I've inherited a kitten and I need some help

[CatamaranViper]

How I ended up with a kitten is a very long story so I'll skip that and end on, I've inherited a 9(ish) week old kitten. Very out of the blue. Did an emergency shop and bought a bed, some toys, litter tray, food bowls, cat carrier and a little comforter. Kitten seems happy but wondering if anyone has any must haves, either toys or home stuff, that we should look at?
Basically the best things you bought for your cat.

Part of the problem at the moment is the kitten absolutely stinks. Stale cigarette smoke and dirty litter trays. I want to clean it but everything I've read on line, I just can't imagine holding the cat down to wash it.

We're on the wait list for injections and for a full check up as well.

Any help would be very appreciated

9 week old kitten isn't too hard to bathe. Have someone stood ready with a towel. Get some good flea shampoo safe for kittens.

Make a soap ring around their neck so if it does have fleas (sounding likely) they won't crawl into its eyes.

Make sure you dry it thoroughly

Set it up a little safe space with bed, food and tray, but make sure the tray is away from where it sleeps and eats.

(Can we have a picture?)

I would definitely battery him in these circumstances - not that I've gad kits if experience with doing so, but I think kittens generally tolerate bathing better than adult cats. Scuffing him should keep him still while you do it.

Don't waste money on expensive toys etc but I'd give him an igloo bed so he has somewhere to hide, and scratching post

Get her a cardboard scratcher for her claws. Gently bath her with a damp flannel. No need to submerge her in the water. Then wrap her up and let her sleep on you. Oh, and we need a name and her picture. 😻

Cats don't like water bowls next to their food dish BTW, keep them a distance apart

I'd be tempted to dunk in a large tub/bath of tepid/warm water with a little baby shampoo, which will get some of the filth out and also drown some fleas. The kitten won't like it but will recover quickly. You really need to flea and worm asap as both can be harmful to young kittens.

It is easy to bath a kitten that young just get everything ready first and make a soap ring round neck then wash really well and rinse really well. We did actually then wash hard face ears too as the infestation was awful he didn’t like it but was only a quick rinse under the tap when done then wrapped up in a towel and make sure you keep the kitten warm after the bath

head - not hard ! We washed him gently!!!

Most cats like being ‘stroked’ with a damp flannel, wring it out in warm water. It’s like being licked by their Mum ( a wash leather is even better, ours would follow you round the garden dragging it to drop a hint)

It sounds like you've rescued the little scrap from a horrid situation - well done you! ❤️

I agree, a gentle bath, somewhere safe to hide, to sleep, to poo, and food and water separate.

Kittens love to play and explore, but be led by her - she'll also need lots of sleep and quiet time.

Good luck to you both! Can't wait to see the photo, hem hem...

And glad to hear you're taking Puss to the vets - they'll be happy to give you advice too. 9 weeks is still so little, you're Mum now!

To help clean the poor thing, perhaps get one of those gloves that can be used in the shower and then just make it lightly damp? You could then stroke them to try and get some of the stink off?

You could try using a damp face cloth rather than giving a full on bath. We have a scratching post and cat tree. My cats also like sleeping in cardboard boxes rather than actual cat beds.
I even bought a cardboard cat bed

So he's a little black kitten that currently only wants to sit in dark places so I haven't actually managed a decent photo yet! When he's playing he's still very skittish.
We've got a 7 year old too who's obsessed with him.
Current name is Jam (guess who chose that!)

I've got water away from food and litter tray away as well. He has been wormed and flea'd already, we've got the details for those.

He's done a poo in the litter tray already which I'm taking as a good sign

cardboard cat bed

I did give him an empty Easter egg box to sit in but so far no interest!
He doesn't really like being held and only stroked when he is on the ground. Won't sit on knees yet

Aww, a little house panther! It sounds like you're respecting his space - that will grow his confidence in time - an (understandably) obsessed 7 year old could quickly overwhelm a kitten, but also be a great playmate when they're more used to each other!

A tunnel. DCat has had his for 13 years and still plays in it.

Get a stick feather toy so you can play together.

How lovely of you to take him in!

I would take advantage that he's young and get him used to trim his claws every fortnight. My cat hates to bathe but I get DH to help when we have to. I give him a treat after every nail trimming.

They are like babies, so get him many toys to keep him entertained, specially a tall (1.5 metre) scratching tree, most cats love them. They like to sit on a high position. I actually have other 2 smaller scratchers and he uses the 3 of them. My cat also loves the feather, like a long stick with a feather, I move it around and he chases it, he spends a lot of energy there. He also loves a mouse stuff toy.

How is kitten getting on?

Ah thanks for checking in.
He's great!
90% of poos in the litter tray, getting his vaccines in a few days, no longer smelly.
Still doesn't like sitting on knees but loves lying next to you. Doesn't like cardboard boxes and doesn't really groom himself much but oh well. He's a bit obsessed with the curtains so I'm making a rosemary spray to try and keep him away from them as apparently they don't like that.

He's eating really well and incredibly playful. He's been spoilt with loads of toys by us and his grandparents. Haven't yet braved nail trimming but he seems to be doing quite well with his scratching post. Will try and get a pic

Little Jam. Need to get a better name but this one seems to be sticking.

You can get the litter trays with a lid like a little house they walk into my lad has a house cat and has one of these ..I have to cat sit now and then and I would hate an open litter try this was a god send

He's gorgeous! You could lengthen his name to Jammy Dodger, then call him Dodger or Dodge. Because you'll be dodging round him a lot when he gets under your feet without you noticing....

Awww his tiny toe beans! 😻😻