Potential new kitten owner

[SarahH12]

DP and I would love to get kittens but want to spend a bit more time researching first. What are the kitten need to knows? We've had a chat with CPL who've said they have kittens available most weeks so pop in when we're ready. They've said when we bring kitten(s) home, put them in a spare room so they get used to us and then gradually let them have run of the house. Do we spend all day in there or do we give them space? What about at night? Ideally we'd be looking at adopting a pair so they're not on their own at all.

I work part time 2 full days and 2 half days a week, DP works full time 5 days a week, both off at the weekends. At what point can we start to leave them when we go to work? My understanding from chatting to the lady at CPL is that they need feeding 4 x a day at first and she said this will be the case up until 6 months. She's spoken to us about when they'd need neutering, vaccinations, worm and flea treatment etc.

Anything else we need to know? We've had cats before but they were much older. Neither of us have much experience of kittens.

Yes, their own room for the first week or so and spend time with them there but obviously not all the time. Kittens sleep a lot as well.

You can leave them when you go to work but it's best to keep them in their room or at least slightly limit their access in the house to begin with as kittens are so curious and easily get in trouble. You should cat proof anyway and remove dangerous plants, never have any string/ribbon left lying around, keep toilet lids closed etc. and obviously be careful with windows and doors.

In regards to feeding, two meals of wet food and dry food available all the time is standard for kittens until they are neutered. And yes getting a pair is a great idea, they will keep each other company and wear each other out running and wresting!

Thanks @viccat. Re the feed does that mean I don't have to worry during the day? Say on the days both DP and I are out for 9 hours, are they okay to be fed wet food in the morning, wet food at night and leave the dry food out for them?

I have a question re litter trays. Do we need one or two to start off with if adopting a pair from the same litter?

Agree with everything Viccat said. Our cats graze - so they get fed first thing - if we are out for the day we then top up wet and dry food before we leave. It's gone by the time we get home.
We had our latest kittens restricted to the living room (with food and litter ) for their first week - they were already escaping by this point so they then had free run. Removed the tray from the living room - showed them where the real tray and the cat food lives and no mistakes made .
Getting two kittens is also a very good idea - they genuinely keep each other amused.
In terms of trays - see what works. We have four cats, one large litter tray and no dirty protests - but MN tends to suggest more trays are often required.

One other thought - in terms of outside access ours started going out (accompanied at first) at about five months. They had already made a number of bids for freedom! From 6 or 7 months they've had free access to the outside world.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats thanks!

If we adopted whilst the weather was still cold, would we leave the heating on for them during the day? DP thinks not but I'd be worried they'd get cold. I have to turn the heating on for the days I'm home but not sure how kittens would feel.

In over 30 years of cat ownership I have NEVER left heating on in the day just for the cats.
They do find ways to keep warm.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats - awww so cute!

They grow thicker coats in winter to cope with the cold. Mine has a covered dog bed with a hot water bottle, I’m considering a sheepskin pad for him too.

They love fleece. Easily washed too.