advice for new kitten

[tara738]

hi, I have recently bought home a 3/4 month old kitten who is a super energetic affectionate bundle of joy! Unfortunately in some terrible timing lockdown was announced two days after she came home and I've rung every vet in the area and none will see me 🙁

what should I be looking out for to check she is healthy - she seems fine but I'm so worried she can't have a health check or vaccines? Obviously I won't be letting her out until we can sort all of that, so any tips on making sure she isn't bored/overly dependent on us?

I'm worried also that we pay her too much attention and she is going to really struggle when life returns to normal and we have to leave the house!

Thank you for any advice you can offer - I'm a very anxious new cat mum!

Hi, my advice is to get her her 'things' which she can own. Obviously, this might be difficult given the current situation, but perhaps some could be ordered online? I would include a cat basket, toys that she can chase and a sturdy scratching post that she can reach up and scratch without it toppling over. Cats are possessive and territorial and it helps them adjust to a new home if they have things which they can 'own.' As for her health, once things are more normal, it would be good to take her for a check up and possibly flu vaccine. How old is she?

thank you for replying! I did manage to get her some things from pets at home and she has a bed and cat tree but prefers to sleep on us which is sweet - but worries me that she is isn't independent enough. but maybe she's just adjusting to life without her mum & siblings who she lived with before?

Her previous owner told me she was 3 months but I think she's more like 4+ as she's quite big :)

I wish I could take her for a health check now, I feel like I'm letting her down!

here she is :)

Aw she's lovely. Don't worry too much about health checks/vaccinations at the moment, she's minimal risk if staying indoors. You could try food puzzles rather than bowl feeding, you can make your own. Google feline enrichment for ideas on how to keep indoor cats entertained. Also don't worry about her becoming too attached, she's just a kitten, she'll be naturally less dependant on you as she gets older.

Hey, she's lovely! She is probably going to be 'clingy' while she adapts to her new environment. I don't think you should worry about that, you seem like a loving pet owner who is trying to do the best for your kitten. She looks in fine fettle to be honest, though I am no vet. Try not to worry about the vet, there's nothing you can do about the current situation, just take her once things have calmed down....

She'll be fine as she isn't going out yet, you need to check her carefully for fleas with a flea comb which you can get online. I'm finding ebay quicker than amazon right now.
If she has lots of fleas she will need a shampoo bath as they can cause anaemia.
You can make toys out of anything around the house, they love string. Kittens go crazy than suddenly sleep. So long as she gets lots of cuddles she will be fine.
You appear to have forgotten the cardinal rule of mumsnet when it comes to new kitten ownership though

Oh, I can't see the photo!

thanks everyone! this is reassuring me somewhat... there's a small chance I might be projecting my anxiety about the world on to my kitten ...
So she still needs flea and worm treatment even though she is our only pet and doesn't go outside? she is due reworming on 3 April but I just wasn't sure

Aww she's beautiful. Don't worry about her being too clingy, mine was only like that till she found her feet. Didn't sleep in my bed after about a week or so. I've found this site for you to do your own health check on her at home if you're woried about it www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/giving-your-kitten-a-health-check-at-home.html

I've always had the view with cats that you'll know if something is wrong.
If she's bouncing around like a loon then she's fine .
I've only ever had annual MOT's for my cats (to coincide with their jabs) but they have never raised a problem that I wasn't aware of.
Enjoy, don't worry and yes, she's very pretty.