Advice for potential new cat owner

[Freesia9]

We are looking into adopting a kitten. I'm trying to do as much research as possible. I have always been a dog owner (not now), but my DD13 seems to be a cat whisperer. She spends time at her dad's who has 4 cats. Could you please give me advice on what to have ready and how to make the first weeks as easy as possible for our new family member. And advice on how to get them to use their litter tray for the first time. (Will be indoor with supervised access to high fenced garden)

If you are getting kittens get two! They will be in charge. Once you know your place you'll be fine. Get the best insurance you can afford.

Ok, so insurance is worth it from kitten age and not from about age 5?

Main advice if you're used to dogs is to let a cat/kitten take its own sweet time. I'm sure wherever you get him from will tell you this anyway, but they need a safe, quiet part of the house where they can retreat to when it all gets too much- give them a day or two shut in there with occasional visits (food and litter tray provided, obviously) so they won't get overwhelmed.

My boy (1.5 when adopted) spent about 48 hours under the bed in the spare room. It took him several more days to venture down the corridor to explore the rest of the house. He's now a confident fellow who owns every inch of the place- but as soon as the hoover comes out, it's back to the safety of the spare room!

Oh, and I think the advice is about a month before you let them out, so that their home territory is familiar and they won't try to return to wherever you got them from.

What do people do if they go away for 2-3 nights? We always took dog with us. Obviously can't do the same with cats, but don't want them to be lonely!

You can't leave a kitten alone for days. You would need to have someone come and be company for the kitten or ask family/friends to keep the kitten while you're away.

Get them established on a routine so they know when to expect to eat. This, and play time, will help them feel secure and bonded with you.

When they're a bit older and settled, getting a suitably besotted friend or neighbour in to check on them, change their food/water and give them some attention is OK for 2-3 days. I would pay for a cat-sitter for longer.

I absolutely wouldn't use a cattery, as we did when I was little. Being in their own familiar territory is too important to them.

Do you know anyone local, maybe with a teenager, who would stay when you're away? It's much nicer for cats to stay in their own home. If not, cultivate someone who would call in, local friends as above or through FB/Nextdoor or local vet noticeboard.
Having two is nice but it is double all costs. We turned down DCat's brother, she is now nearly 17 and quite happy.
My biggest advice is train them! Get something that makes a distinctive noise, bell or dingly thing, pair the noise with a treat, we use Thrive. If they are given a treat the bell MUST be rung, if the bell is rung they MUST be given a treat. It has been a godsend if we ever couldn't find her or just wanted her to come in etc.
good luck, photos please!

I would never dream of leaving a kitten alone. It's just that with a dog, I always took them wherever we went and it's a shame not to be able to do that with cats. Happy to pay cat sitter to spend some time with them. I usually only go away twice a year.

Don't get one from a breeder. Use RSPCA or any other animal shelter, and only take a cat that's 12 weeks old or more

We’ve left our adult cats home alone got two week stretches with a neighbour coming in and feeding and they were fine.

I got two rescue kittens from the same litter and they are extremely bonded and spent so much time playing together, I would definitely consider two. In fact, I was only allowed to have two as they were being rehomed in pairs, but it was worth it.
A kitten doesn't need training on how to use a litter tray, they should already know. They go missing and hide in all sorts of random places! Always check the washing machine and tumble drier before you use them as they are very curious and tend to climb inside.
I got insurance from the beginning and am glad I did, one of mine racked up a £2K bill bill aged 2 by having an unforeseen accident. When we go away we have so far had a family member stay in the house. But you can leave them overnight as long as you leave plenty of food and water and litter facilities, when they are a little older maybe.

I'd adopt a pair of older cats. Kittens are quite stressful.

I use a cattery for more than a couple of days.

Definitely get two. They learn so much and amuse themselves a lot more if they have a playmate, it's really good for them and will mean they are much less likely to be destructive through boredom. It's not much more work/cost either.

You can leave older cats for a night but not kittens. They should already know how to use a litter tray, their mums show them and they learn very quickly. Just make sure they know where the litter tray is and don't leave it near their food/water as they don't like that. Buy the best quality cat litter you can afford. Everybody has different preferences about this but my three love Super Benek, which I buy from Zooplus. It has larger pieces so doesn't track anywhere near as much and is compostable and it doesn't have that clay litter smell, which I personally don't like.

Make sure you insure them. One of my cats had a bladder blockage and had surgery that cost the insurers nearly £8,000.

Having kittens is a lovely experience, they are so joyful and full of life, it's hard not to smile at them.