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Original poster

Calling all cat owners..

41 replies

chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:00

Am hopefully getting a chicken in about 6 weeks+ (he's currently 2 weeks old)

I've ordered these things for him - those of you with cats can you give input please :D the order hasn't gone through so i can cancel things if they will be useless through experience.

Here

hanging bed

balls

bee

fish

mice

scratch box

kong cat toy

and finally the cat tree. It can be used as 2 seperate cat trees, or one big one

Oh and while I have all you lovely people here, what cat litter would you recommend? I'd like clumping, and as low odour as possible. I have a litter tray like this left over from my old house bunny that I'm hoping to recycle into a cat tray, but I also have one similar to this although it wouldn't fit them for long I don't think?

OP posts:
akhems · 23/05/2009 22:03

why do you need all those things for a chicken ?

EccentricaGallumbits · 23/05/2009 22:05

chicken?
why?

why?

I'm so confused.

I'm sure she'll love them?????

Hassled · 23/05/2009 22:05

I'm assuming by chicken you mean kitten ? You sound more than well-equipped. Mine had food, a litter tray and a basket (which they ignored) and were fine. I did get a scratching post and they ignored that too.

cheesesarnie · 23/05/2009 22:08

youve quite alot of 'stuff' for your chicken!mine love nothing more than an old tiolet roll tube and they use the carpet as a scratch post.

we use a litter called thomas which is best weve found.

feedthegoat · 23/05/2009 22:08

My cat has always studiously avoided anything that has been purchased specifically for him!

Original poster
chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:15

chicken.. oh dear!! That serves me right for talking about my chickens while posting!! I meant kitten LOL

I have heard of thomas litter so I will see about getting a bag of that

While people are here - I have 2 dogs at present, and am umming and ahhing whether to get 2 kittens or just the one. I'm worried one kitten will feel over whelmed and wonder if a second kitten would make them feel happier and safer?

OP posts:
blithedance · 23/05/2009 22:17

Cats Sleep Anywhere

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.
Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.
Open drawer, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.
Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.
Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

Eleanor Farjeon (1881 - 1965)

To be fair we have that hanging bed but it only gets used in winter when the relevant radiator is on - and at night as they spend the days on MY bed.

The cheapest economy litter eg Asda Value is fine - doesn't smell if you clean it. One called Tidicat in an orange bag is good.

Toys - piece of string is best. They will spurn anything you paid money for.
Don't have any scratching things but good luck training your cat to use one.

What IS useful -
eating bowls
Litter tray with lid
collar and ID tag
Stock of anti-flea drops

blithedance · 23/05/2009 22:18

x posted there

Sounds like you are pretty experienced with animals actually! Could not comment on 2 or 1 cats but I guess the dogs will be company.

BananaFruitBat · 23/05/2009 22:20

Don't get the hanging bed. It's not worth it. Honestly. Of our 3 cats who were offered one, the only one who enjoyed sleeping in it turned in to the biggest cat you have ever seen. We had to call a plumber, replace the radiator........

Oh and ping-pong balls are the best sort to get. My cats (now 11yo) still love those little furry mice.

HTH.

Original poster
chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:24

I'm a vet nurse so you'd think I'd know what I'd need but its suddenly very scary when its my kitten lol

The hanging beds I've seen have mixed reviews, but I decided to get one to give the kittens another place to hide away from the dogs - am hoping that'll be a factor for them using the cat tree too. I don't want to force them to use them, but equally I want them to have the option of going up to avoid the dogs.

I'm torn on one kitten or two purely as everyone I've known have one cat with more then one dog had the cat first.

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 23/05/2009 22:25

the wood pellet litter is fab.

i can get a 25l bag for 11.50euros which lasts me with 3 adult cats and 5 kittens for almost 2 weeks.

cats are funny about toys, they'll love the odd one but studiously ignore most (and the ones they love you'll end up wanting to bin... my female has a grey mouse she's obsessed with and miows constantly about... either walks around miowing because she has it or miows looking for it!)

same with beds, some love a basket bought for them, 95% will find some other odd spot and claim it as their own and refuse to be told otherwise... my lot are currently obsesssed with the baby's rocker and carseat!

just buy the bowls and a bed for now, and some kitty litter and leave the rest til you meet your kitten and can judge by it's personality what it needs or wants

good luck btw, cats are ace

BillSilverFoxBuchanan · 23/05/2009 22:25

What type of cat are you getting? I'm only asking as you may find with a larger breed of cat that the cat tree isn't very steady. For a 'normal sized' moggie it'll be fine.

As far as toys go, I'd suggest that you get a cat teaser for playing together.

I'd recommend the cats oko natural clumping litter. You can hook out any clumps and flush them straight down the toilet.

cheesesarnie · 23/05/2009 22:26

if it helps my sister has 2 labs and just one cat-the cats quite happy in her snobby'i'll do what i want' way.

i got 2 kittens together and they play together and fight together.

BananaFruitBat · 23/05/2009 22:28

Oh go on - get 2! You know you want to , you just want someone (anyone!) to tell you to!

Original poster
chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:28

I've got the bowls and two kinds of bed :D and food will come from work when I get them. I can get Vet's Choice cat litter from work, but ime it doesn't clump nor reduce smells - when a tray is used at work it tends to smell out the whole cattery until changed which isn't something I want. Does your wood one prevent smells?

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 23/05/2009 22:29

btw, i've almost always had multiple cats and they do love company.. the only one we had as a single was very clingy with us, more like a child than a cat tbh which was fine as we were a couple with no kids and had plenty of time for him but i'm presuming you have kids so maybe it would be best to get two... more cat to go round and great for each other.

whiskersonkittens · 23/05/2009 22:32

I would always say go for 2 kittens as they are company for each other and play with each other rather than wrecking your house

I am sure they will be fine with the dogs - kittens are small enough to adapt and also to be no 'threat' to your dogs

Have fun - I love cats (had 9 at one point, down to just 3 but also have 2 rabbits now)

We use an eco litter that is paper based - it is fab as it absorbs everything and just goes mushy; we scoop daily and it works fine

DottyDot · 23/05/2009 22:32

We've had our 2 kittens for three weeks now and they're adorable and have had 2 cats from kittens in the past.

They've got one cat bed which they sleep in together, 2 bowls, 1 water bowl and a couple of little balls which they don't really play with. Their favourite toy is any pair of shoes with laces and each other.

I'd always recommend getting kittens in pairs if at all possible - 2 are pretty much as easy to look after as 1 and they keep each other company. Ours play, fight and sleep together and are impossibly gorgeous!

Original poster
chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:33

The kittens are expected to be normal size - mum is bengal x moggie, and dad is unknown but suspected to be moggie :D I would guess they won't fill out any bigger then about 4/4.5kg max so no big bruisers here.

I need to get a cat teaser - we have some at work which I will get :D

I looked at the oko clumping litter, its so hard to know what'll be good from pictures!!

Banana.. shush.. I don't want two kittens.. I haven't picked names out for two kittens at all...

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 23/05/2009 22:33

the poo still smells but as it just turns to sawdust when wet you can pick out the poo with tissue and flush it so very easy to clean, the sawdusty peed on stuff can go on the compost heap which if find fab with as many cats as i have... i'm still trying to get rid of some of the clay stuff we used to use so much of it built up in bin bags outside

PinkTulips · 23/05/2009 22:35

bengals can be mahoosive so if the genes are there......

Original poster
chickchickchickee · 23/05/2009 22:38

The bengal she came from is average cat sized, as is the line behind it so I wouldn't expect ginormous kittens, although not knowing what dad is is a bit of a worry..

OP posts:
Rumpel · 23/05/2009 22:38

I REALLY REALLY REALLY CANNOT RECOMMEND ENOUGH the SUREFLAP catflap - they were fab and have toatlly sorted out my poor old ginger tom's anixety over nasty neighbour bully cat!!!

www.sureflap.co.uk/details.htm

whiskersonkittens · 23/05/2009 22:43

WOW!!! That cat flap looks really COOL

Not sureI can have it in my uPVC doors tho

PinkTulips · 23/05/2009 22:44

rumple.... THANK YOU! i posted on [gasp] another forum asking if anyone had one of those as i wasn't sure about getting one but no one had tried it.

we have foxes, other cats and small dogs lining up outside our door to get in so a normal flap is out of the question but i'm sooo getting one of those now

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