Collecting kitten - what do I need?

[Stressedgiraffe]

Used to have cats over 10 years ago now have dogs. My neighbours cat had unexpected kittens ( rescue didn't realise she was pregnant) so they asked if we'd like one. Been round they are gorgeous friendly kittens.
We can collect him this weekend.
What do we need?
Carrier
Food - currently on whiskers wet/dry
Bowls
Bed
???

Also we need to slowly introduce him to our dogs. Any advice? We're going to keep him upstairs and the dogs downstairs to start.

Litter tray, have you registered at the vets? Toys, treats

Of course litter tray. Will register at dogs vet and get insurance as well

A scratching post which they should meet immediately. Also ask the vet at what age they should try climbing up the stairs.

Some toys
A camera to take loads of photos!

Cat tree, scratching post, toys

Make sure the toys are kitten sized. We traumatized my childhood kitten with a red ball that was about three times the size of him. I don't know what my parents were thinking.

Brush and comb unless he is like our cat who enjoyed being vacuumed with the upholstery brush at a low suction setting.

toys (ours love a laser 😂)
cat tree
scratching post
a box with cut out windows it can play in/quiet area
ours gave our kitten with a towel the mum had used for the journey home and so they had this for a few days

Better quality food if you don't want unbearably stinky poo - Pets at Home do a good kitten food, Seriously Good Bistro. Blink kitten food is also super.

You need him a playmate.....

Many cardboard boxes for play and hiding. Those cardboard scratch things are quite good though, though they do make a bit of a mess when destroyed!

No play mates we have 2 dogs!

Are you us? We’re picking up kittens this weekend in exactly same circumstances. From people with a rescue cat who was unknowingly pregnant. Whiskas food etc. There must be so many mustn’t there? Or maybe it’s the same litter ha!

We’ve brought better cat food to slowly shift them to when they’ve settled in. Litter tray, feliway plug in, scratching post, few toys, kitten litter, cat carrier, bowls, cat tree for a bed.

Could be are you in the SE?

Ours will be a little ginger boy

We're off to pets at home tomorrow

Nope there were no ginger ones. Bless there are so many unneutered rescue cats about. Good luck with your new kitten! Feels great to be taking in some little tabby moggys.

Maybe we can have a support thread!!
Never had dogs and cat at the same time. It'll be interesting!

We have never had a cat who used a scratching post. The single most ignored thing ever! Current master of the house has a coire mat - he LOVES it and has a really good go at it several times a day!

I am available if you need a cat carrier 😉😁

I'll post pics once we get him

Antiseptic cream and plasters for when you get shredded 🤣

We got a tiny kitten brush which was unbelievably cute. And a little hot waterbottle for the kittens to sleep cuddled up with for the first couple of days in case they missed their mother and siblings.

Rustly tunnel has been the best toy here. Still popular and they are 5!

Ours love the scratching post, I was fully expecting them not to. They do however ignore any bed we buy them 😅

Check your litter is suitable for kittens. Ask his current Cat Slaves to give you some of the litter they use and the food they give him. Changeover needs to be gradual .

I would also recommend grain free biscuits - we swapped ours over and a huge improvement to the smell ….unless madam eats snails 🤮

Don't change food or litter yet - he needs to settle in first and lots of changes will just result in a really upset tummy.

When you do change his diet it needs to be done gradually for the same reasons.

I would also recommend two kittens though - they do a million times better in pairs and your ankles won't get as shredded

Litter tray with cover
Feeding and water bowls
60% meat or fish cat food
Good quality dry food
Cat carrier (sturdy with removable.lid as well as door)
Cat bed (they may use it)
VET appointment for a check up/advice re fleaing, worming, jabs, microchip and neuter/spey.

Toys - fishing rod and tinkly balls

INSURANCE
INSURANCE
INSURANCE

I bet almost 100% of insured cats are registered with a vet, speyed/neutered and microchipped.

High quality kitten, then catfood at 12 months. It will pay in the long run. Enjoy your kitten!!

Reading all these posts mentioning cat trees makes me wonder if I'm really mean as Harry never had one! I don't have the room so he made do with a cheap scratching post from Amazon!

My cat when I was growing up didn’t have one or a scratching post- he used the table legs 🤣