We're going all in!

[Circumferences]

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 🐱

A cardboard box to hide and play in, most likely to utterly destroy it too. Amazon large paper bag to hide in and jump on their sibling when they are inside and to pounce out from when you walk past. Slippers to protect your toes from attack.
A cat tree or three.
we didn’t go with flat cat panels for the windows, I bought keyless window restrictors and off-set them when fixing them - the windows now open only less than 1 inch before you need to release them - not wide enough for fingers and paws to get through, but bigger than being on vent.
Dreamies - and train them to come when you rattle the tub. Makes it easier if you do let them out, to get them back home and for finding them when they disappear in the house.
Enjoy kittenhood!

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

Please don’t flush cat poop or litter - it introduces toxoplasmosis into the water supply.

good luck with your kitties op!

Dog poop bags for the used litter and metal litter scoops (plastic ones bend and snap - showering you in used litter. Not recommended)

FWIW my kittens love real life toys from the garden - leaves, pine cones, feathers etc. I imagine they smell much more exciting.

I've only ever had one litter tray for littermates, but no harm getting two.

I kept my kittens in just the kitchen for almost a week, and then I've been letting them gradually into the rest of the house this week.

They need vaccinations at 9 weeks and 12 weeks. Usually get the microchip done at 12 weeks as well. My vet said they would probably be big enough to be neutered by 4 months, and then they can safely go outside once healed.

This advice is all brilliant thanks all
We've done our first main shop and basically got more of everything

Also, you need to post pictures once they arrive!

Comment noted 😂

I'd recommend a fountain rather than water bowls, remember to keep food and water in different areas.
Get a cat tree and put it near a window.
Buy some large kicker toys to give them if they start biting your hands or feet (it won't work every time but it helps).
Enjoy your crazy, energetic little floofs.

Never kept a dkitten until 6 months! Neutering can be done at 2kg for the girls. Think 4 months or when balls are visible with the boys!! Short introductions to the garden with you there is great fun!

We collected yesterday from their handler who had loads of different water fountains and little scratching houses around so we'll be making an Amazon order for things like that definitely.
They have such lovely characters everyone is delighted 🥰

Here they are!

Aww, they're gorgeous OP. Enjoy your new family members.

Beautiful, life will never be the same now (in the best way ever).

Gorgeous 😻 Enjoy!

Awwww. Beautiful start to the week and two!!!

Just repeating what others have said. Of course you can't let them out so soon. If you rehome an adult they should be kept inside for at least three weeks. Kittens can't go out at all until they are much bigger and certainly not until after they are neutered, which should be done at 16 weeks. And I would then keep them in a couple of months after that, until they are at least 6 months old.

Nothing to add to the advice above.
I can confirm however that your kittens look gorgeous 👍.

Oh, dear god, yes!

I have the scars to prove this.

Here's my 'why you need insurance' story.
Zara has always been a robustly healthy cat. I duly paid out every month, sometimes wondering if it was a waste of money (Petplan). One day I heard a strange noise outside, a thud, then she came in unable to weight bear on one paw. She had totally dislocated her front left ankle. The bones were nowhere near each other. Luckily none of them were cracked or fractured, so the vet said the prognosis was ultimately good, but he'd definitely have to put a plate in to fuse the bones together. When I asked if I had insurance, I could see the visible relief when I said yes. Surgery was scheduled for the day after next.
So that was - initial consult and x-rays

• meds and bandages


• surgery, with all associated staff and equipment


• painkillers


• follow-up x rays times 2.

Total cost easily 4k, it might have been more, I can't remember. All I paid was the insurance excess, which I think was £75. As for Zara, she has a slight loss of range of movement in the ankle, which is inevitable with a fusion, but its painless and it doesn't slow her down one bit. She can run, jump, and climb. If you watch her long enough you realize that paw doesn't fold inwards all the way (e.g. in loaf position) but apart from that you'd never know it happened. What would we have done without insurance? I don't know. I didn't have 4k+ immediately to hand.