Getting A Kitten - tell me all I need to know please.

[Alambil]

So, come on - tell me all there is to know about getting a kitten.

I am a total novice so need to know everything!

Do you think this is a good deal/stuff? What else would I need (except food!)?

I would upgrade this as the cat got older, but for starters, it seems quite good - but as I say; total novice alert!

I am looking to get the kitten just after Christmas time. I wish it was sooner but we are staying at my parents over Christmas and they have a dog (not that it would be much of an issue - well trained dog!) so it may be wiser to wait for the kitten.

Thanks for any help.

How old are your DCs? Mine were 2.6 and 6 months when we got ours from the Cats Protection League and they advised us to get an older kitten as it would adapt to living with children better than an older cat or a young kitten. Our Kitten was 6 months when we got her and she loves the children now.

It might be worth getting a covered cat litter box as often the litter is spilt over the side when they dig their hole and sometimes little accidents happen outside the litter tray. Our cat got used to her covered box very quickly - it even has a door with a flap in it - that said our monster prefers to use the bath as a toilet .

Might be worth waiting until your xmas tree is down before bringing a kitten into the house (unless you don't mind your tree being wrecked!).

The Cats protection League were very helpful and it was nice to be able to rehome a cat. It cost us £40 but they give you vouchers for vaccinations and neutering so not bad at all really. Not sure the CPL rehome around xmas time - the RSPCA don't I'm pretty certain.

I would recommend insurance too if you can stretch to it. Usually costs just over £5 a month.

hth

It may be quite difficult to get hold of kittens at that time of year. Kittens are much more likely to be available over spring, summer and early autumn. It would therefore be wise perhaps to start searching now expectant queens to reserve a kitten for later.

They should ideally not leave mum until about 8 weeks old

Vaccines will be needed for cat flu, enteritis and feline leukaemia, usually done at 9 and 12 weeks old (2 doses of each)

Worming - should be done at monthly from 8 weeks old until 6 months old then at least every 3 months. Your vet can supply you with the best wormers. Most of the supermarket type ones are not worth the money. Fleas are best prevented rather than cured so get something like frontline spot on (ok for 8 weeks old) or speak to your vet again for other good products

Insurance - well worth it, but make sure you get a "cover for life" policy that will not put exclusions on conditions after 12 months of claiming for that particular problem. You do pay a bit more for those types of policy but worth it.

Microchip, usually easiest done whilst getting the cat neutered at the vets while they are asleep, but possible to do before that if you are worried about them going missing/theft.

Neutering usually done at about 6 months old - but check what your vets policy is on this too.

Kitten food - soft and biscuits initially then move onto dry food only at 4-6 months old as much better for dental health in the long run.

Hope that helps - you will have a great time with a new kitten

btw they love those little grey furry mice toys you buy in packs of three at pet shops for about 99p (they always end up under our sofa for some reason)

Sometimes I think mine would have been happier if we had got a friend for her at the same time - what do other cat owners think?

Thanks.

Is there anything else? What "stuff" do you have for your kittens/cats? Just how many toys and bits do they need? Do they only need a scratch post and a couple of toys, or the more the better?

my kitten loves screwed up balls of tin foil. They are cheap and can be as big or small as you like!

Mind their claws though.....our kitten is slowly wrecking the leather sofas.....bless her

try one of those fishing rod toys - toy is on the end of a string that you can wiggle and pull along from a distance - hours and hours of fun for all concerned.