we have new kittens ☺

[VelmaD]

My cat was sadly poisoned by antifreeze by someone in April 2013, and we have been without cats since

friend rehomed a cat, tried to get her spayed but she was pregnant - she struggled to rehome the kittens, so today we brought two home.

not sure if theyre definitely girls (ones tortoisehell one is black and white) or girl/boy, but we have the vets on July 9th to sort immunisations, check ups, microchipping and neutering.

they have settled in wonderfully, used the litter tray, had a little food and drink and are currently curled up with each other napping

having never had kittens (always rehomed adult cats) what do i need to look out for or do? they have been well handled and loved by their previous home, but im so nervous they arent eating or drinking enough, or that theyre sleeping too much!!

Not sure I can do more than that?!

Yes it is usual - but it's also a reason why I said they were young to be separated from their mum. It's not just about weaning, it's about behaviour etc too. Mums teach them what is/isn't acceptable. But as long as you keep an eye out and no harm is caused they'll be fine. I echo all the other advice. Just don't let them out before they're neutered. And get insurance.

Lol, no, I can't see from those pictures. Never mind!

I didn't think it would be possible! Ha! We are teaching them as much as we can, mum wasn't interested in them at the end, I might have a look online for how to teach them. I don't want them hurting each other.

I won't let them out before spaying. The world doesn't need more unplanned cats! And if they are boy/girl I shall get them done asap, vet said before four months?

I don't have insurance yet, as we come under pdsa care - should I get insurance as well? I tend to pay the insurance premium amount as a donation to the pdsa when I go, and pay for their immunisations etc there - do I need insurance as well?

Four months is about right. That's the recommended timing these days - unless you have a male with undescended testicles where I think they have to wait until 6 months.

PS - I've never had a cat with cryptorchidism so that latter is just a memory. I'll be happy to be corrected on that if it's changed.

I've never used pdsa so Im not sure what they would cover. I've always used pet plan, approx £25 a month for two. As far as neutering goes, I currently live in the ME and there is a huge stray/feral cat problem. The vet i use for tnr will neuter any cat that weighs over 2lbs. I know this practice is frowned upon by many back in the uk but it works. They recover quicker when they're little and I've never had loss from any of the cats I've had neutered. I've also seen girl cats less than 4 months old pregnant. Which is more dangerous than an early spay. If your vet will do them any younger than 4 months then that's great, I'd go for it.

Interestingly, I saw something on the wall of my vet's surgery which seemed to indicate that they had different timings for neutering of domestic and stray cats. (I didn't have a chance to discuss that with her.) I don't know if that's common practice with other vets.

No idea. I wasn't aware it was even physically possible to neuter a cat so young until I started to get involved in tnr here. Ive got two cats in the uk who were neutered at 6 months. We've adopted 5 here, all neutered younger. I'm not aware of any difference Tbh and if I were to get another pet kitten I'd get them neutered at 2lbs if I could. The recovery rate is remarkable.

Some vets still hang on to the old 6 months timing it's true but this ICC guidance links to the Cat Group policy statement which sets out things in a bit more detail.

I have a feeling that TCN's people neuter as early as they possibly can - and in cases of ferals before the 4 month timing - but I'd best leave it to her to set out for CHAT.

Pdsa offer all vets services, but ada charity they offer them for donations and cost of drugs.

They receptionist seemed to think it would be before four months for spaying, but I shall find out when I go - I don't want a litter!

She should be OK with four months.

To be honest, even if she came into heat early and managed to get out, a spaying should take care of any subsequent issues - but when they want to go and party, they can sometimes be downright stupid and do things like dashing across roads without thinking to reach the handsome bit of stuff on the other side. (And run into 4x4s.) Spaying is safer.

Wow that's a team to be reckoned with. You are doomed to a life of servitude with them.

But sooo cute and fluffy.

Well they are definitely eating enough - we are getting so many poos! They are sharing a litter tray at the moment - can this continue or should I get a second? I have two food bowls as they were fighting a bit.

I'd get three trays. Side plates make good cat "dishes", easy to stack in the dishwasher too.

I reckon that the black and white ones a male. I will be so embarrassed if it's not now.

Three trays for two cats? Why?

I reckon male too! We shall both eat our hats ????????

And I don't have a dishwasher, not since couple of mice claimed it as their home and I threw it in the back garden.....

The ratio is one tray per cat plus a spare.

They are super cute

I think the tortie is a girl (you have heard that torties are very naughty right? yes I'm looking at you Girliecat!)

The black and white looks like a boy to me.

Kittens play fight loads and can be quite aggressive at times but usually this settles down as they get a bit older and more chilled out!

Both my cats came to me with fleas so keep checking them, i used a nit comb to go through my two and took them to be sprayed with frontline at the vets.

My cats both were neutered around 5 months, boy cat took it in his stride and was back to normal within a day. Girl cat it was a much longer recovery (she is a sensitive soul though bless her!) and she was out of sorts for a week, mostly I think because she had to wear a collar which she hated!

Yep - three trays. It's a good job they're only cheap and it's always useful, in any case, to have a clean spare or two in the cupboard.

(I actually buy them to use for household and garden tasks as well because they're solid, cheap, and such a useful shape. Seniorboy has two trays on the go - both of which he uses - but I reckon I've got a dozen of the things in various places. )

Oh Velma they are gorgeous! I have absolutely no advice, but have to say that the black and white one looks like he/she might be a bit of a handful . There's a glint in the eyes that I know very well!

Wow, never heard of that ratio of trays -I have no where to put that many!! I have open plan downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs (small terraced house) so will see how we go.
They are definitely characters. Eating my tea was, um, fun. Cat hair pizza?!?!