Advice about my new kittens please.

[chaostrulyreigns]

Thinking of having 2 female kittens from a friend.

How old do they have to be? I think they will be 8 weeks on monday.

I already have a 2 year old cat, but am wondering how people cope with a free-range cat and kittens that need to be kept in untill they've had jabs (what age is that?) and are acclimatised.

Also I've forgotten what age they need to be
neutered.

Please can I have some success stories about a blended cat family.

They have their first jab at 12 weeks and then another I think at 15. The vet will tell you to keep them in, but we've never done that. TBH they have to learn to use the cat flap and that takes them a while!

Neutering at 6m.

We keep getting new cats, as old cats die. The established cat(s) sometimes feel a bit put out, may have a hissy fit or two, may have a bit of a fight, but generally they've got used to the new kitten within a week or so.

Our two old female cats had to deal with a new male kitten when they were 14 and 17. He went down beautifully with them. They loved him within a week, and he was delightful with the older one who was senile and got lost. She'd mew piteously and he'd rush to her side, bring her into the sitting room and settle her down on her favourite spot. It would bring tears to my eyes.

Both those old cats have died. We have since got a female kitten who had kittens herself. She was killed by a car when she was 18m, so we kept one of her female kittens. Our male cat again was delightful with both of them in turn, showing them the way round from the front of the house to the back (over various walls and round the side of next door's house); taught them to fight, climb trees etc. Just like a doting big bro!

I think you have to remember that females with accept males more easily than males will accept males. The hierarchy is dominant male with balls, neutered male, female. If you have an older male cat, then a new male kitten will be a challenge to him, particularly if he has been neutered.

8 weeks is fine for them to leave their mother.

You can have them spayed as early as 4 months as thats how early they can get pregnant. It is advisable to keep them indoors until they have been spayed.

what colours are they? new kittens are always exciting :D