Kittens for Dummies

[ChildOfGallifrey]

NDN's cat has had a litter and I have fallen in love!

Having never owned a cat before can someone treat me like an absolute idiot and talk me through picking up the cat (we will have moved house by the time they are ready) to vaccinations needed to food.

Also how do you just let it out and trust that it will come back?

I want as much info as possible so I can make an informed decision rather than just falling for a little ball of fluff. I am a SAHM so I'm home a lot. I have a 9 year old and 3 year old. DH has had cats before but not from a kitten.

TIA

We feed ours Wainwright's chicken or tuna pouches and Applaws dry biscuits. Bear in mind, some kitten food has as little as 4% meat content.

Vaccinations are two courses, first one given about 8 weeks, then another about a month later. Plus your regular annual booster. Your vet will advise further.

Letting them out is worrying, but they usually make it home. Might go off on a jaunt, once or twice, to check out the neighbourhood. Some people use cat locators on the collar, to keep track. Neutering can be done at 4 months old, dependent on weight. You can let the kitten out after it's been done and has recovered from the op.

When I let my kitten out for the first time, I put butter on his paws. The idea is that they leave a butter trail and it's easier for them to find their way back.

Most vets do packages, but expect to spend about £100 on the initial vaccinations, microchipping, neutering, fleas and worming.

When picking up your kitten, just go and sit in where they all are. The one that comes to you, that's the one you should take. Let the kitten pick you, not the other way around.

If they scratch at all, put double sided sticky tape on the door/ sofa/ whatever they scratch. They don't like it, and will soon stop.

I really wouldn't advise the butter on the paws. It's a bit of an old wive's tale really. Will just result in kitty skidding about. Cats are also lactose intolerant. So likely to result in a dose of the squits.

By the time you've had your kitten neutered, they'll have had a few months to survey their territory out the windows. They spend that time working out their route home.

First time you let them out, do it before a meal, so they're hungry. Accompany them into the garden. Get some cat crack Dreamies. They very quickly begin to appear at the shaking of the packet. (Think Pavlov's Dogs?) Useful indeed, when you want them to come in. Cats are clever creatures - if they're getting food, shelter and love, it's unlikely they'll stray. As long as they're neutered. If not, they'll wander off for miles. So neutering essential.

Oh, and a book on kitten and cat care if you've not lived with a cat before. One suitable for DC's to read as well.

And lastly, you won't regret adopting a furry, purry pal. Most rewarding pets ever.

I always thought the butter was so they'd lick it off and then think 'this is the place where I find delicious butter, so I shall stay'

Thanks for the replies.

We have until the end of May to read up a bit more and make sure we can do this. We don't want to be re homing after a few months, we want it for life. Sounds silly but it's a big decision and a big commitment!

I would only add, keep in until at least 6 mths, there's a lot out there that can hurt a young kitty. Make sure they have space away from the children that they can hide away in and avoid allowing the kids to pick up the kitten when it's sleeping. Like babies they need a lot of sleep and shouldn't be disturbed.

They move FAST! I've shut kittens in cupboards and fridges, nearly sat on one and almost lost one down the toilet after she panicked and crawled the wrong way. I still haven't recovered from hauling her out but she was fine, phew.

There's a thread on here at the mo about someone who's having a hard time with her son and her cat that might be worth a read re your 3 year old. Some kids are totally fine and grasp the whole 'very gentle, kitty is alive just like you' thing, and some really don't - and in my experience it's nothing to do with how nice/not nice/smart/not smart the kid is. It sounds grim but it's not uncommon for kittens to be killed by young children completely by accident, sadly.

Basically, if it's possible to do a bit of a trial run with the little one and the kitten, that might be helpful. In a way, what would actually be better is if your 3 year old isn't too interested in the kitten - it's often when they're really into it and want to play/hug that you get trouble.

Not to be all doom and gloom though, lots of people have cats and young kids and it's totally fine - but just thought it worth mentioning.