very nervous (& excited) as we are getting new kitten tomorrow

[jeanswithatwist]

that's it really, she is (i think) 4 months old). never had such a young cat before. have a long list of worries which i won't go into although don't be surprised if i come back here tomorrow & the day after & the day after........

Ah. Sounds like you're going to be getting up every half an hour in the night to check that she's still alive! (I take mine to bed which saves that problem.)

What have you got in for her already?

well.......i spent alot of time last week 'fashioning' the front room (we only have a very small victorian type cottage/house) with cardboard...i have tucked away wiring and fashioned a 'cardboard curtain' for night time when i shut her in there (it will stop her, hopefully, going through the ikea side storage shelf thingy that holds the tv etc. i have put a litter tray in there and am using dd's old bed protector sheet!! i was organising and came across it, i thought a great idea (rather than lots of newspaper). food and water bowls and lots of toys although they are not in there, will limit it to a few here and there (read that you should alternate them, keep them more interesting. i have booked a vet mot appt for sat afternoon so she can be double checked over. fwiw i was in selfridges today. if anyone is familiar with the store layout in oxford street, in the basement they have a small 'technology' section. well dd came across this bug toy FOR CATS!!! in the form of a mouse. i will try it out (probably not tomorrow but in the next few weeks) but it may give the flying frenzy a run for its money i feel like i am about to have a baby although a furry one (& without the physical pain)

plus a bed (forgot about that), soft mat and a climbing scratch post tree thing

So jealous!

Your kitty will probably cry and cry and you'll end up taking her upstairs anyway and she will sleep where she feels safe. Years ago I had a little boy kitten that I wore like a scarf. He just loved it, hid under my hair and at night would snuggle right up. As he got bigger that got awkward and I was not impressed with his bum on my face at 5am.

If you have house plants, move them. Right out of reach. Not only is the soil a lovely litter tray but the leaves will be shredded. Make sure litter tray is well away from food and sleeping area. Get a covered tray if possible. Stops smells and litter getting kicked everywhere.

Enjoy and look forward to hearing about her as she settles in.

no, we don't have any house plants (re lillies, don't like lillies anyway, hate the smell). i have even cut off the pull cords from the blinds

Oh - and you have to charge the camera (or whatever) ready for posting a picture of her. Sparkling will need that if she's to maintain her equilibrium.

Cats love blinds :o

Sorry, I'm not being helpful. Just treat cat like a toddler who can scale things and has very sharp claws. I came home from work once and found several people outside my home laughing. My cat was swinging on the curtains in the front room. I went in and he shot onto the curtain pole and started crying like he was stuck. Hmmmm! I did SEE you doing your circus act you know!!

Mine launches himself at the mesh over the window. Then sticks to it, velcro-like. Looks like the weird lovechild of a cat and a monkey from outside.

this has to be the soppiest affectionate cat i have ever come across. she is brilliant. i have even just managed to trim her paws only the rhs though (very long so in need). just have to do the other side somehow. she looks like a mogwai

How did the handover go?

Just wait until she's sleepy before nipping the tips on the other side - and maybe leave it a day or so. You need her to think of it more as an occasional part of the general love-in rather than something stressful and confrontational.

Sounds great. Has she eaten/drunk and used her tray so far?

She's obviously landed on her furry little feet with you.

Lucky you and her.

it went well thanks. straight forward and reasonably quick. i managed to trim the other side when she was asleep! never done it before but learnt on youtube. she hasn't eaten or drunk yet, i keep taking her to the food & loo area but no interest. feel a little concerned but not overly so, i guess if she is hungry etc she will (so similar to being a new mum all over again). so pleased however that i am taking her to the vet tomorrow, just for reassurance if nout' else. she is really funny, likes to sit on your shoulders sticking her head through your hair. hard to get anything done. not looking forward to bed time. apparently she can go up stairs but not down them. not sure if to move her upstairs (bringing her littler/food etc, just for the night). she definately likes to be around people :0) very loving. she is teething so a bit of a dribbler