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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

So we now have a kitten...

23 replies

sportinguista · 13/09/2015 10:04

It is an abandoned kitten, as far as I can tell from teeth it is around 6 weeks, is weaned, has settled in ok, has eaten and after a couple of accidents used the litter tray. He or she is now exploring no major scrapes. I know the basics from friend who had 7 of them and we are prepared for the vaccinations etc we think mum is a feral who has litters each year (most of them die) and I think I have seen dad around. Will the kittens uncertain start affect them? It is friendly enough now and seems to be fine. Should we get it checked over by a vet or wait and see?

Also what will I need for it now and what can wait till it's older?

OP posts:

sashh · 13/09/2015 11:39

Pics?

Yes to getting a check from the vet

Original poster

sportinguista · 13/09/2015 12:03

This is him/her. I will book in with a vet just up the road tomorrow.

Does seem to be settling well, likes to sit on myself and son and plays quite happily.

OP posts:

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 13/09/2015 12:42

I would go to the vets to get worming treatment and flea treatment and just a general Heath check.

She is lovely

Original poster

sportinguista · 13/09/2015 13:37

Yes he/she is gorgeous and seems to have lovely nature. Seems that the vets up the road will do the lot. I was expecting a feral born kitten to take a long time to settle but it's enjoying itself and seems to have got the hang of where it's bed is etc. What cat equipment is considered indipensible? There was an awful lot of stuff in our local Asda it was quite bewildering the range of things that you can buy - just don't want to buy stuff we won't use...

OP posts:

PolterGoose · 13/09/2015 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/09/2015 15:44

I use cheap side plates as food plates. Easy to fit in the dishwasher and it won't give them feline acne like plastic can. No the end of the world if I break them.

She's a lovely little poppet.

Original poster

sportinguista · 13/09/2015 16:47

Thanks for the helpful advice. She has a furry blanket as a bed at the mo. Probably will get her 2 beds (Yes it is a she!) as we sit upstairs a lot in winter so she will have the choice. Using ramekins at the moment as food and water/milk dishes. Going to get a scratcher but she has shown a decided preference for the doormat. Got some kitten food (wet food) but any recommendations on dry stuff welcome.

I think DH has quite lost his heart...

OP posts:

PolterGoose · 13/09/2015 17:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

timtam23 · 13/09/2015 17:30

Beautiful photo . I took in an abandoned kitten, about 7 weeks old (he was found under my car bonnet after I had been driving around so not a great start in life!) 2 years on he is a big healthy cat who follows me around and tolerates the DCs very well. Be was crawling with fleas when found but the vet treated these (at that young age they need prescription flea spray done by the vet as the normal spot on stuff will be too strong for them, so yes it definitely needs to be seen by a vet)
My kitten didn't really like toys at first as most of them were almost as big as him & he was scared, but he grew to live ping pong balls, big paper bags with the handles cut off, cardboard boxes etc. He adored (and still adores) sleeping on anything like t-shirts, brushed cotton etc.
Don't forget to keep the loo seat down as they can be very inquisitive & fall in. And try to avoid using hands/feet as playthings as they get used to chasing/biting hands & feet and it can be very hard to stop when they are older (speaking with bitter experience from my first kitten years ago when I knew no better)

diddl · 13/09/2015 18:26

She is an absolute beauty!

What's she called?

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 13/09/2015 20:57

I have gone over board.

Missy loves lazer pens, she has multiply scratching post and fishing rod toys are good.

OctoberCupcake · 13/09/2015 20:59

What a beauty, and seems like she's young enough to not have had the fear of a feral instilled in her by Mum.

Our boy was 3 months old when we got him & took a LOT of time to settle in with us. 5 years on he's loving & playful with us (will follow me to the loo if I let him!) but still very very nervous of new people.

To be honest I wouldn't bother with cat beds; we've had a couple of none too cheap ones and he's turned his nose up at them & reverted to the bed/chair/bath mat/recycling box. His current favourite is a heavy duty hessian shopping bag that's he's commandeered as a nap spot.

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 13/09/2015 20:59

She loves this one the most

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/09/2015 21:04

I bet she does piper.

I buy dog beds. They are bigger and have better padding and I can put a fleece blanket over the top in winter (no heating is on overnight) in case the hot water bottle under the cushion isn't enough.

HollyJenni · 13/09/2015 22:06

Congrats. She is a little beauty. I wouldn't bother with a cat bed either. Toys and a decent scratch post but for me, the most imprint thing is love and time spent. No amount of money can buy that ??

HollyJenni · 13/09/2015 22:07

Sorry meant to be a smiley face not question marks lol

thecatneuterer · 13/09/2015 22:12

Can someone help get the mother cat neutered? Cats Protection would probably be the first place to try - they can trap and neuter. I don't suppose you're in London?

Original poster

sportinguista · 14/09/2015 11:45

We have named her Tiger Lily after the character in Rupert the Bear as DS wanted to call her Lily, so she can be tiger or lily for short. She seems to like hiding under a chair a lot and we've made a kind of cave with her blanket which she loves. Doesn't seem to have fleas at least but vet will do her as will book for full check. She is certainly getting a lot of love and she seems to be a very loving little creature. I will get one of the horizontal scratchers but DH said it's no bother if she prefers the doormat as it's not expensive. She has some little toys which she does seem to like but anything seems to take her fancy especially by potato bag.

I think I will speak to Cats Protection about the mum because it can't be good having lots of litters. Unfortunately many people round here do not choose to get male cats neutered and there are lots of ferals.

But at least on kitty now has a place to call her own and boy has she already made it that!

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 14/09/2015 21:10

Oh I can imagine that, they are furry little tyrants, the amount of times I tell mine "No" and then give in immediately because he looks sad.

WinterForest · 14/09/2015 21:36

Are you still having problems with her not using the litter box sometimes? She is so adorable btw! I had a problem with one kitten who would pee on blankets and books...

The trick is not scolding them. Basically clean up any mess they make outside the box so they don't remember it as being a pee area. Hide things they pee on. Wait for them to look like they are going to go, and then swiftly place them in the litter box and move their paws in the litter to stimulate them to go. This trick worked in about 4 days :) Possibly get a second litter box for her as well, some cats like having two.

Original poster

sportinguista · 15/09/2015 09:56

No more accidents so far, she is a dear little thing and yes she is so totally at home now! It's almost like she's always been here she is now playing with my fingers as I type!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 15/09/2015 10:42

She's gorgeous.

You're quite right to be canny about what you buy. Many owners end up with £££ worth of stuff lying around which has taken their fancy at the pet store or supermarket - and the cat has then ignored it. They have simple tastes usually.

Original poster

sportinguista · 15/09/2015 15:16

Bottom of my clothes dryer seems to be her favourite toy right now!

OP posts:

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