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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

kittens - what are they like to live with

100 replies

shuan · 05/01/2015 19:14

How hard is it to look after a kitten? If you go out where do you leave a kitten so that it is safe? Do they do a lot of damage to furniture and belongings?

I like the thought of a kitten coming to live with us but need to find out more.

OP posts:

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DontMentionTheWar · 14/01/2015 21:33

Good idea about the kitchen/dining room Toffee at least you can get a break then. What a shame you are allergic to a lot of cats, my friend is the same and he loves them too. I didn't know much about Balinese until you mentioned yours, I actually thought yours looked a lot like a Birman/Ragdoll from your photograph when I first saw it. Have had a good read about them now, what lovely cats - are they as chatty as Siamese?

Badger I take it the kittens come back out eventually? Dreamies are always handy to have about the place for all sorts of bribery.

Girlie I can well imagine that a kitten and a four year old could be a bit stressful. I bet you were worn out!

Shuan how's it going with your lovely new girl, hope she's settling in ok?

ToffeeWhirl · 15/01/2015 00:08

Dont - Balinese are vocal, but not as chatty as Siamese. The handsome chap in my photo is the most vocal and answers us back in a very rude fashion when we tell him not to do something.

Badgerlady · 15/01/2015 06:33

dontmention yes they came back out and we blocked off the hole they'd found. They do still, despite being far too big to fit into it now, still occasionally go to that spot and paw hopefully at it!

Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 10:35

Everything is going well. She definitely is a lap cat who likes to sleep alot.

Do any of you brush your cats teeth or gives them toothpaste? I saw a toothpaste that can be put on the cats paw so the cat licks it off. Would this be a good thing to do?

Is it best to go to the vet for cutting claws? I think they could do with a trim and will be taking her to the vet soon.

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RubbishMantra · 15/01/2015 11:25

How placid is she? If when shes on your lap, she doesn't mind you handling her paws, you can do her nails yourself. Just the very, very ends though.

I don't brush my cats' teeth.

Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 12:24

Hi Rubbish, yes she let's me touch her claws. What do I cut them with? I think I would be too worried about hurting her. My ds hates me cutting his nails. I doubt she would let me brush her teeth but maybe she would lick it from her paw.

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girliefriend · 15/01/2015 14:45

I think you can buy cat biscuits which are meant to be good for their teeth (iams, science diet etc) although tbh its never even occurred to me to brush their teeth

Likewise with their claws, I think my two must keep theirs short by scratching the fence and sofa walking around etc.

If she is still lame on one of her legs I would def discuss with the vet as sometimes excessive sleep can indicate the cat is in pain that was the case with my mums elderly cat, we later discovered he had a tumor in his mouth but the only symptom was that he was sleeping virtually all the time. Like I said before though, cats are also very lazy so it may just be that she likes her kip!!

chockbic · 15/01/2015 15:17

Bengals enjoy giving their opinion on most things. Ours will run around chattering and purring, often for no reason, other than he is happy. Plus likes the sound of his own voice, I suspect.

He loves water and will often jump in the shower, whirling around. The kitchen tap is another favourite, either to put paws under, or to drink from.

A new trick is getting inside a pillowcase, just leaving the tail exposed. I'm sure he thinks we can't see him. Where's Jack? Oh...

RubbishMantra · 15/01/2015 15:19

shuan, I use normal human nail clippers, but I only remove about 1mm of claw. That way, you're nowhere near the quick, so no fear of hurting her.

Good point about the vet Girliefriend, even if it's just a precaution.

catsrus · 15/01/2015 15:35

In almost 30 yrs of being owned by cats I have never cut a claw, nor had a vet do it - never needed to though mine have always had access to outdoors so wear them down naturally.

I think the personality thing really is about individual personality combined with breed. Mine have all been moggies, (10 so far) and 6 of them sibling pairs and the other 4 unrelated pairs but got at the same time. I've got 4 ATM, never had less than 4 but never more than six, I'm not mad you know and their personalities were always very clear and different. My older two are siblings who are very unalike. One is glued to my side, sleeps with me, ventures out only rarely, is very friendly to the other 2 cats and the dogs and is very smart. Her sister, OTOH, is constantly out, hates the other cats and dogs (I mean loathes with a passion and swipes them when she can) hunts and is a bit dim.

PasstheDaimbars · 15/01/2015 15:41

She's very pretty, and great that she's affectionate.

My 2 are 14 and still have mad half hours, though they have started to slow down a bit in the last 6 months. They do love their sleep at this time of year. Boy Cat in particular as they tends not to be any other cats out for him to terrorise play with.

Girl Cat refuses to leave the house between October and about March depending on weather, she doesn't do cold or wet or wind. She's a bit of a Diva.

Hope all goes well in the vets

ToffeeWhirl · 15/01/2015 16:27

I ask the veterinary nurse to clip my cats' claws when I take them for their monthly dose of Advocate. Am too nervous to do it myself.

Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 17:31

girliefriend I am a bit worried something is wrong so will definitely ask the vet. She only came here on Friday evening so it could be she is still feeling a bit stressed about the move. My mums puppy was really stressed by the wind so I suppose the sound of the wind could be affecting her too. She sat on my lap from 9.30am until 12.30pm then went to the bedroom and is still there. She will probably come out about 6pm for food then go back to the bedroom. She does come out the bedroom again about 8pm for a little while.

chockbic your Bengals sound like lots of fun. I thought cats didn't like water, not sure why I thought that. It's funny they like jumping in the shower. Do you dry them with a towel after?

Thanks rubbish I will maybe try cutting them with nail clippers when I am feeling brave. I think my mum is going cut her puppy's claws soon so I will watch her to see how she does it.

catsrus do any of your cats sleep a lot? I would love to have four cats .

Thank you PasstheDiambars maybe my cat is a diva too. She seems to love being very comfy and cosy and it could be because it is winter.

toffee I will ask the vet to do it this time and maybe try it myself in the future if I am brave enough.

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catsrus · 15/01/2015 17:41

oh yes - some of mine have done nothing but sleep! smartie pants cat, the one glued to my side, slept in a chair in my study all day yesterday, on my lap all evening, in my bed all night, and back in my study today . I know she's eaten a few times as she does appear in the kitchen with the others when young greedy guts cat comes claiming he's never been fed

I have another cat that we never see, especially in summer - she pops in to visit but spends her entire life out exploring. They really do have their own personalities.

girliefriend · 15/01/2015 17:48

My girl cat loves water, have never known a cat like it before

She sleeps in the sink stares at you until you turn the taps on and is very put out if you dare to shut the door to go to the loo

chockbic · 15/01/2015 18:22

shuan, just the one Bengal lol. Don't think my nerves could stand two

He isn't a full one either he's a cross although the vet says he's more wild beast than moggy.

Water is one of his fave things. He just flicked some on me from his wet paw. After being in the sink.

Having a cry now though as his Dadda has gone out and left him

Fluffycloudland77 · 15/01/2015 18:26

Choc, me too. I went to a show where a man had 9.

He seemed normal too.

chockbic · 15/01/2015 18:29

He was laughing at the moon when he left.

ToffeeWhirl · 15/01/2015 18:58

shuan - most cats do hate water. My cats won't go anywhere near it.

Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 19:06

thank you catsrus good to know other cats are sleeping most of the day too.

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Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 19:08

sorry chock I knew you had one but seemed to have got confused when typing my reply. He sounds like lots of fun .

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Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 19:08

though not good he is crying .

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Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 19:17

girliefriend I wouldn't have thought the sink would be a comfy place to sleep!

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Original poster

shuan · 15/01/2015 19:20

toffee that explains why my cat just ran very fast out of the bathroom when he saw ds getting out of the bath dripping everywhere

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chockbic · 15/01/2015 19:21

Ahh shuan he is OK. Have distracted him with a ping pong ball and some meat.

Think he will be a daddy's boy though

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