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!

Make sure to keep their food, water and trays all in separate places. Food has been mentioned by pp's, but use the same litter as well.

You can't have too many scratching posts! Or cardboard boxes.

A vet check up, if you don't know for sure this hasn't already been done.

I'm also jealous, but we already have 3 and DH is adamant that's more than enough 😅

Also cat collars with your phone number on them.

Even if you are intending them to be indoor cats, they will probably have other ideas! If you can get them used to them now, it will be easier.

Please don't ever put a collar on your dkittens...
Even the so called quick release ones are horrific...

You’re all amazing, thank you! Noting down everything like a very stressed first time mum 😅

I’ve got endless boxes from the amount of stuff I keep buying for them. I’m convinced Dd cost less.

No collars don’t worry, I’ve heard far too many horror stories.

2 questions - how old can they be to be neutered? I’d like to get them done asap. Or is that a terrible idea?
And how old before I let them out? Ideally I’d like them to be loads bigger so I’m thinking around 10-12 months? Or will they have gone mad by then?

Neutering used to be recommended at 6 months, now 4 months is common. Our last pair of boys were done at 9 weeks by the rescue.
We tend to start letting them out at about 6 months.

My boy was neutered at 16 weeks. I think they have to be a certain weight to tolerate the anesthetic.

Vet insurance!! Pets at Home do a great one which includes weight checks and nail trims as well as flea and worm treatment. Also take a million photos because they grow soooo quickly ☹️😁

That's a vet plan you're describing, not insurance. Vet plan covers the routine stuff like flea & wormers, jabs, check-ups etc and usually gives a discount on treatments etc.

Insurance covers "incidents" like illness & accidents e.g. broken limbs, infections, cuts/bites, kidney/heart/liver diseases & helps pay for non-routine visits, treatments & meds.

Insurance is critical (unless you have a few thousand stashed away in case). Vet plans can be well worth it if your cat(s) go out. I don't have a vet plan as mine are indoor only and only get flea/worm treatments annually at the MoT as a "just in case", and Tobias can't even have the routine jabs as they are contra-indicated with his FiV

Ideally, kittens should stay with their mother until they are 12 weeks old.

Get them microchipped as soon as possible (in case they escape). Neutering can be done at about 3-4 months of age. Don't bother with collars, they aren't very good. The same with cat beds - a cardboard box with soft blankets will be fine.

Don't keep them in until 10-12 months of age! They'll go mad. If you let them out, ensure the garden is safe, or think about cat-proofing netting.

My kittens favourite toys were cardboard egg boxes, empty toilet/kitchen roll tubes, crinkly gift wrap paper, old towels (for standing on and scrumpling up(?)), balls of tin foil and shoe laces and empty pea pods 😆.

Agree with PP that insurance is vital and should be prioritised over any pet plans if a priority call needs to be made

saying that a petplan is worth it for the first year, mine did microchip for free, you should get a discount on neutering and all their jabs

I’d keep them in until after they are neutered and recovered. Tom cats can chase other un neutered cats away and they could get lost. When you do let them out send them out hungry and when they return when some Dreamies are on offer

Hi @Cadela not sure if you have any experience of cats at all, but just in case you don’t know Lilies are very toxic to cats, just in case you have cut flowers in your house. Just double check regarding any plants in your garden before you let them out.

Get a pet hair rubber broom and cat brush.
i hated the fur everywhere! Get antibacterial spray for near litter trays - detol do a pet friendly one.
auto pet feeders were great when i went away for a night.

OMG they are gorgeous!!

Oh my goodness, you sound like an ideal kitten parent!! Lots of good advice on here already, my top tip is to make sure you spend quality time with them every day as kittens, and cats, playing, cuddling etc.
And don't scold them, even if they do something bad-they won't understand! Kindness is the best training mechanism with kittens/cats. (Also Dreamies🤣) Enjoy!

Yep. We have a rescue former stray cat whose collar injury has still not healed three years on from when he was found.

Please don't put collars on your cats. The one and only exception to this is if you have a black cat who refuses to come in at night and you live near a main road. They will be invisible to drivers without a reflective/fluorescent collar.

Definitely prioritise pet insurance. All mine have been with PetPlan and they’ve always been great at paying out. I prefer Lifetime cover, means that once diagnosed with a condition then they’re always covered.

Scratching posts. I’ve got a couple of cat trees, but also a couple of large scratching barrels which mine seem to prefer. Bit like this - have them by windows, they love chilling on the top part and watching outdoor activity.

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/scratch_barrels/555045?variantId=555045.0&utm_source=google&utm_medium=google_pmax&utm_campaign=17603215650&utm_term=555045.0&utm_content=pla&utm_id=17603215650_17603215650&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17605162696&gbraid=0AAAAAD9Xn6UgvKsAjScWWeY5OOc3umwMk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_bqv5YzjjQMVN4pQBh2OLDnXEAQYAyABEgLsl_D_BwE&activeVariant=555045.0

When it comes to spaying, consider a recovery suit. Have never used one before, last neutering was 15 years ago and they hated the cone of shame. Used the suit recently (last few days) for one of my current cats, and it’s been great. She took to it really well and I’ve not worried about her bothering her wound. No problems re using litter tray etc.

And, as others have said, consider monthly health plan with your vets. It will cover annual checkups, jabs, nail trims, flea treatment etc - works out a bit cheaper than paying individually each time and makes it easier to budget.

mostly, just enjoy becoming a complete slave to their every need. When you hit the point where you’ve got pins and needles, but don’t want to shift position because they look so comfortable, you’ll know that you’ve made it as a cat slave!

I just wanted to post an update on our boys. I’ve never been more in love! They’ve settled right in, still just in the living room atm and in their pen at night just so they don’t get their heads stuck anywhere weird while I’m asleep (I also don’t want kittens using my head as a trampoline at 3am)

Havent watched tv since they came home as they play constantly and it’s absolutely hilarious. They puff their tails up at each other and do the funniest airplane ears. Best entertainment ever!

I’ve got PetPlan for both of them - lifetime cover and £6k a year or something like that. £42 for them both so not too bad at all really.

Obviously kitten tax will be paid!

Great update, thanks for paying the tax @Cadela

your life will never be the same again!

@Cadela they are absolutely gorgeous, glad they are settling in well.

I have a all black cat too, called Emerald due to Green eyes, we call her Emmy.

Here’s to many years of you being owned by your cats!

Sorry don’t what a photo of handbag is included, just click on cat photo to see😁

I have reported my post to get photo removed, will post another one.

Gorgeous @Cadela. 😻
Enjoy your kittens.

I also don’t want kittens using my head as a trampoline at 3am
You'll get used to it 🤣

New photo of my Emmy.

I love that every photo they are together 💗