New kitten coming on Friday.

[PriamFarrl]

I’ve not had a kitten before, our last girl came to us at 9 months. She’s 12 weeks old.
Any advice, or suggestions?

No useful advice OP but solidarity as I am in the same boat! I am due to pick up an 8 week old kitten on Friday and I feel as flustered as I do when expecting a baby 😅

I've been watching videos on YouTube and making notes; Jackson Galaxy and Kitten Lady are great channels though the latter focuses on really young kittens for the most part so may be less useful. Have asked current owner kittens food preferences and will also ask what litter they currently use.

She’s a rescue and is coming from a Cat’s Protection foster home. The foster parent has told me the litter and food she likes, so we have that in.
We’ve got toys, a bed, a carrier, blankets, food, litter, litter tray, scratching stuff.
The big question is what room to put her in. We usually sleep in one room and use the other as a dressing room. The room we sleep in would be the best option, but do we sleep in there or in the other room?

Biggest tip.

Always pick up a small scoop of used litter from the home she is coming from and place it in your litter tray. If possible get a toy, blanket etc. that has mums scent on and place in her bed.

Cats are very scent orientated. By making her things in your home smell familiar she will feel less scared.

8 weeks is very young to separate a kitten from its mum. Why so early?

Evidence shows that kittens benefit greatly from staying with their mums and siblings for longer and this helps them be more confident and reduce the risk of behavioural and litter training issues once rehomed.

@CandlelightGlow

The research if you’re interested.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5583233/

I’ve got a scoop or two of litter coming with her. Not sure about a blanket though.

If not a blanket ask if you can take a small toy or even take a flannel with you and rub it over mum cat. Little things can make the new kitten feel more secure.

Thanks that is interesting. Unfortunately I am not the one rehoming the kittens so I don't really get a say in what age they do that at. Generic advice online is from 8 weeks, I'm sure I've even seen a campaign called 8 precious weeks or similar, so I imagine it's not uncommon. Hopefully we will be okay, I can't back out now and even if I did they will just find someone else to take the kitten.

Of course you get a say. You can choose not to take the kitten. Standards will only improve when buyers stop taking kittens so young because breeders don’t want the extra expense of caring for them for longer.

I've read the study, it handsome useful info in it especially about the impact of personality and how the right home life can mitigate the behaviour. I will still be getting my cat but thanks for the concern.

Has some, not handsome!