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?!

*company not coming

Don't worry! as @heateddryer has said - it takes time to form new routines. He will also need time to bond with you.
Cats are the most rewarding and the most frustrating all at once!
You will have good days and bad days, but you accept it cause you to learn to love the little 'asshole' no matter what they do!

There was a forum here about how all cats are assholes! Honestly, dig it out, it cracked me up!

I ll have a look lol! I just feel bad because I had wanted a kitten for so long and it took quite a while for my partner to come round to it and now it feels stressful not fun because kitty is being so full on!
He is really loving , loves fuss, really confident.. but also full on and loud?! Is it a normal kitten stage? Are they calmer in a few months!? I know I sound like an awful pet owner.. it’s just been a stressful morning 😒. I just want him to be happy but also for my partner and I not to be stressed! Am I being unrealistic to expect him not to wake up the house before 7am?!

I think you should let him in your bedroom with you at night. I got my kitten at 9 weeks and every night I moved her litter tray and food upstairs until she settled. Kittens need company and imo it's cruel to deny him that overnight, when he's in an unfamiliar environment.

Can you leave dry food down overnight?

It's normal for cats to get up at 5 to 6am, luckily mine sleep with people so don't bother us as long as there is food.

My black cat has always been calm, my ginger cat has just about grown out of the crazy kitten stage and he is 9!

My hurricane/asshole/bundle of joy is starting to settle. It's taking time but they will. We have her since March, so it hasn't happened over night.
It's normal to feel a little worried as a new cat mom (apologies if you're not the mom!)
My cat is a bengal which are notably very chatty cats, and when we got her we had the exact same concerns you have about her never stopping. But she has, and she's a lot calmer. It's natural for them to meow while they are in new territory. Stick with it! It is rewarding along the journey!

Thank you bubbles for life.. yes i just want to make sure everyone is happy, the kitten, my DP, SKs and me!! Have you found any tips along the way that have helped you cat get into a routine/calm down at all?

Feliway plugin is helpful! I don't use it much anymore. But you should think about getting it.
Giving him time out when being naughty - 5-10 minutes in a room with his litter tray.
A little spray of water also, not everyone condones this. I rarely do it!
I find saying the word 'noooo' in a sterm manner, she's very clear on what they mean
When you lift him, place him down gently so he knows youre not going to hurt him.
Approach him slowly and be gentle.

But overall cats will be cats, they have their own way of doing things, they are super independent. Give him plenty of space, don't force him to love you, let him come to you and sit on your lap. He will start bonding by putting his paws on your face, so enjoy that!

But also as I say distinguish night time and day time by closing and opening curtains - When you close them - it's bed time! When you open them it's time to interact with him.

Toys too! Play lots with him, tire him out

I think when you take on an animal life has to change, you have to consider what’s best for them because their dependant on you so much.

Our neighbours have a dog, on his first bonfire night he was puppy and they left him alone until the next morning because they’d been partying all night. He cried all night, proper long howls of despair that were painful to listen to. They still go out and leave him, he still cries. They don’t really have the lifestyle for dogs. I judge them for it.

As you suggest above, it's partly because he's still at the kitten stage and he should settle down over time and become a bit less full on. Also if you intend for him to eventually go out, he will burn off plenty of energy when he's out doing cat things so be calmer in the house.

Think of it like having kids - he's at the crazy toddler stage at the mo. Once he's settled in and grown up enough to go out, he'll be like the teenager that parties all Friday & Saturday night so lies in bed until the afternoon the next day .

How’s he getting on?

Not that well 😒, my partner is finding it quite tricky adapting to having a kitten in the house, he is lovely but he just needs attention all the time and if you aren’t playing with him he howls really loud 😒. I feel awful for not making him happy.

He’s a baby animal away from his mum though, he’s going to need you more than an adult man.

I got a 9 week old kitten in August and it was difficult to start with. We bought him home to our other cat and 2 dogs so it was very stressful for the first few weeks trying to introduce a crazy kitten to our other pets.

However, almost 3 months on and everything is amazing. They all get on so well and my kitten has really calmed down, he sleeps through the night wherever he likes and doesn't wake us up at all hours like he was doing.

Just be patient and keep doing what your doing and it'll become much easier x

Yes Fluffcloud I meant I feel awful for not making the kitten happy!! Because if he was happy he wouldn’t be crying/moaning so loudly would he? He’s asleep on my lap now and that seems to be when he is happiest.

Can you get him a companion? Kittens really should have some company.

Oh good, I thought you had your priorities all mixed up there. Is he calling for his litter mates?. Mine had a 4 hour journey to our house & genuinely expected his mum and sister to be there.

We had dozens of rescue/foster/orphaned kittens while I was growing up. My mum used to swear by a hot water bottle wrapped up or in a cover to stand in for the warmth of Mum/littermates and a ticking clock which apparently replicates the heart beat of Mum/littermates.

You can also get toys which cats can entertain themselves with like this?

He maybe missing his siblings but I don’t have a solution for that. I’ve run out of ideas to be honest.

Or you could try YouTube videos of cats purring? Maybe a little crazy but it might work.

It wears off. Ours was over it when he realised he didn’t have to share a food bowl anymore.

I did think earlier of YouTube with cats purring I played it he took one look then came running to me for attention and wouldn’t stop moaning until I picked him up! He must be really sad , I feel so mean! But have ran out of ideas.

Look, just breathe. It’s only been a few days, you have time to play with him once you’re on leave, and meanwhile let him sleep in your room.

He’ll be fine.

Yes I am off work for a few days now. He can probably tell I’m feeling stressed and I’m feeling stressed because my partner is stressing out.