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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

We're going all in!

42 replies

Circumferences · 13/08/2022 07:12

Tomorrow afternoon we're going to collect 2 tabby kittens advertised as 10 weeks old and ready to move in, litter trained and weaned to food.

We're shopping today. We literally have nothing for them at all yet so are going to get all the basics - have I got my list right?

Cat cage for journey home (and vet trips) x1
Cat blankets x2
Cat food bowls X2
Water bowl x1
Toys x many
Scratch post x1
Litter tray x1
Litter
Food.

We'll get them chipped and neutered when they're appropriate aged, should we go in for pet insurance? Is it worth it?

Also is it right to keep them inside for around 1 week before letting them go out, to get them used to their indoor territory feeling safe/loved before introducing the great outdoors?

Any advice would be great 🐱

OP posts:
MaryJoLisa · 13/08/2022 07:18

My pair shared a litter tray, but many won't. The advice is usually one more tray than cats I believe. I kept mine in until they were neutered, but that was more to do with them being little and me not wanting to be a grandmother. They won't use the blankets - clean washing or the trousers you are intending to wear to work maybe. You will need an additional cat carrier at some point, as they will quickly get too big to share. You need to find out what food they are currently having and get that ideally, even just for a transitional period, as they may get dodgy tummies from a sudden change.

CatsOneAndTwo · 13/08/2022 07:23

How exciting! We have two 15 week old female tabby kittens that we got from a rescue about 6 weeks ago. They have turned our lives upside down! We have besotted by them.
Your list looks good. They also like boxes to play with, crinkly paper, pine cones......free toys are lots of fun too.

They are far too young to go out. We were advised to wait until they have been neutered.
For the first few days we let ours explore the lounge and kitchen until they were settled and happy to be around us. They now have the run of the house though they sleep in the kitchen at night so that we can have the windows open in the bedrooms.

Try and get them chipped asap and seen by a vest for their jabs.

Enjoy your two bundles of joy and let us know how they're settling in - with photos!

applegrumbles · 13/08/2022 07:24

Yes you need to get the same food they’re having now and make any change gradually. Ditto litter.

One water bowl isn’t enough IMO (and FYI don’t put the water too close to their food). You might consider a cat water fountain.

Don’t go crazy buying toys until you know what sort of things they like.

Pet insurance is absolutely worth it and you’d be idiots not to have it.

You don’t mention a carrier. Is this being supplied with them? Or do you need your own? Would advise putting a puppy pad in the carrier in case they wee. We put a towel on top as our cat seems to prefer this to a blanket. Not sure what you envisage using the blankets for but I wouldn’t bother tbh.

They are far too little to go out in a week’s time. We kept ours in until he was neutered.

ItsSnowJokes · 13/08/2022 07:35

Please do not let your kittens out until they have both been neutered and they are both healed. Females can get pregnant really young and having kittens at such a young age can kill them. Males will wander when unneutured and you could lose your kitten as he will be so young.

Some vets will neuter at 4 months old so it's not too long to keep them in. The majority of vets it is 6 months or 2kg in weight for neutering.

Insurance is a must, can you afford a 2-3k bill at the drop of a hat if one of them were injured?

srey · 13/08/2022 07:36

I would get 2 litter trays.

Mine wouldn't share a litter tray.

When they're small get a flat tray type but once they're bigger get top entry ones and there's no mess of litter (my boy cat is a litter kicker)

srey · 13/08/2022 07:37

Also. You're not supposed to let them out until they're 6 months.

Original poster
Circumferences · 13/08/2022 07:43

Ah! I had no idea you kept them inside for that long, thank you so much

OP posts:
eurochick · 13/08/2022 07:44

Mine shared a litter tray until they came into heat, then they needed separate trays. I guess the hormones in the wee put the other one off!

Don't let them out until they have been neutered unless you want 2 kittens to quickly become about 15...

Original poster
Circumferences · 13/08/2022 07:44

Ok so I think we'll go with 2 litter trays

OP posts:
yonce · 13/08/2022 07:45

The golden rule (apparently) is a litter tray per cat then one extra, so three for two cats.

They can definitely stay inside much longer, 6 months is the youngest I'd let mine out (after being neutered) 😊

dancemom · 13/08/2022 07:52

More blankets, more food and water bowls, at least one more litter tray, preferably 3 in total. Basically more of everything!

Logoplanter · 13/08/2022 07:58

Agree with the advice you've got so far. Definitely don't let them out until they've been neutered. They also need to be old enough (6 months plus) to defend themselves, so if they are only 10 weeks old they are going to be in for a while.

I'd get at least one other tray. We have two cats and three trays. Our pair came to us as adult cats from a rescue but actually don't like each other much. They don't flight but hiss at each other daily. They both use the two trays downstairs but only one of them uses the upstairs tray. One of them often has a wee in one tray then moves to the one next to it to have a poo. I think it's fairly common for cats to wee and poo in different trays so definitely worthwhile having more than one tray.

Also agree about using their existing litter and food as you want to make the transition easy for them and this will help.

The advice is to keep them in the same room initially with all their stuff so they can settle. We've never done that with any of our cats as we've been led by them and even when we've had young kittens they've wanted to explore. That being said I'd definitely have a room set up for them and plan to do it that way and then see what they want to do.

Also, you need to post pictures once they arrive!

Logoplanter · 13/08/2022 08:04

Oh, I also agree about the blankets. I'd get a couple of cardboard boxes and put old towels/blankets in them. I suspect in the long-term they'll end up on your bed and this way you'll save some money but if they don't you could get them beds/blankets once you know what they like.

Also, in relation to scratching posts just be aware that some cats like to scratch horizontally and some vertically. We have a scratching post (vertical) which is ignored by both of our two but both of them use the cardboard scratchers (horizontal) daily. We have three around the house. They'll only use the post if I put it on its side so it's horizontal. Doesn't stop them occasionally deciding to stretch up on the sofa though 🤷

srey · 13/08/2022 08:08

Also. Your cats will choose where they scratch in the house. I got scratching things that went on the corners of the walls where they chose to scratch. Not pretty but better looking than scratched wallpaper.

canellini · 13/08/2022 09:06

We had two kittens and one tray- no issues. When old enough and neutered they started going outside and have never used the tray since- we keep it in case but even if they're in for hours they don't use it. Have fun!

Trixiefirecracker · 13/08/2022 09:11

Ours never used the water fountain, was a waste of money. Cat bed, waste of money. Cat scratching post, waste of money. They drink out of a cup of water ( usually ours) sleep on a bed ( ours), scratch the sofa, chairs, dining chairs, bannister. 🙄Definitely two litter trays. Is bit of strong with a cotton reel/feather etc or screwed up super ball is fine for a toy! Save your pennies for cat bills.

Trixiefirecracker · 13/08/2022 09:12

*a bit of string!

FourOclock · 13/08/2022 09:24

How exciting! Enjoy your new little kitties. We have one water bowl that three cats and a dog share very happily so no harm in starting with just one for now. (Well actually one cat prefers the alpacas' water outside 😂 but none of them demand their own!) I would just get the minimum and see how you go, your list looks absolutely fine.

ATailOfTwoKitties · 13/08/2022 09:30

Have a good think about how to keep them inside, in hot weather. Kittens have zero common sense but plenty of sense of adventure, they climb everything, and they fit through surprisingly small gaps. You may want to put mesh across any open windows.

Kitten poo absolutely stinks, worse than adult cats, for some reason, so I’d recommend not having them sleep in your bedroom at night.

Antarcticant · 13/08/2022 09:34

Cat cage for journey home (and vet trips) x1

You will need 2 cat carriers once they are bigger and it might be easier even when they are kittens. Cats do not like being put in carriers; once you manage it you need to get the carrier shut pronto. If you try to add a second cat, likely the first one will get out while you are getting the second one in!

Toddlerteaplease · 13/08/2022 09:38

My pair share a litter tray as well. I'd get two carriers. As they won't both fit in one for long.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/08/2022 09:39

Definitely get the best insurance you can afford. Tesco are very good.

Allergictoironing · 13/08/2022 11:04

ATailOfTwoKitties · 13/08/2022 09:30

Have a good think about how to keep them inside, in hot weather. Kittens have zero common sense but plenty of sense of adventure, they climb everything, and they fit through surprisingly small gaps. You may want to put mesh across any open windows.

Kitten poo absolutely stinks, worse than adult cats, for some reason, so I’d recommend not having them sleep in your bedroom at night.

If your budget allows, have a look at Flat Cats for windows. My cats are indoor only, and these are a lifesaver in the hot weather!

ATailOfTwoKitties · 13/08/2022 11:09

Thanks for that link! We foster kittens and I’ll have a look at those instead of our current chicken wire arrangement.

TheOGCCL · 13/08/2022 11:24

On scratching, I'd have multiple scratching pots around at strategically placed locations, eg door thresholds. Cats are such territorial creatures and scratching is part of this behaviour. Otherwise they might prefer your sofa, armchairs, carpets, rugs or anything else they can get hold off (door frames for example, or wallpaper - you should pick up quite quickly if they are horizonal or vertical scratchers). On e the habit sets in it's hard to change. Remember too they will grow. Most vertical scratchers are already too short for an adult cat to stretch up to their full height. Pets At Home have a tall one I think, about 90cm.

I use catnip to attract my cat to the various scratchers and then he needs no further encouragement. Ripped up furniture and carpets is no fun.

The advice is right about one litter tray per cat plus one more but that may be overkill of they are small, bonded and you intend for them to go out AFTER neutering. My cat abandoned his tray as soon as he started going out. Does make it harder to check what he is depositing as cats conceal when they are ill and this is a good tell tale factor.

Then it's just making sure there's nothing dangerous left out, eg an ironing board with an iron in it or a ladder, which could topple and kill. Closing the toilet seat. Checking the washing machine before turning it on etc. They are a dangerous combo of being vulnerable, curious and full of energy.

I'm a cat sitter and see lots of different litter types. The best I've seen are wood pellets which you can flush.

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