I’m getting a kitten. What do we need?

[AveAtqueVale]

I’m so excited, but it’s a long time since we had a cat. Other than the obvious (bed, litter tray, food bowls, toys) is there anything I should definitely be getting for our newest family member? And what toys are good? Have things moved on from the mice on fishing rods of my childhood?

Well what you need and want you actually want are two different things

I was in one of the pet superstores recently and was amazed by the range of kitten paraphenalia in boy, girl and neutral shades....

Another kitten? If you value your soft furnishings then they will last longer with 2!!

You can buy hoodies with a pouch in the front to keep your cat/kitten in. You need one of them.

And loads of bouncy balls. And a stick with a feathery thing on the end.

And paper bags. Kittens love paper bags.

Litter tray liners and a little shovel with holes in for scooping out poo from the litter tray (what fun!). zoo bags. I found an automatic cat feeder that feeds 2 meals was handy for the odd night away. Our cat's bed is pristine as she ignores it in favour of the sofa.

Poo bags not zoo bags obv!

A box. An empty cardboard box. My cat isn't even slightly interested in any of the lovely toys, scratch posts and beds I have bought her, but my god does she love a box.

I highly recommend a tube of antiseptic cream and a tin of plasters.

A cat laser toy is essential. My kitten is still crazy about trying to catch the little red dot.

Oh, yes! Litter tray liners!

Really good. For some reason the plastic on some litter trays reacts with the wee and the smell doesn't go. Liners solve that whole problem. Bob Martins do a packet of about 6 for £1. Money well spent. Packet ius very small, A6 size, and bright pink.

But don't get wood cat litter. It sticks to their paws and they tread it everywhere.

Wood cat litter is perfect for bunnies though. Put a thin layer down and then hay on top. Absorbs all piss odours.

Litter tray liners are a waste of money, they just shred them.

Nah, I have five cats. All litter tray liners stay intact. Never been shredded.

Cardboard box and an endless supply of hair bobbles. My 8 year old boy still goes mad for hair bobbles.

A shitload of patience

April I am working on that. My stone-hearted DH is convinced one kitten is more than adequate. I may advance the soft-furnishings argument...

I like all the other suggestions! Laser pointer and litter tray liners are going on the list. And stop throwing out amazon boxes.

Also, where should it go at night? Our flat is all open plan- the only doors are on the bedrooms and bathroom, and we leave our bedroom and DS’s bedroom doors open at night. Should I attempt to barricade it into the kitchen, or just bow to the inevitable and let it decide where it’s going to end up?

Place marking as I’m about to become a first time kitten owner.

Btw I’m saying ‘it’ because we don’t yet know if we’re having one of the girls or the solo boy from the litter.

Nah - let it decide for itself (it'll probably sleep on your head). It'll get lonely at night if it's on it's own (another point for your DH).

Do get a scratch post or scratch box. Or both. Several of each in fact.

A second kitten. Will preserve your home and be double the fun.

Otherwise less than you think. Litter tray, no liners. Scratching post, more than one. Fishing rod toy. Possibly a cosy bed/blanket but it may be ignored.

I'd bow to the inevitable and let it free range.

Otherwise cardboard boxes, rolled up balls of paper, pens, anything you thought was important to you and you didn't want the kitten to have.

Subscription to Zooplus for delivery of petfood and cat litter at a discount without you lugging it home. And development of obsession with weird European cat food brands.

Some kind of scratching post or tree, make sure it's big enough for an adult cat as they grow so fast.

Grooming brush if longhaired?

Flea treatment and wormer from the vets.

Feliway plug in 100%. Probably two, if you have two floors. They mimic their mums pheromones and make them feel safe and comfortable more easily.

Insurance, unless you have a lot of spare money. There will be unexpected medical costs.

Find out what they’re currently eating and have that, but if it’s crap like Wiskas you’ll want to carefully transition them over.

Beds are a waste of money, no cat ever sleeps in their own bed.

We went to get one kitten and came home with his brother as well, so glad we did as they’ve had each other to play with and we haven’t worried about them being bored in the house when we’re not there. Especially the first months before they went outside.

We have a six-month-old kitten and I definitely agree with the suggestions to get two kittens rather than one. Next time I'm definitely getting two as they are little bundles of energy and want to play all the time.

Ours still sleep in the beds but that may be because our house is often freezing Even the old girl squeezes in to the kitten house.

Insurance and plenty of plasters. Kitten teeth and claws are excruciatingly sharp.

And a camera to post pictures on Mumsnet. It's the law.

Definitely pictures!!