Kitten - what do I need to know?

[RealHousewivesOfTaunton]

We're bringing home our first kitten, hopefully this weekend. DH and I have had adult cats before but never a kitten. He's 4 months old, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated and microchipped but not neutered yet.

We don't have any cat equipment and the house needs a good going over to make sure it's safe for him. I'm planning to put him in his carrier in a quiet-ish room with food, water and a litter tray and let him come out in his own time. I'm looking at cat trees, beds and toys. What else do I need to do/know?

Don't worry about beds, he will choose where he wants to sleep (your bed, sofa, the clean washing, DH's favorite chair etc). If you really want to offer him a bed, an igloo or donut bed can be great options.

Kittens can hide in the smallest of spaces, so as long as you are careful about doors don't worry if he apparently vanishes off the face of the earth.

At 4 months he's old enough to be neutered now. He won't be able to go out anyway until he's at least around 6 months old as the great outdoors can be quite dangerous for a small kitten, but may as well get him done asap. If he's coming from a rescue, they may offer you a discount voucher. Also, most vets now offer a plan that covers all vaccinations & check ups, and may do a package that includes neutering.

He will need LOTS of play. You haven't mentioned toys, lots of varied toys. In fact the best thing you can get him is another kitten of a similar age!

I'm booking him in for the snip as soon as I have a collection date.

I'd love to get a pair but he's the last one left of his litter. He's currently living in a house with 17 other cats (!) so I'm sure he'll find us very quiet - hopefully not boring though! There will be many, many toys. DS is determined to teach him to play football. DD is going to lead train him, apparently.

www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/pregnancy-and-kitten-care/bringing-a-new-kitten-home

Here's a link with some information may be worth a read :)

Great link, thankyou.

@RealHousewivesOfTaunton you're welcome :) and enjoy your new little one!

I'm sure I will. We met him on Sunday and he was alternating between cuddles and pouncing on another cat's tail. Very lively!

Kitten tax attached. We're still debating names. Purrcules is my favourite.

@RealHousewivesOfTaunton oh my goodness what an adorable fluffball 😍

I'd be looking to get him a little friend too OP (sorry! 😬), as much for your sanity as his. It doesn't need to be from the same litter.
We rehomed a kitten in 2023 as a singleton as he was also the last of his litter. He was totally dependent on us for all company and play, in the constant way small DCs are, except that this 'small DC' didn't go to bed at a set time in a cot! He was the most fabulous and loving little soul, but incredibly needy and was like my shadow. He also annoyed the hell out of our older cat as he was so desperate for company, he kept bugging her. Unfortunately he suffered heart failure and he died at just over a year old.
Once the grief had subsided a little and we were ready to re-home again, we went for 2. They are little hooligans, but definitely less work overall and mostly leave our older cay alone, preferring to wrestle and snuggle each other. Older DCat is much happier this time around. My ankles are noticeably less covered in bite marks too than with our singleton for the same reason.

We'll start off with this one and see how he gets on. If he's driving us crazy then we might add another, but at £1k a pop minimum, it's not a cheap fix!

It sounds like it's worth investing in leather slippers and chaps 😂

Erm - ever heard of rescues?

My Dsis has had cats for years - all rescues. I've had cats - all rescues. I reckon around at least 75-80% of the cats on here are rescues - maybe more if you include "breeds" who came from rescues e.g. Toddler's Persians.

Even if you're wedded to the idea of a particular breed, there are rescues for most of them too! Though tbh yer typical cross bred moggy is likely to have fewer problems than a specific breed.

£100-120 from the local cat rescue, including chip, jabs and neutering 😉😻

I'd love a rescue cat but unfortunately I have severe allergies, so it's a fancy hypoallergenic pedigree or nothing.

They eat more than adults and this is normal.

If it’s a late maturing dont neuter early it can damage the urethra and cause recurrent uti.

Thanks all. I've spent an absolute fortune on toys this week! We brought him home this afternoon and it's going well. He's found a good hiding space but has popped out for biscuits and a few discovery laps of the dining room. He's currently back in his hidey hole letting DH hand-feed him tuna.

My goodness he's gorgeous, what breed is he? Going for forest cat or siberian?

So floofy already 😍

You're right, he's a Siberian. Very fluffy! We've brushed him a few times already and he doesn't seem to mind, so that's a relief. He's currently miaowing in his sleep, having chosen a dining chair for his nap instead of one of the five cat beds available for his exclusive use.