Taking on an abandoned kitten - first time cat owner.

[ChristmasPuddingsAndMincePies]

I've been asked by a friend of a friend if we can home a kitten which she found abandoned on her doorstep. I haven't seen the kitten yet, have no idea how old it is, what sex, etc., only that it is ginger!

We've wanted a cat for a while, but expected that we'd probably adopt an older cat from a home. I've never owned a cat before (DP has), & know virtually nothing about kittens.

What do we need to buy? I've read about needing a room to keep the cat in, away from the bustle of the rest of the house - we have a utility room which should be good for that. We don't have a cat flap, but I think you're supposed to keep cats inside for a while when they move in anyway?

How do you choose a vet? & when should I take the kitten for vaccinations?

Argh! I'm panicking, but so excited. I mostly wanted to ask questions, but partly wanted to be openly excited about the new addition to the family

Oh, a thought on litter tray placement. You'll have the best success with getting your cat to use it if it feels safe while in it. And this is somewhere cats differ enormously from humans, we often get this wrong!

Cats can instinctively feel vulnerable when they're using the toilet. (From other cats / bigger creatures sneaking up on them). For this reason, they like their litter tray to be somewhere they have a good view of what's going in / who's sneaking up on them.

We often get this wrong as people mistakenly think cats might like privacy, as we do, when using the toilet. They don't give a stuff about privacy! Private could even mean danger to them.

Not all cats are not bothered by this (possibly as they feel so safe in your home anyway) but worth a thought.

No - I don't think OP was planning to leave him there. Just to have a retreating place for him to go. That's a good idea and it would be left entirely up to him of course.

Scratching is a good thing to think about - and you're quite right, they do need to have somewhere. I've luckily got an old armchair at the moment which has just the right taut surface to give maximum scratchability. In the past, though, I've used carpet samples (the sort that you can get free from carpet shops) lightly fixed to the floor, or pinned under a piece of furniture so that they don't slither. Those seem to prove very acceptable, particularly if the carpet is a nice expensive Wilton or something.

I have never had any luck with scratching posts, I'm afraid.

Oh no, we won't shut him in the utility room! That's basically just his 'bedroom', like we have our own private spaces to retreat to, especially when he's brand new & getting used to us. I'll be disappointed if he doesn't want to sit with us, to be honest

Thank you for the tips on carriers. I think we will buy one, as I imagine it'll get used with trips to the vet, etc., so might as well invest now. Can't wait for DS to go to nursery so we can go shopping. I think we will hold off on telling DS about the new addition until the morning, because we can't pick it up until after his bedtime anyway, & he'll end up insisting on staying awake & being overtired & overexcited at the poor thing tonight.

Phew! Just checking!

A carpet sample sounds like a great idea.

I am very jealous of your new addition btw!

When the rabbit goes, I really want to get a cat (or two). DP's not keen at all, but I have while work on him!

A proper home needs a cat I reckon :)

Ooh, good thinking with the carpet sample! & interesting about the litter tray not being private. Must be careful not to apply crazy human logic to cats!

Will we need to flea / worm him straight away?

Your biggest issue, ChristmasPuddings is that you don't know anything about him because the poor little thing is a 'dumpee'. He could, for example, be the offspring of a feral Mum who has abandoned them or isn't very competent - or of a (probably unloved) domestic cat whose owners didn't want the 'hassle'.

So - physically, he'll likely have worms, fleas, may have eye issues such as conjunctivitis (many kittens do) could be undernourished ....I could go on. The vet will be best placed to advise you on any physical problems which is why I think it was a good idea of yours to get him up there ASAP.

Psychologically, he'll likely be unsocialized. When, as many of us have, you get kittens that have been reared in a domestic setting and are probably older you know that they're used to noise, hubbub, people, playing, doing their tray duty, eating and drinking etc etc.

He likely won't be - and if he comes from a feral Mum and has been living under an old shed somewhere he could be completely terrified by everything. (If he's old enough to know what's what.) You have no option but to have him checked physically but after that, take it real slow, quiet and gentle. Assume he's frightened of his own shadow at first and let him make all the running.

He could surprise you.

Just noticed I keep saying 'he'. (If he's ginger, he probably is.)

Mine refuses to be trained not to go on the worktops, I use ecloths to clean them as it works out cheaper than spraying multisurface cleaner on them every 5 minutes. He used to be really good at not getting up if I said no but now he just thinks "fuck it I'm getting up there".

Onions, chives and garlic are also toxic to them as is antifreeze. They will eat onion or chive dishes if you let them so you have to be careful they dont get to scraps.

The ultra clumping litters are a finer grit than the normal litters are which is softer on tiny paws and easier to clean. Mine will use the litter tray while I am cleaning it, he has no shame. Smartprice nappie bags are good for putting soiled litter into as you cant flush it down the loo.

If he has an accident clean it with hot water and biological washing powder (not on wool or silk though) and sprinkle bicarb of soda liberally on the area, dont bother with any rubbing their noses in it nonsense, it wont teach them anything. I spray any area he sprays on with feliway spray on fluid, it seems to stop him.

With vets try and go on recomendations, you need an initial kitten check up and vaccinating (I get all the vaccines done as mine gets into fights) then they can book him in for neutering and microchipping. Most vets do chipping while they are under general anaesthetic.

Remember to take lots of photos of them while he is little, we have loads of our cat, first time in the snow, first collar etc.

Thank you - that's a lot of useful information. We have the very basic things like a litter tray & a few blankets. We can buy more tomorrow, & work out exactly what he needs as & when. I also anticipate some last minute Christmas shopping from our families

We're picking him up about 8. Time is moving so slowly!

Ohhhh, little baby kitty!

We adopted a two weeker back in August. She is nearly five months now. Still teeny tiny for her age, but an absolute tornado.

When can we see pics?

I was wondering how your girl was doing Suocera! Any recent pics?

A two weeker?! Wow! I will try to get at least one picture up tonight. As it's turned out, DS really needed a nap after nursery today, & only has 2 hours there tomorrow, so he might be able to come with us tonight with his extra energy. We haven't told him yet, but have talked generally about pets & being gentle / not scary. He humoured us at first, but then said he was too busy to talk about it any more 'because we don't have one, so it doesn't matter'! He seems to understand fairly well in theory, at least.

You need to keep the kitten in until he's had his jabs and been neutered, they are more likely to be taken by foxes when they are small too.

I'd keep a close eye on your ds, kids dont know when they are being rough. I got told off a lot for being rough with our first cats when I was 8yo!.

When you buy a bed get one that has a roof on it, cats do love somewhere covered to snuggle up in, mine came in bed with me twice last night and snuggled up in the curve of my body. I dont know how he managed to breathe under there. Nothing like a cold paw prodding you awake at 2am.

Cozie! Thank you again for all your help. Lilly is most grateful. Especially everytime she goes to the loo.

this is how teeny she was when she arrived at two weeks

Here she is with her beloved "no I will stick to you feeding me every three hours night and day thanks, not interested in weaning" baby bottle when she was a bout six weeks old

And here she is now

And he she is next to Whiskers, my small male . Next to Sooty the big male she looks like a total pipsqueak. But she is actually as tough as old boots.

Ohh Christmas! This must be so exciting, can't wait for pics! Any ideas for a name yet ?

Quite the young madam, Suocera!

Bet she rules the roost.

But nothing, Fluffy, like waking up in the middle of the night in winter and feeling a warm furry body lying long against you!

Bet she rules the roost.

She is still finding her feet downstairs, the other cats have only just stopped growling at her. Cleo The Daft ended up being the brave one who gave her a quick as and broke the ice. Snowball is still being a git and throwing his wieght around when he sees her, so we have to watch her like a hawk cos she really doesn't seem to know she is still top small to risk a thumping.

But upstairs, oh yes, she is the boss of everybody and washes us madly, which is either affection, being dominant, or a comment on our hygene.

I luff her so much she makes my heart pop.

a quick WASH!

Blimming keyboard

Might be a bit late if you've already bought it but I found an enclosed, hooded litter tray to be a lifesaver. Had a normal one to start and the kittens sent litter flying over the entire house. At least with a roof it stayed in one place!

Nobody has mentioned feeding. Kittens need 4 or 5 small meals daily. Don't give him milk.

Your having fun playing with the new kitten, arent you? [smle]

I think there should be a photo up? I'm on my phone, so it's tricky!

She(?) is not quite what we were expecting - I wouldn't actually describe her as a 'kitten' although she is young. I have no idea how young, but she is litter trained, quite big & really friendly. DS was overexcited, but she handled it well, without any hissing or anything. She is so beautiful. I'm in love!

She escaped the cardboard box on the way home, & was siting on DP's shoulders, round the back of his neck like a scarf. She has a personality

It says the photos have not been made public.

She is a scarf kitty !

What colour?

Name?

Nothing is appearing yet, ChristmasPuddings. It could just be lag on the site but check that you've made your photos 'public'.

Great news that she's not a wee timorous morsel!