Getting a kitten! What do I need?

[butteriesplease]

hi,
I'm getting a kitten in a few weeks once it's old enough. It's a few years (lots) since i've had a cat. I've got a wee list of what I need - but what have I forgotten?? It's so GORGEOUS!
Thank-you!

litter tray & litter
cat food bowls/water bowls
cat food
cat bed
cat toys
register at vet

Scratch post/box
Nerves of steel
Camera

Photos so we can coo at it.

Preparing for the kitten to destroy your furniture.

A second kitten to keep it company

Get two trays.
And a fountain (small pet one not national trust) they all seem to love a fountain!
Double sided sticky tape for any corners and edges you don't want scratching up.
Agree with a friend for him too

Another kitten.

Another kitten (has anyone mentioned that already?)

You need to enjoy your freedom while you can.

Don't buy a lot of cat food, and buy what the kitten is used to eating.

You don't really need a catbed, they find a different place to sleep every couple of weeks.

one kitten is enough!! fountain - interesting idea. Awesome about tape for furniture. Now wondering about my gorgeous huge christmas cactus... hmmm

It's not enough for the kitten, though. They benefit hugely, both psychologically and physically, from having another cat to interact with, play with and it will mean a lower chance of separation anxiety.

The same does not apply to cats of different ages, but there is a reason why rescues prefer to only remove pairs - and it's not because they get rid of the current inmates in half the time.

On scratch posts -- at opposite extremes of bulk and cost, our cats like the big barrel-shaped ones with a bed on top www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/scratch_barrels/575484

and the disposable cardboard ones that fit on a windowsill and cost about £5.

That photo has just reminded me of something you might wat to consider: wire mesh across a window so the little Houdini(s) won't fall out of the tiny gap you left for ventilation.

lots of great tips and ideas! I really can only have 1 kitten. There will be someone in the house mostly to play with them etc.

Wet wipes for pootastrophies, a pet carrier, non clumping cat litter to start off with, a soft toothbrush for grooming (it feels like the mums tongue and they love it), I had a little pop up play pen thing which helped keep them contained at night so they didn’t get stuck behind something/walk poo everywhere

Nappy bags to bag the poo and a good room deodoriser to spray afterwards - it stinks!

To make sure your breeder is reputable and you are getting what you are paying for? Have you been sent pics/videos etc of the kittens with mum? Seeing them being socialised within the family home etc?

I'd also say dont bother getting a cat bed, we have two kittens and two beds and neither beds have been used once. They just sleep wherever they are

You can control where they sleep. Put out your best cashmere jumper folder into a rectangle or square and place it on the sofa or bed and DCat will sleep on it.

A cat bed, especially if a really nice expensive one? Pah!

@KirstenBlest

You can control where they sleep. Put out your best cashmere jumper folder into a rectangle or square and place it on the sofa or bed and DCat will sleep on it.

Perfect. But make sure it's a white/palest lemon/pink jumper for a black cat, and a nice rich navy or black for a white cat. They need the contrast.

Dry-clean-only black jackets also work.

@KirstenBlest

You can control where they sleep. Put out your best cashmere jumper folder into a rectangle or square and place it on the sofa or bed and DCat will sleep on it.

Or put your bag on the floor and leave it unattended for five minutes.

I've lost a backpack to the TwatCat for the last five months that way. He still uses the radiator beds from time to time, but his primary sleeping place, both day and night is with his chin draped over the spine cushioning.

Yes, I have bought a new backpack because of this.

DCat has only used the radiator bed after I folded it into a square and put it on my chair. The much fancier cat bed was used for a fornight.

Coats and handbags double up well as scratching posts.

And yes, a light colour jumper is preferred but a fleece will do nicely if you have no fancy jumpers.

Another kitten

Put your Christmas cactus out of reach. I had a lovely big jade plant and then I caught kitten peeing in it. Not long after the stem rotted and it died. I don't think that was the first time he'd peed in it tbh.

Get rid of any lilies or lily-of-the-valley.