Bringing home 2 kittens on Sunday - what have I forgotten?!

[Cadela]

We’ve got 2 eight week old boys coming home Sunday morning and honestly I’m more anxious than when I brought my newborn home 😅

I’ve kitten-proofed as much as I can and I’ve bought a large soft enclosure for them when I’m on the school run (15 mins morning and afternoon) so they don’t get into mischief when I’m not home.

We’ve got whisker friendly bowls, a water fountain, 3 litter trays, a cat tree and lots of toys.

I’ve researched but there nothing like first hand experience! Please tell me everything I need to know about having kittens in the house!

Omg almost forgot kitten tax! Meet Bug (grey) and Ember (black)

All wiring wrapped with cat-proof stuff.

A cat-safe room with everything they need for when visitors/workman/people who can’t be trusted around tiny kittens enter the house.

Toilet seats to be shut at all times.

Washing machine/dishwasher/tumble dryer door to be shut at all times.

No kittens in kitchen (risk of burns).

Initial check with vet arranged.

Kitten-appropriate food.

All chimneys blocked from below.

Any looped strings (check curtains) cut to avoid becoming a noose!!!!!

Carpet shampoo.

Prayer from all your friends 😁😻

Absolutely gorgeous kittens OP.
My main advice is to get a really good camera phone with loads of storage.
Love a black and grey kitten combo 🤣

Congratulations @Cadela, they are beautiful!
We brought home a pair of 8 week olds a week and a half ago… I remember the kitten stage being hard work, but I’d forgotten quite how much! Maybe because there is two of them to cause chaos (we had a singleton last time).
I recommend not bothering with the kitten-sized litter trays (depending on what they are currently used to) - I thought they might be too small to climb over the edge of a full-size one, but I was wrong. And you need at least two trays down at all times, if you have a pair.
Might also be good to get into the habit of not feeding them side-by-side; I’ve got one kitten who isn’t a big fan of the wet food, and the other (greedier!) kitten likes to barge in and take over.

Oh this is a good shout I have bought kitten sized ones 😅 Off to Amazon I go! Are yours in covered ones or just open atm? Thank you for the feeding tip as well.

How are you finding it? In my head the two of them are going to play loads with each other and sleep nicely but I fear I’m delusional!

We had 2 siblings. One was a grazer and one was greedy. We had to get a feeder that opens with their microchip for the grazer so she could eat at her own speed - just a thought for later.

Don't forget to block up any openings to places they may hide - they can squeeze into places you'd think a mouse would have a problem getting in to! This includes under furniture, around cabinets in the kitchen etc.

If you have recliner chairs/sofa, make sure you always know exactly where both kittens are before opening/closing them.

Get in the habit of always checking before you open any outside doors as they can move like greased lightning.

If you can, drop off something like a towel with the breeder as soon as you can so it smells like their own. The familiar scent will be comforting for them.

Make sure you get in the same food & litter they have now. You can try changing it slowly after a while, but at least start with what they are familiar with.

Post more pictures on here than you feel is a reasonable number. With tiny kittens, especially a black & grey pairing, you can't have too many pics to drool over.

Cardboard boxes and screwed up pieces of paper for them to bat around. Beautiful kittens

@Cadela they are brilliant keeping each other company. They spend half their time playing / play fighting, and half the time snuggled up asleep together.
For such tiny creatures, they don’t half make a racket when they run around! I’ve nicknamed them the Thundercats.
They are really sweet, and the kids adore hanging out with them - but on the flip side, my legs are a bit shredded, and they are waking us up at 4am (they are living in our bedroom right now). But I know the crazy stage doesn’t last forever!

We’ve got open trays, but with a lid/edge.

Aww the kittens are beautiful .... makes me want to get another furbaby!
I would just say go with the flow... ours cats get the zoomies about 7pm where they run around like crazy things and knock over drinks... 😸

remember to feed them what ever they were weaned on otherwise they will get runny tummy. New food has to be introduced slowly by adding small bits of new to old over a week. Cats get a upset stomach if you change their food to fast

spray cat tree or scratching posts with cat nip to perk interest

talk to your kittens they like the sound of a friendly voice

Later on you might buy some catnip to spray on their toys

First day home with my new kitten- gone… couldn’t find him, was adamant the kids had opened the door and he snuck out. Found him after 2 hours not only behind the fridge but tucked UNDER it! Poor thing was terrified

My top advice : do make sure you keep them in the pen whenever the outside doors are open. It’s essential they remain indoors for a few weeks.

enjoy them! 😻😻

A tunnel? They love tunnels and will love chasing each other through it.
Only buy cat safe cleaning liquids not bleach for instance.
A wand with feathers to have them chasing it.

Dreamies treats.

Places to hide when they are older.

Found a few kitten pics of our grey and black pair 14 years ago.

They don't stay like this for long 🤣

Awh how cute! You seem well prepared and the advice above is good.

For (cheap!) fun, get them some cardboard boxes and also roll bits of tinfoil into little balls (big enough though that they can't swallow) and watch them have loads of fun!

Empty box sealed up with dcat size holes in all sides...you really don't need anything else to play with!!

Plenty of plasters and savlon for them kitten scratches. They usually aren't mean but my god do they always have their claws out.

Be prepared for them to like a certain food, watch you buy it in bulk and then never like it again.

Keep up to date with fleaing and worming. Make sure you keep up to date with microchip details if you move/change numbers etc, it's a good habit to have and saves the added stress if one of them goes missing.

Get them semi used to water/grooming. There's nothing worse than having to try and clean their bums if they have an upset stomach and them hating the water.

I'm so jealous of you! My youngest is 10 and she's still playful but there's nothing like kittens.

Ask for paperwork about vaccinations, deworming, flee treatment. My sister bought two kittens and they were infested.

Get pet insurance. It's reasonably priced when they're young.

Introduce them slowly to other rooms in the house.
Other suggestions - As time goes on, get them used to travelling in the car.
Introduce them to a harness and lead- this was useful when moving house and you want to let them out to get to know the garden or if you have to restrict their access to the outdoors for any reason but still want them to get a bit of fresh air.

Introduce them slowly to other rooms in the house.
Other suggestions - As time goes on, get them used to travelling in the car.
Introduce them to a harness and lead- this was useful when moving house and you want to let them out to get to know the garden or if you have to restrict their access to the outdoors for any reason but still want them to get a bit of fresh air.

There will be many times in your day they will chase each other like hordes of wildebeest running all around your house, your body and sometimes your face.

they will love then hate each other, don’t get involved, it’s nothing to do with you

they look absolutely gorgeous, good luck

Our little girl has just turned 6 months. She absolutely loves her feather stick. She’s always happy to play when she hears it jingle and it’s definitely built her confidence to interact with us. Photo of Lady Mary because we’re ridiculously obsessed 😂
https://amzn.eu/d/73B6htq