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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Our kittens are arriving today!

56 replies

ToffeeWhirl · 16/08/2014 10:38

We have waited over a year since we lost our beautiful Balinese kitten. He died of FIP and the vet told us to wait at least six months before getting a new cat because the virus can linger in the house.

DS1 is very excited about having not one, but two kittens this time (brothers from the same litter - both Balinese again), and DS2 is apprehensive because he thinks they will scratch him. He has put up a 'Beware of the kitten' sign and added an extra 's', which sums up his attitude, I think. However, he has chosen one of those toys on sticks from the pet shop, so at least he can play with the kittens from a safe distance.

Am feeling curiously apprehensive. What if I don't love these kittens as much as I loved ToffeeKitten? They will be very different from him, I'm sure, but that is probably a good thing. Part of the reason he was so closely bonded to me and wanted to be cuddled all the time was because he was ill, after all.

Anyway, I will be posting photos of our new kittens later, for all those who love kitten pics.

OP posts:

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cozietoesie · 16/08/2014 11:30

Oh Yay! When will they be with you?

(And remind DS2 that the kittens will be much more apprehensive than he is - not only will they have had a long journey but this is the biggest change in their entire lives! He has to be kind to them rather than the other way round.)

Scunthyplombin · 16/08/2014 11:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 16/08/2014 14:53

Thanks for the congrats, Scunthy!

Hi, cozie! They are meant to arrive at around 3pm. I'm counting the minutes. Have spent the morning madly dashing around tidying up (more for the cat owner than the kittens, obv) and getting stuff ready. I haven't opened TK's cupboard of things since he died and I know there are things in there, but can't quite bring myself. We have lots of new toys. Have put out two little bowls of water and a packet of Dreamies on the table, alongside food for the cat owner.

I've had a word with DS2 about how scared the kittens will be and that it's the first time they've been away from their mum. He had been playing with their fishing toy all morning and keeps asking if it's nearly time, so he seems to be more excited than he first let on.

Am actually quite nervous. It's ridiculous! I think it's because I'm having two this time and I don't quite know what I've let us in for.

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wantacatplease · 16/08/2014 17:30

Are they there now Toffee? How's it going? We need photos!

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 16/08/2014 22:50

Sorry for late pics! The owner was delayed in getting here and this is my first chance to get online.

We have two very different characters: one, the white one, is very bold and frisky, playing with us, yowling, exploring everywhere, nibbling on our toes; the other, a tabby, is very shy and fearful and has spent the entire evening tucked inside the shoe rack. He did creep out and sit with his brother for a little when we left the room, however.

They are both very pretty. Both my boys are enchanted by them and even DS2, who was apprehensive (he's particularly scared of being scratched) has shown a real interest and even chose a guide to kittens for his bedtime reading. He has also made a home for them out of a cardboard box.

The white one looks very like our previous kitten, but is completely different in character.

It's impossible to get a photo of the tabby one because he's hiding and it's difficult to get a photo of the white one because he won't stop moving! However, I did get one pic of the white one, which I'm downloading now.

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wantacatplease · 16/08/2014 23:03

Beautiful!

RubbishMantra · 17/08/2014 06:43

Oh, he's lovely! Look at that inquisitive little face!

I remember reading your thread about TK. So very sad.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 17/08/2014 08:30

Thanks, Rubbish.

Woken up at 5am by the sound of smashing china: one of the kittens had climbed up onto a high-up shelf! Have removed all the breakables and put them in a safe place. The kittens spent over an hour yowling at me, but have finally settled down in their bed together.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2014 08:44

I'm glad you got more kittens. He looks adorable.

cozietoesie · 17/08/2014 10:21

Goodness, Toffee - you should have known to remove all breakables! (Or at least any that you didn't secretly want broken.)

Has Shy One started mouthing off at you talking as well?

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 17/08/2014 12:51

I had been told and chose not to take enough notice - all my fault, cozie. Am not bothered about the breakage.

They are very funny. They tried to launch an escape attempt from the dining room - there is a gap under the door, so they were trying to squeeze through it. Eventually, they gave up and went to sleep again.

They love DS2's box. Very tactful pussies.

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cozietoesie · 17/08/2014 12:57

They'll want to come and sleep in bed with someone. (The escape attempt.) You have been warned.

PS - have you had the heating checked yet? You're likely going to need it to keep them happy in a few weeks.

DontCallMeBaby · 17/08/2014 13:51

What a sweet little face! DD was younger than your DS2 when we got our kittens, also very scared of getting scratched - and she did get scratched, kittens just can't help it. We had a couple of iffy incidents, notably when she ran away from one of them and slammed the door on his paw, but she learned to love them pretty quickly. In fact the one who really scratched her badly (fell off the bathroom unit and tried to save himself on her naked back as she sat on the loo) is HER cat and they absolutely adore each other.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 17/08/2014 15:58

Not had heating checked yet, cozie. How did you know that? . Will do it before it gets chilly, don't worry.

Don't - good to hear that your DD bonded with the kitten in spite of that incident.

After our eventful morning, we have had a very quiet day. Both kittens have gone inside their bed (like a cave) and stayed there all day. When I look inside, they are tucked right at the back, wide awake. They just stare at me. I think they must be exhausted and confused. They haven't eaten much, but they have food on bowls right in front of them, so can help themselves.

No chance for more photos yet, sadly. I don't want to startle them with the flash, so I'm waiting until they come out and I can catch them in daylight.

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Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 17/08/2014 16:50

Finally managed to get a shot of them both: switched the camera onto 'suppressed flash' so I didn't blind them. As a result, the photo is quite dim. You can just see the tabby stripes on the timid one's face.

The more outgoing one is nearer the front, keeping guard over his brother.

DS2 tried to tempt them out with a toy on a stick earlier, but they didn't budge. When we peeped in at them again, it sounded as if one of them (probably the dominant one) hissed at us, so we have done as we were told and backed off.

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cozietoesie · 17/08/2014 17:38

I'd actually lay a modest wager that the tabby is really the dominant one. Have they used their tray yet?

(Firstcat stayed begind the piano for over two days when he first arrived those many moons ago. Best just to get on with life - if you can restrain DS2. )

Fluffycloudland77 · 17/08/2014 17:52

So the tabby is using the white one as a feline shield?.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 17/08/2014 18:07

Yes, Fluffy, I hadn't thought of it like that. Maybe cozie is right. Actually, now I think of it, it was the tabby who climbed up the shelves and knocked an ornamental plate onto the floor...

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cozietoesie · 17/08/2014 18:17

Ach I'm just going by Siamese behaviour - and how dangerous is that? (It's just that the tabby looks bright - and a really bright cat would stay careful until he knew what was going on. And watch what was happening to the troop(s) out in the trenches.)

Did the breeder give you any thoughts about their characters when in her house?

sashh · 17/08/2014 21:13

Don't worry about not loving them enough, you will love them differently.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 18/08/2014 00:31

sashh - thanks for the reassurance.

cozie - yes, the breeder did give me an idea of what they were like, which matches what they are doing: she said the lilac one was very energetic and full of beans (jumped into the bubble bath with her twice ), whereas the tabby is quiet and a bit shy. She thought they made good playmates because they were never too rough with each other.

I haven't had a chance to post again because all hell broke loose: they woke up and started to explore. Suddenly, they were crazy cats. We have taken down a shelf to stop them climbing up to the ceiling and I've removed all the ornaments even from the higher shelves, just in case. They have been charging round the room, on the table, on the shelves, the piano - everywhere. Halfway through a phone call with my MIL the phone went dead - one of them had nibbled on the phone wire and cut the phone off. We are now using an old phone instead and have had to cover any wires with cloth and tape. I'm switching off the plugs in there so they don't chew anything electrical during the night. DH has ordered a spray called PetProtect which is meant to put them off anything it's sprayed on.

The white one is very frisky and sometimes bites or scratches when he gets overexcited. What do we do about that? Just say no? He also scared me a bit earlier when he hissed at me before retreating back to his bed. Was he just being defensive?

The tabby is no trouble at all. He is very playful, but much calmer and tends to sit and watch.

DH is grumbling about me deciding to have two kittens instead of one this time. I reassured him that they won't be this crazy forever and we should enjoy it whilst it lasts. They are very funny, but a bit alarming.

Managed to get another picture whilst they were still. Any I took of them moving were blurry.

They are very much a close-knit team at the moment, sticking together and regarding us with suspicion. Hopefully, this will change as we all get to know each other.

Both DSs are being brilliant with them. DS2 is really enthusiastic about caring for them and is very encouraged that they love the box play house he made for them. DS1 just loves cats anyway.

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cozietoesie · 18/08/2014 01:53

Oh My. I found this a while back which may be an interesting read. (It's American so ignore the shapes of the plugs etc - cats is cats.)

Have to go now (Seniorboy wants his bed) but I'll look forward to tomorrow morning's news. Good about the DSs.

Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 18/08/2014 10:01

That's a brilliant read, cozie, thanks.

We had a quiet night. The kittens are back in their bed, looking as if butter wouldn't melt.

How long till they start to get used to us? They are still very wary of us and sticking close together.

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Original poster

ToffeeWhirl · 18/08/2014 10:09

PS: DH thinks it's a good idea to spray them with a water pistol if they do something they shouldn't. DS2 doesn't like this idea - and neither do I, if I'm honest. It seems mean. Any thoughts?

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wantacatplease · 18/08/2014 10:27

I'm surprised they are hissing. Did the breeder say this was happening at hers? Were they handled/socialised a lot? I have only had two kittens in the past but never had hissing. Others here are far more experienced than me, however!

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