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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.

Original poster

new kitten

48 replies

Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 10:47

We have a new kitten - she is a long haired black and white and absolutely adorable.

She is almost 12 weeks.

How long do we keep her indoors for at this age? We have only rescued older cats before and kept them in a few days before they went out hunting!

We live very rurally so no male cats around that I know of but want to be safe!

OP posts:
MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 13/06/2016 10:54

Is this your first post in "The Litter Tray"?

You're asking for advice on a kitten without posting any pictures of the kitten!

'Snot how it works round 'ere.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 13/06/2016 10:56

(I didn't let my girl out until she was spayed. I don't think it's worth the risk and you have no idea what ferals and farms are around.)

Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:06

Hahaha yes my first post. That made me laugh!

new kitten
OP posts:
Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:08

I don't think we were going to have her spayed?

I would love a litter of kittens - be so nice for the children to watch. And kittens here are like hens teeth. I had to drive 150 miles for her at the weekend!
So I think there will be plenty of good homes (if I can bear to let them go!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:09

She is having her first injections tonight. Then repeat in a week is it?

OP posts:
Emochild · 13/06/2016 11:10

Awwwwwww look at that little face!

You need to keep her in until she has been spayed
Keep her in for a couple of weeks after the op

Let her out about half an hour before food for the first few times so she comes back for food

Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:11

She's amazing. She loves my dd - currently the happiest 4yo alive!

OP posts:
MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 13/06/2016 11:15

Oh em gee! Look at that ickle furry purry face!

If you're not having her spayed please don't let her out for a loooooong time. You don't want a kitten having kittens, it's upsetting if they can't cope (been there Sad)

KittiesInsane · 13/06/2016 11:15

If you let an unspayed, fertile kitten outside, someone's manky tom will come and take advantage of her PDQ. That's might be lovely for the children but would be somewhat less lovely for your little cat.

Our kitten is the offspring of a teenage-mum kitten herself, who wasn't great at feeding her litter and pretty much abandoned them to be reared by an animal sanctuary.

I'd neuter.

KittiesInsane · 13/06/2016 11:18

Cross posts, Milk! Yes, our own kitten came from the rescue with a very shaky start and a list of vet notes the length of your arm, having been handfed through the night for much of her life.

Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:18

Oh I can't keep her in that long and I defintely don't want a teenage mum situation. Would hate her to be pg while she is so little

When do they come into their first season then?

OP posts:
KittiesInsane · 13/06/2016 11:19

Besides, you already have nearly the cutest kitten I've ever seen. Why try to top that?

Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 11:21

What do you mean 'nearly'?!

Okay I take your point I will book her in for the op tonight when she gets her vaccinations

OP posts:
MarieJeanne · 13/06/2016 11:28

Our girl cat got pregnant before we had chance to have her spayed. we initially thought she was a he Her figure has never recovered, pronounced saggy tummy. Fortunately she only had 3 kittens, but one was quite big and stillborn. We had her spayed asap and still love her to bits 13 years later.

MarieJeanne · 13/06/2016 11:30

Oh and that is some cute kitten.

MaltyCocoa · 13/06/2016 11:31

Ignore the cute face, look at those little mini simba paws!!!

jealous

Wolfiefan · 13/06/2016 11:34

I am so glad you have decided to have her spayed. Kittens are cute but having them puts her at risk and then you are left with finding babies homes. Cats can live for over 20 years and people may want cute kittens but many don't commit for the long run.

You are doing absolutely the right thing.
And she is beautiful.

Feeches · 13/06/2016 11:36

My girl cat went into heat about 4/5 months which is no time at all really. It can be surprisingly young.

Original poster
Purplehonesty · 13/06/2016 14:29

Yes our last cat had a saggy baby belly! I don't know how many litters she had before I rescued her.

She was so lovely, the kids would have adored her.

OP posts:
Emochild · 13/06/2016 15:39

One of my cats has a saggy baby belly and he's a boy

When he lies on top of the cat tree his belly skin sags through the hole in the top

DigestiveBiscuit · 13/06/2016 23:00

Our vets pays females at 2 kg. Our female kitten, weighing 1.8 kg, went into heat at 5 months. As we also have her brother.....

Cue an emergency spaying at the vets, who found she was indeed in the early stages of pregnancy. As she had never been outside, since we got her, it had to be her brother! The vet advised me at the post op check up, not to let them out for another few weeks, as "they can be too clever for their own good!" Now they are 6.5 months old, I let them out for half an hour or so at a time, while we are in! (They are, as yet, extremely gullible and come in every time I call them)

ElegantDream · 13/06/2016 23:14

Kittens are NOT like hens teeth Shock

Rescues are bursting at the seems at the moment Sad

Costacoffeeplease · 13/06/2016 23:42

Absolutely get her spayed. I don't let kittens out until at least 6 months and spayed/neutered - anything else is irresponsible imho

cozietoesie · 14/06/2016 00:04

Well done for deciding to have her spayed. Smile

SillyMoomin · 14/06/2016 00:09

More photos please!!! Grin

not demanding at all

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