Collecting kitten tomorrow- a bit nervous!

[C1239]

We are due to be collecting our kitten tomorrow, I have grown up with cats but this is the first time I ll be mainly responsible for a pet!

I have wanted a kitten for ages, I’m excited but also a bit nervous! It’s the first time my partners had a pet so I just want it to go smoothly!

I have set up a base room with litter tray, scratch post, scratch box toy, cosy bed, some toys, food & drink bowls etc. Think I’ve thought of most things?!

Little kitty is 5 months and is coming from a cats rescue, has been flee’d, wormed, vet checked , neutered and had first injections. I think he’s quite a confident kitten!!

Any advise for the first couple of weeks? Is it normal to be nervous even though I’m excited?!

Everything will be fine. When you get him home, show him his litter box and then just leave him alone. Cats do everything on their terms, and they need space to adjust to their new environment. Trying to pet or hold him when he's not ready would be very counterproductive. Enjoy your new family member!

Yes that’s good advise thank you. Do you think it’s normal to have a bit of cold feet before collecting your first pet?!

Yes, also regretting getting them for a few weeks. I can’t remember what we did before getting him now though.

I think you're nervous because you want to be responsible and do the best for him. It's totally understandable. You'll be absolutely fine.

My cat hid for the first couple of weeks when I brought her home. Just let him explore at his own pace and he'll be fine. Enjoy it.

Ours arrived under dh's sufferance. I caught dh clicking his fingers and pleading "come to daddy". Shortly before bedtime dh miaowed "it's very cold and he's so small, I think he needs to come up with us".

TBH I have no recollection what we did about weeing and pooing because he was so tiny we had to help him up the stairs but he's been on our bed (on chilly nights) ever since. He's 12 .

Thank you for the reassurance 😄, I’ve wanted one for so long it feels a bit crazy we are actually getting one now!! Hoping my partner enjoys it more than I think he is anticipating!!

When he gets bigger they like really tall cat scratching posts.

Dh is soppy over our cat, when we leave him in the cattery he nags me to ring them every day. Apparently he can’t do it because it’s not manly

Your phone will be filled with cat photos from now on including your wallpaper photo.

Was your DH a bit apprehensive before getting your cat? My partner hasn’t had a pet before so it’s all new to him! Yes at the moment I’ve got him a smaller scratching post & a round chasing ball game which is also a scratcher. Ahh I’m hoping the collection of him goes well today!!

No not really, he’s a big animal lover.

He worked with a young lad who said he hated cats, dh “fuck you, cats are awesome” I don’t think the younger lads mentioned his hatred of cats again.

Good luck OP! Cats are awesome. I will be checking back in for the obligatory pics!

So we have collected him!! He seems to be settling in well so far already out exploring a lot of the house ... he has eaten and drank and is enjoying playing but hasn’t used his litter tray yet... any tips?!

He’ll go when he’s ready. They can hold it when they want to, he’s only just met you, it’s a bit soon for weeing with the door open.

When I brought mine home she was not nervous at all and stepped out of the carrier and made herself at home, I was told she was 9 weeks but I have my suspicions she was younger as she was quite wobbly on her feet.
We had initial problems with the litter tray, I would put her in and she would climb straight out. She got it after a few days and a round of applause. She would never eat kitten food so rather than starve we let her eat whiskas tinned food. Tried her on all sorts but this is what she likes.
She has a number of toys, but by far her favourite thing is tin foil rolled up in a ball, she carries them around and likes to play catch with my son. She brings it back when he throws it so I deemed she is quite clever.
She was and at 9 months is still like a little hurricane, causing endless chaos where ever she goes. For the first few months she hardly slept at all during the day, thankfully now she naps more. I am rather worried about the Christmas tree this year.

With our kitten we put him in the litter tray, held his little paws and ‘dug’ with them. I read somewhere that it helps them realise what the litter tray is for!

I have put him in the litter tray a few times to keep showing him where it is.. will keep doing that. For his first day he seems super confident and really friendly!!

Photo please 🙂

I only joined for the photo! It's the rules

Photo or it didn't happen

Morning all!
So second night was a little trickier, he has been crying/moaning since 5.30am. I waited until 6.30 to go and give him breakfast and clean his litter tray because I thought it’s not good to give into him straight away .. I don’t want to get into a routine of him crying all night/early morning .. it’s now 8.30 and he hasn’t stopped making noises! He’s had some breakfast, has water, little tray is clean... how come he’s suddenly being so noisy?! I’m worried he’s unhappy but also worried he’s going to get into a routine of being awake crying all night/early morning... what if I’m not cut out to look after a kitten after all 😒, the first day went so well!! Any advise would be very much appreciated!

I’ve a 10 month old and she is nuts. We got her at 9 weeks so we have been through a lot with her.
Keep him in 1 or 2 rooms for the first few days, with their litter box. It gives him a chance to settle in and also keeps on close to the litter box.
At night we never let our little hurricane into our room, so she has a night time routine, so stick to your guns on not getting up the moment she meows. I found opening and closing curtains to mark the change between day time and night time helped.

Yes we aren’t letting him into any of the bedrooms.. he has his own room downstairs with litter tray, food water bed toys etc... I’m worried this is the start of bad things... what if he’s going to be a really high maintenance kitten 😒, I was so excited and feeling so positive the first couple of days but now I’m really worried !

Most cats get up at that time. I wear ear plugs.

Give it time, he needs to learn the routines, my cats stay downstairs overnight and it took a few weeks to establish the rules, now they are into their routine and very settled. Its very early days so try not to panic!

He may just be missing the company he had at the rescue; even if he was penned on his own, there would have been plenty of other cats around that he could smell and hear. Try sitting in his room to keep him company, talking to him and IF he wants then petting him. He may also settle better with a radio or TV on quietly when you aren't with him.

I think he definitely wants coming, when you are with him he seems to be fine then the minute you leave him he is crying/moaning to get you back.. i feel awful.. sounds silly but I’m worried we have taken on too much getting a kitten. I love kittens cats dogs, I am an animal person but it seems so full on! I feel I can’t get anything done at home and at work I feel guilty he is at home by himself... I must be doing something wrong?! His crying is so loud .. I really don’t want him to be sad at all, he is lovely... but at the same time I don’t want our lives to come to a standstill?!