Doing okay with our new kitten?

[LuvSmallDogs]

Hi. I grew up with cats in 90s-00s but have owned none as an adult and I know the advice changes, so want to check in on what we've been doing since yesterday when Dear Kitten (lol) arrived. She's 13 weeks - I think our childhood cats were half that when we got them, but it's probably better for her.

She was a bit of a surprise, as I'd been hoping to get a kitten but they seem to go like hot cakes, then I got given someone's number yesterday. I thought maybe the kittens wouldn't be ready yet, but she encouraged me to go get one ASAP, so DK only has the essentials right now bless her.

When DK came home, she freaked and hid. I told DC to leave her (but pop in the room and chat to her) as she was in the room that is her 'base' with food, tray, bed and toys so she'd be okay. Mum always sets up new cats a 'base' in this way.

After a few hours, she started coming out and getting more confident, everyone's met her properly now and stroked/played with her and she is really lovely - she was raised with children similar ages to mine which has probably helped.

I'm feeding her the same as she was fed at her old home, half a pouch Asda Kitten morning, half a pouch at night and Asda Kitten dry available all day.

She's currently using the carrier with the door off as her bed, I'll get her a real one soon. I've seen cats round here in beds that suction cup to the window, which seems cool, but maybe she needs to be bigger?

I'm not concerned with DK's health at all, she has eaten drunk and toileted fine, acts alert and wants to "sleep hard, play hard".

Any advice is appreciated.

For meaningful advice we really need to see the kitten - you know the rules!

Ok lol, don't think I've attached an image on here before but here goes.

I've never seen a tabby like her before. Her mum is a tortie with lots of red, and here and there her stripes have red in them - mostly on her back, but you can see here one of her eyebrow stripes has a little red on it.

Oh my, she is gorgeous! Just look at those ears!

I don't really have any advice actually, I just wanted to see her :-)

If she's eating and toileting, that's the main things covered.

I have two cats. Olive isn't remotely interested in beds of any sort. Henry loves his fluffy donut bed, and when it's a bit colder, his snuggly house. He also loves his window hammock (Olive has been in occasionally but Henry hogs it most of the time and we don't have room for another!)

So for beds..... I wouldn't spend too much at first in case she doesn't like it.

I'd also get her something to scratch that isn't the arm of the leather sofa furniture!

She is gorgeous!

I think she's the most gorgeous cat ever though am probably biased. Her mum is what I think of as a "pointy cat" - big ears, triangle face, slim build - and most of the kittens have the same look.

Yes, I don't recall any of my childhood cats having a bed at all, they just slept wherever once they were settled enough not to need a 'base', and while they had a base they had a carrier or cardboard box. My mum and dad's current cats do like beds, though I don't know if that's because they are ex breeders who weren't kept in a home environment with beds, sofas and rugs.

My kids have fucked up the furniture so bad that claw marks would improve it, but if I can figure out where to put a cat tree I guess that would sort bed and clawing!

Sounds like she's doing absolutely fine and she is adorable 😍

What's her name? She's gorgeous and you are doing fine!

Welcome OP

Photos of cats are the 'kitty tax' you have to post one every time you have a uestion. Or a comment. Or just because.

Thanks for the reassurance, guys. My 9 y/o has named her "Leena" because apparently naming her a word (like Tiger due to the stripes) or after a TV/book character would be "stupid"?🤣

Her paws look same as my departed Bengal to me.

If kitten is a tortie Bengal cross lord help you 😹

Get a scratch box or post
My old cat would only use flat ones, my new cat will only use a post

I have a cat bed but Not My Cat uses it instead of you know, my actual cat that lives here
The marshmallow fluffy beds are good and not overly expensive

She is absolutely gorgeous and looks healthy.Enjoy your DK.
As the owner of an awkward, unfriendly cat, and having had 6 cats over the last 42 years, I have had a bit of experience.
No disrespect but I would try to get her onto better quality kitten food, then adult food from about 12 months.
A lot of cat food is only 4% in the chunk, and contains a lot of sugars and animal derivatives.
You will need to transition her gradually so as not to upset her little tum, but higher meat content and less ingredients are better..
Hope you all have a long and happy life with her.😻😻

Simba js very offended 😂

Oh he needn't be.He is stunning.What a beautiful cat 💝

Sounds like you’re doing brilliantly. I was the same when I got our kittens 6 months ago, had cats when I was younger but it’s different when you’re the person properly in charge! Only things I’d add is to think about insurance if you haven’t already - vets bills are crippling expensive these days. Microchip - does she have one and is it registered to you? And the suction window beds are brilliant, mine use them loads more than the traditional comfy beds I got them or their expensive cat tree!, I think they like to be up high and looking out of the windows. Also cat springs - cheap and they absolutely love them, they play with them for ages. Sounds like she’s settling in brilliantly.

Oh and for food I use blink, they do a trial box too

Our DKitten is 5mo now. He loves the large fuzzy pompoms you get with kid's craft sets.
I'd have a look on FB Marketplace for cat trees etc. If she likes it, you could consider buying a fancy new one. We've found the location you put it l is as important as the item - as a PP said, a good view out of the window is a winner. Our older cat (who arrived aged 6mo, but is now 13yo) has always shunned just about anything bought for her, and we wasted a fortune trying to find things she loved (spoiler: the occasional feather on a string toy, and the little Pets At Home birds that tweet when batted were acceptable. Nothing else.). This time around, I have bought everything second hand in the happy knowledge I can resell it for pretty much what was paid. Of course, this kitten loves and uses everything... 🙄 (except for the 2 re-commissioned cat beds. They continue to solely function as trip hazards)

@cinnamonfrenchtoast Simba is lovely, and I think Simba is a lovely name! DS1 takes himself a bit too seriously in his attempts to be grown up, I think.

@Worriedcatmum no she's not chipped, and I have looked at insurance/vets, but having got her Thursday afternoon I decided to give ourselves the weekend as a honeymoon before getting into the nitty gritty, and am seeing my family on Sunday whose brains I want to pick regarding these things.

@FormerlyPathologicallyHappy Idk what Bengal's feet look like, but I have noticed her front paws are quite impressive when she stretches them and unsheathes the claws! Her hind paws look very powerful, like rabbit legs.

So far Leena now has a play tent, a cardboard scratcher thing, jingle balls, catnip mouse, a ball made to look like a mouse, a catnip pillow, rustly balls and two mice on sticks.

Jingle balls and the catnip mouse are her favourites so far. She doesn't like the mice on sticks, she runs away if you make them wiggle lol.

I know she's currently not on the best food, I just bought what she has been eating to avoid yet more change all at once/an upset tummy.