/2022 16:55

@Gerwurtztraminer some great tips there!
Especially trying to extricate it from somewhere when it doesn't know it's name!

Our curtains won't hold up on their own let alone with kitty going up them 😱. The walls here are very soft.

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/08/2022 09:48

Especially trying to extricate it from somewhere when it doesn't know it's name !

I missed The Kitten Stage as mine were young adults , so I didn't need to look at all the tiny spaces a kitten might get stuck in.
Still had to ban them from the Utility (though of course Female Cat went in for a nose about and jumped on the WM but not behind it ) MaleCat likes to prise the door open and I say "We discussed this when you moved in" he wanders back , all innocent ......

The don't answer to their names unless they sense there's something in it for them. Grin

RayneDance · 12/08/2022 08:55

What sort of treat's do cats like? What will make them come running?

If she has had open litter tray do we have any chance of getting her in a closed one?

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/08/2022 09:25

Ours wander in about 12.30 , waiting for their Dreamies . Even if one of them is off exploring , the shake of the Dreamies tub will bring them running .

Disclaimer : if Female Cat is out till 2am and ignoring us , I can shake that bloody tub till my arm cramps and she'll switch on her Selective Hearing ( ignore me)

Our cat have amassive flat tray and a covered one . He uses the flat one only , she uses both but she does like to scrape the inside walls of the cover for noise effect Grin

RuthBrenner · 12/08/2022 09:45

RayneDance · 12/08/2022 08:55

What sort of treat's do cats like? What will make them come running?

If she has had open litter tray do we have any chance of getting her in a closed one?

We started ours with an open litter tray and then swapped it over to a closed one with no issues. We put in the litter that he'd been using and it was fine.
Do you have a window you can put a cat tree in front of? Sir Sushi loves nothing better than sitting and watching the birds from the top of his tree.
Treat-wise, he loves the Trixie chicken cubes and of course Dreamies.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/08/2022 10:43

Have a look at the litter trays that have the opening in the top. ( I don;t know the exact name but I'm sure Amazon have them)
Probably easier to persuade a kitten to use them , they'll be curious and cats are very intelligent.

RayneDance · 12/08/2022 11:58

I'm very grateful thank you.
She's a kitten but about 12/13 weeks now?

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unvillage · 12/08/2022 19:44

Looks like you've got it covered but do get a hard carrier. I know it's unlikely to happen but in car accidents soft ones are no protection at all. We have our carrier out all the time and my kitten sometimes sleeps inside it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 12/08/2022 20:06

but is there anything we have forgotten

Photo of the kitten Grin
Or at least a description -fur colour , eye colour , short haired or flooffy ?

BoxOfCats · 13/08/2022 00:31

Say goodbye to your curtains Smile

unvillage · 13/08/2022 11:03

Inaba Churu treats go down extremely well in this household - they do purees and soft chewy treats that are made of mostly real meat. I like moist treats for the extra hydration. When she's a bit older, petsathome do freeze dried prawns and cod bites which are super stinky but your cat will go nuts for them.

Have you got a fountain? My boy loves his ceramic one from miaustore, it's an investment but it'll last forever unlike the plastic ones.

RayneDance · 13/08/2022 12:50

More Great tips.@BoxOfCats

Tbh I'm not particularly precious about my curtains, nor furniture but I am concerned about the cat running up them because we have soft walls and incredibly hard problem's re fixings Curtain pole's!

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RayneDance · 13/08/2022 15:03

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

I don't want to out myself at the moment, but she's mixed breed and absolutely beautiful, elegant gorgeous looking cat. Very pale colour's and short hair.

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Takeitonthechin · 13/08/2022 15:16

If you visit pets at home and register for a VIP card, you will get some free kitten food and maybe money off what you buy

RayneDance · 13/08/2022 15:19

@Takeitonthechin will we have to pay for the VIP card or is it like their store card!

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Beamur · 13/08/2022 15:24

If kitten is a mix pedigree you can happily pair it with a moggy kitten.
Play with toys not your hands if you value your skin.
Cats often like water not served alongside their food, but placed in a human cup on a bedside table in my experience...

unvillage · 13/08/2022 17:35

The pets at home VIP membership is free and you get a lot of good vouchers on the app, recommend it

RayneDance · 14/08/2022 20:08

@unvillage
Thanks for rhat

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RayneDance · 14/08/2022 20:09

@Takeitonthechin

Thanks for the pets VIP tip it saved us a little today!

What is the best way to flea the cat?

Injection? Tablets?

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unvillage · 14/08/2022 20:14

RayneDance · 14/08/2022 20:09

@Takeitonthechin

Thanks for the pets VIP tip it saved us a little today!

What is the best way to flea the cat?

Injection? Tablets?

Take it to the vet for its initial health check and they will prescribe flea and worm medication there, don't use the over the counter stuff, it's not as good and can be unsafe. Especially if you're planning on letting her go outside, she'll need the proper stuff.

RayneDance · 14/08/2022 21:25

Thanks unvillage.

😊

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Moonface123 · 14/08/2022 21:39

l have rehomed two young kittens, had them 6 weeks. The main issue is the heat, trying to keep house cool, its been so hot since , they have both now had first and second lot of vaccines and booked them in to get neutered and spayed next week. They are adorable, l didn't force anything let them come to me, spend time with them but also make sure they have quiet time. They play lovely together and they have lots of toys. Just trying to sort out pet insurance now. It does feel like a full time job but very glad l have them, you definately need to keep on top of the litter trays, l got a litter freshner as what with the heat helps keep house smelling fresh.

RayneDance · 14/08/2022 21:48

@Moonface123

Thanks

New things spring up each time someone posts. I've not heard of litter freshener?
I did see you can buy special indoors cats smell free litter?

One DC doesn't have classified asthma but does have an inhaler, so I'm nervous about too many spray's etc?

We got an enclosed litter tray but we can take the lid off it.
She will have to be contained in our living room to begin with,I'm extremely nervous that she won't understand the litter tray.

Hopefully we are getting past the worst of the heat 😭, it's reasonably cool in our house.

I wonder if I should have got two but let's get no 1 in first.
I was reading the thread the thread about flea's tonight and suddenly panicked,what if she has flea's?

And brings them with her?
I've sprayed the carrier and her bed with indorx and will just have to pray she's ok the first few nights 🙏 untill I can get her done.

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