Questions from a first time kitten owner

[Thisismynewname123]

These are all stupid questions, so apologies in advance!

1, What are the most important items to have at home before the kitten comes home?
2, How essential is cat insurance, and what on average do you pay for a kitten?
3, Where is a good place for a litter tray? I was thinking I'd put it in the utility room, but I'm wondering if the noise of the washing machine will scare it? I don't want it weeing & pooing around the house because the washing machine is running but I want it in a room that we're not otherwise living in. Where do others keep them? I'm also thinking that if we get a cat flap, that will go on the utility door anyway (there are no other doors that a cat flap could go on).
4, Once we have the litter tray, how will I then encourage it to do it's business outside? I'm assuming it will stay indoors until neutered, but by then it will comfortable going in the litter tray, so how do we then train it to go outside instead?
5, should we be worried for our goldfish??! (the tank is covered but not fixed)

1. Food, bed, litter (wood based for kittens was recommended), litter tray and some toys. Some ph neutral wipes for cats. Make sure they are safe for kittens.

1. I have a health plan with my vet £13 per month. That covers flea, worming, jabs, micro chipping and a % off spay etc.

1. Litter tray in the same room as they are in, you should keep them confined to one room to start. Then I would put it in the bathroom.

1. I wouldn't. I would rather they stay going in the litter tray. They should stay indoors until neutered, jabs and micro chipped.

1. Oh yes, put something heavy on the lid that won't fall off.

When are you getting your new master?

@Whatamesssss thanks for the replies. The kitten is being vaccinated and micro chipped on Monday, so any time from then.

It was a cat owner friend who said their cat always goes to the toilet outside. She doesn't even have a litter tray anymore. Why is that a bad idea (obviously only once it's been vaccinated, neutered, etc).

If she is confined to one room to start with (which would be the lounge) are the DC still allowed to take her to other rooms in the house to play with her?
Are we likely to lose her around the house, or is she likely to always venture out to be played with/petted/fed? How long does a new kitten usually take to settle in with a new family?

Will be watching this. Our kitten is 6 months old and is getting spayed today.
We kept her downstairs at the beginning, and then once she was settled she was allowed to roam the house. She does her business in her litter tray by the back door, but I am thinking of moving the litter tray to the bathroom soon. I do think she's ready go roam now tbh, but am holding off for a while because she is so so small! Growing well, but she is definitely very slight for her age.

1. Food, litter tray, some toys
2. Insurance essential in our case, she's had bee stings, cystitis, collapsing with kidney failure and emergency admission at 5am on a bank holiday - petplan whole life plan is very good as they've been paying out for kidney issue for 7 years (cat is now 19 with kidney failure!)
3. Have to see how kitten reacts to noise ours wasn't bothered about washing machine but hated the hoover noise.
4. Ours hated going outside and always came back in to the loo (but I believe putting some used litter were you want them to go might work?

Good luck!

With regards to litter trays, once out cat went outside at 6 months, she stopped using her tray almost overnight. I left it out for about a week just in case and she never used it again. No training required, it's instinct I think.

Why do you want it to toilet outside?

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter to avoid a smelly house. Because I'm not sure which room is good to put the tray in where it won't be in the way. It's not essential. I'm just trying to figure this stuff out

Same here, the second he was provided outside access he never looked back. Now he only uses the litter tray if he's stuck in the house for long days or when we're on holiday. I lock him in while we go on holiday and have a cat sitter come and visit him daily

Cats need to be in at dark for safety so a tray is essential. You can keep them clean & choose a litter that contains the smell by trial & error. There are robot ones now that self clean.

I would say insurance is essential.

@stillfeelingmad the holiday thing is something else I've thought about. If you're away, are cats usually happiest to stay home and have someone come into to feed them? Or go to a cattery? Or stay with a family member in their house? Are they likely to punish us when we get home (my SILs cat poos on their bed whenever they go away, so obviously I want avoid that)

I would rather they use the litter tray as ndn don't want cats pooing in their garden and more importantly you can keep an eye on their health etc. Also as pp said you should keep them in at night so will need a litter tray.

Keep them in one room until they are settled, the kids can go to the kittens room to play with them.

[quote Thisismynewname123]@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter to avoid a smelly house. Because I'm not sure which room is good to put the tray in where it won't be in the way. It's not essential. I'm just trying to figure this stuff out[/quote]
Not very fair on your neighbours - I say this as someone who has her own cats litter tray to clean as well as my neighbours cats delightful offerings in my flowerbeds. Also agree with PPs that you'll need one for night time/when the weather is utterly crap. My house is smelly but we have a decent litter box with filters, use wood pellets and are on top of keeping it clean - pretty standard cat ownership/human servant duties I'm afraid.

I'm watching this thread too (first time kitten owner here!) We pay £10 monthly to cover a lifeplan which is for health basics (jabs, flea & worm treatment and % off procedures) and also £9 each month for life cover insurance (to cover costs of any emergency opps or if, say, our kitten is diagnosed with long-term condition such as diabetes).
What we have found out so far (six weeks in):
Need to change cat litter every other day, so this is the most expensive weekly item - I get ours from B&Ms which is cheaper than Pets at Home!
The vet has recommended to keep him on a diet of solely dried food and you can buy complete foods such as Jameswellbeloved - apparently better for their teeth etc and may help to prevent diarrhoea (see my previous thread re this).
He is absolutely delightful and a joy to have around so hope you will enjoy yours to come!

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter I take your point, particularly about night time, so can't avoid the litter tray anyway, and if we have one she'll use it if she wants to. I don't know how my friend has managed to do without litter trays entirely.

[quote Thisismynewname123]@stillfeelingmad the holiday thing is something else I've thought about. If you're away, are cats usually happiest to stay home and have someone come into to feed them? Or go to a cattery? Or stay with a family member in their house? Are they likely to punish us when we get home (my SILs cat poos on their bed whenever they go away, so obviously I want avoid that)[/quote]
Depends on the cat. Mine is/were (we had two) happy at home with my parents (who they're very familiar with) checking in on them twice a day. You want to check with whoever first before getting a cat though if they're ok with this especially if you're away a lot.

Litter tray is in our kitchen diner as I don't leave bathroom doors open. Its high sided rather than covered. Still need a tray even if they go outdoors

Vet plan is in addition to insurance - we have vet plan to cover injections/flea/wormer treatment. Insurance covers illness/injury

Tall scratching post/cat tree are good too. We also have a horizontal scratcher. Shoe boxes can be used as beds

Doh I meant my house isn't smelly - well if you discount the kids But again mine has a big litter box/changed regularly and tbh the room it's in is pretty draughty.

[quote Thisismynewname123]@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter I take your point, particularly about night time, so can't avoid the litter tray anyway, and if we have one she'll use it if she wants to. I don't know how my friend has managed to do without litter trays entirely.[/quote]
I bet her neighbours do 😬

My PetPlan is £10 a month for a kitten.

I would buy a hooded litter tray to stop him kicking litter all over the floor.

I would buy a carrier, litter tray, food bowls, toys (cats are awkward though, they love some and hate some and you can't tell till they have tried them which will be which!) and a scratching post. A bed is optional since they will probably ignore it.

Mine definitely preferred to stay at home and have someone come in and feed them, cats don't like change.

There is no set amount of time a cat takes to settle. One of mine was very timid and hid under a magazine rack for a couple of weeks, the other two both jumped out of their carriers and made themselves at home.

Jangling a toy with a bell on it normally works when they have hidden themselves away somewhere.

Enjoy your new kittie when he arrives!

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter, no only really once a year, in the summer. So nothing imminent. My mum would help us out, whether it's in our house or hers.

@dementedpixie does it smell having the litter tray in your kitchen? I'd be worried having it in a high traffic area that it will get accidentally kicked a lot.

I would say research insurance, I chose PetPlan because it is the only one my vet claims from directly. Others might be cheaper but you need to pay upfront and then claim back and some are notorious for not paying.

Its in a wee alcove bit. Doesnt smell now as they rarely use it. Some litters hide smells better than others

@Gingerkittykat I spoke to the vet already as part of preparing and she recommended pet plan. And the kitten is a she :)

I use bought by many for insurance. They paid out easily last year

Bought by many was similar in cover but cheaper than Petplan when I took out our insurance