Newbie Nerves

[DontbeaDickaboutit]

Hi All,

Longtime Mumsnetter but never posted on this board!

Tomorrow these two beauties move in with us, I think I have everything I need but any tips for us?

The kittens are from an elderly neighbour who didn't realise her cat wasn't spade and she's been feeding them wet kitten food, I understand this isn't great and they'd be better on dry? So do I mix wet in with dry and then phase out the wet? Also, when do they get chipped? Obviously I'll be keeping them in until spade and neutered but eventually they'll be outdoor cats - how do you teach them to use a cat flap? And what's the most cost efficient way of installing a cat flap in double glazing (didn't think of this issue until last week 😳).....when does spading have to/should be done by? Should I get a crate?

Oh the questions!!!

They're adorably round. They look so healthy.

How old are they? They should have wet food everyday. If they're getting dry food, then they won't need as much wet food, but at least 2 cans/sachets a day. Check the instructions on food box.

You can neuter them as young as 4 months. Check with your vet. Get them checked by your vet when they're handed over to you. Get them microchippedone. Are they same sex? You don't want more babies if they're both & girl.

You can get cat flaps for double glazed doors. I don't have one of these but someone will know.

Get them something they can retreat into - even a box with a hole cut out our turned on its side. Put all their things in one room so that they can adjust to your home and gradually they'll start to venture out. It really depends on their personalities.

Will you be getting pet insurance?

Good luck & welcome to your life of subservience.

microchipped & boy & girl

They're gorgeous! You don't need to create kittens. Offer them a cardboard box or two.
Cat flap in a glazed door requires a new glass panel, you can't just put it in the one you have. Ask a local glazier for quotes ( it is quite expensive).
Wet food is good as they get a lot of their water from food.

You spay females and neuter males. Mine were done at just over 4 months. I got them microchipped at the same time as they were neutered. I don't have a cat flap as I have glass patio doors so they are let in and out when I want them to go. What do you mean by a crate? I have 2 cat carriers although I started with 1 as they were small enough to fit in it together.

A scratching post/cat tree is good to have. I bought beds but they don't use them.

I give a mix of wet and dry food. When they were smaller they got about 4 small wet meals a day with dry food left down all the time. Now they get wet stuff 2 or 3 times with dry out all the time

I use a litter tray with a higher side to try to minimise scattering

My two love lying in shoe boxes so save any that you get

You can even fit 2 in one box Sometimes!

How cute! If they haven't already been checked by a vet, get them registered and checked over when you get them. The vet can advise you on the right age/weight to be spayed/neutered, and you will likely be able to get the chipped and vaccinated. The vet can also advise you on suitable flea and worming products.

Domestic cats are descended from desert animals and as such get the majority of their fluids from their food. Cats don't have a thirst drive like dogs or humans. Don't phase out the wet food, just make sure it is a complete food. If you are worried about their teeth (and dry food doesn't really clean teeth - it would be like us crunching through a bag of crisps and expecting it to clean our teeth) then get them used to having their teeth brushed with cat friendly toothpaste at an early age - it'll save you a lot of money in dental bills in the long run.

Enjoy your fur babies.