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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.

Help! What do I need?

11 replies

kittenly · 02/01/2023 10:17

I could be getting a kitten possibly two this week. A neighbour has them but has been let down by the original person collecting and I am next in line.

I know I need the obvious like, food and bowls, cat litter and tray, (already litter trained)toys, they will come with their existing beds and scratch posts.

I have already looked at pet insurance and researched good vets in the area.

Anything else I need to consider that I haven't thought of for those first few weeks?

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Anotheryearsameshitshow · 02/01/2023 10:26

Congratulations on your 2 dkittens! Much better than 1! Recently discovered those cardboard dcat houses! Wow brilliant - save your sofa! And lots of soft cosy blankets!
And photos.
Lots of those!

kittenly · 02/01/2023 10:27

Cardboard houses??? Yes furniture scratching is my only worry. I'll post pics if we get them for certain

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Allergictoironing · 02/01/2023 10:57

Make sure you block up any holes they can get into e.g. behind the kitchen units, up a chimney, behind a bookcase. Kittens can squeeze into surprisingly small spaces and vanish, leading to panic charging round trying to find them!

Winter now, but bear in mind that they won't be able to go out until they've been jabbed & neutered so consider what you will need to do about windows etc. when the weather gets warmer - I use Flatcats to stop my indoor cats going out.

Get ceramic or metal bowls, plastic taints the taste. Place the bowls well away from the litter tray, and ideally have a decent gap between the food and water bowls. Start on the same litter & food they have been on, you can gradually change over time if you want.

Think about confining them to one room at first so they can acclimatise, then play it by ear to let them explore.

You may want to look into a cat tree, as many cats prefer to be up high.

You don't say if you have DC. If you do, keep an eye on their behavior around the kittens and if they are toddler age then never let them together unsupervised for both DC and kitten's sakes. Kittens can be very delicate and small children quite rough!

When you get your insurance, please consider a lifetime plan. That way, if they get any chronic condition it will be covered for life rather than just the year it appears in - my DSis ended up paying well over insurance premiums every month for epilepsy meds for example.

Post pics in here as soom as you can. Kitten tax is very important!

kittenly · 02/01/2023 11:16

Yes I have children but they are older Primary age. Good tip about bowls. Litter tray in downstairs loo so well away from food bowls in the utility.
Good point re lifetime plan and I'm also looking at a plan including annual vaccinations

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kittenly · 02/01/2023 17:13

This is the little fella. Non twee names appreciated
Current names in the mix;
Colin
Steve
Alan
Barry
Terry
Robbie
Lionel

Help! What do I need?
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Anotheryearsameshitshow · 02/01/2023 17:16

What about Ivan?

Anotheryearsameshitshow · 02/01/2023 17:17

Cat house

Help! What do I need?
Allergictoironing · 02/01/2023 17:46

More a Steven than a Steve IMO. Or maybe a Timothy. Or Trevor?

HuntingoftheSnark · 02/01/2023 17:48

He is gorgeous! Colin suits him.

This was Cordelia almost 18 years ago - she's still pretty kittenish at times although her miaow isn't what it used to be.

I second the making sure he can't escape anywhere.

Help! What do I need?
kittenly · 02/01/2023 17:57

We live in a new build so hopefully no nooks and crannies I can't see.
Current list is now;
Eric
Andy
Colin
Vince
Trevor

OP posts:
kittenly · 02/01/2023 17:58

Ivan a good choice as it site with my Erasure leanings

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