new cat or kitten advice (merged)

bulchy

What gorgeous kittens, thanks for sharing the pics. We recently got a grey kitten from rescue, we already have 2 cats, brothers, but there like chalk and cheese. To be honest I had forgotten how lively kittens are :rolleyes: My advice to you is, get a suit of armour :rotfl: my legs are covered in scratches from where kitten has ran up my legs, practising for when the dogs chase her up trees I suppose :rolleyes: but she is ferral, so its to be expected for her to be a bit wild, my other 2 were also ferral but I cant remember them being this bad.
We got her insured straight away, all our pets are insured through M&S. Shes had her first jab, gets the 2nd one next week. Our vets will neuter her when shes about 5 months old, and we will have her microchipped while shes under the anasthetic, as I dont like to have my pets chipped while they're awake, incase it hurts them.I feed her James Wellbeloved dry kitten food, you can get samples from the website, also Pets at Home usually have samples of different food to try. We also give her one pouch of kitten food at night to help her settle (not that it works, but we try) and she gets flaked tuna as a treat once a week (this comes in handy to disguise worming syrup) We get our worming tablets and flea treatments from Vetuk.co.uk, as its cheaper than vets.
Kittens are very entertaining, especially when you've got 2, I remember when we first got the boys, we would switch the telly off at night and just sit and watch them play fighting, it was great to watch.
Sue

spookylukey

What little cuties

Vaccinations should be done at 9 weeks with the second jab 2 weeks later. The vet can also give them a worming tablet and flea stuff but you can get the exact same stuff (Frontline and Drontal) online at half the cost from https://www.vetuk.co.uk Don't waste your money on stuff from the petshops or supermarkets, they're not licensed to sell the 'proper' stuff and it really is a false economy. There's lots of these online pharmacies nowadays so have a google around to check the best prices, I've always found vetuk to be really good value with free fast delivery too.

Seeing as you have a boy and a girl then ask your vet what age they can be spayed and neutered at, most vets say 6 months but if you have one of each they will often do it early as kittens can become sexually mature as young as 4 1/2 months and being brother and sister will not prevent them being 'interested' in each other.

Microchipping is really important too, I had my two done when they were neutered but you can have it done at the same time as their jabs if you wanted to, it is aquite a big needle but they'll soon get over it.

Would NEVER be without pet insurance now, my two are with M&S - not the cheapest but has the best level of cover around. Have never heard of a joint pet insurance policy so it would be two separate policies. See Martin's guide... http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/insurance/cut-pet-insurance-costs

Most essential of all is lots of batteries for the camera, they will do so many cute, funny things that you'll be forever running out of batteries!

BaileyB

Yes they are becmong more used to the home now and so far they have been excellent in the litter tray.

They do sleep for hours, then have a mad play for 1-2 hours then back asleep.

They are 7 weeks old Tuesday so will get them checked over with the vet early next week if i can. Thanks for the link about the tablets will look into that more in the week.

Their collars are not flee ones just small kitten ones from The Range i think, they did not like them at first but its nice to hear them as they have a bell on. And if they just it stuck on something they become very loose so are very safe in the respect.

Will keep taking lots of pictures, they were taken with the phone so need to get the proper camera all ready for them.

Thanks again for all the advice and tips

Supernova

Hi all,

Been planning to get a kitten for a while and was really looking forward to it

I live in a first floor flat conversion so I was going to have a cat flap installed through a wall onto the path that runs into the garden. I only have access on the path, I don't own it, and the cat would require ome sort of ramp to reach the flap. A builder has let us down twice to do the work

A new neighbour just moved in and as a matter of courtesy I asked if she minded if we had a cat and flap installed.

She said she'd always had cats and didn't mind at all, but mentioned a concern about cats digging up the garden Then she put a note through the door a few days later saying she had changed her mind because her partner is allergic to cats.

Just wondered what you guys thought about this situation and whether we should go ahead anyway?

TIA

SnowyOwl_2

I think your neighbour was a bit off in putting a note through your door rather than speaking directly to you! Perhaps you should go back to the neighbour and ask to chat about the situation. If her partner's allergy is the problem, then why does she think the cat would be close enough to bother him?

However, my instincts are telling me that since you are getting a kitten, it would be easy for you to have him/her as an indoor cat only. It's much much safer for the kitty. Over the years I've had two cats killed on the road and I would not wish that on anybody, it is horrible. If you are getting a pedigree kitten, it's quite likely that the breeder will insist that the kitten does not have access to outdoors.

In the interests of good neighbourly relations then I don't think just putting in the catflap and ramp is a good idea. If you are adamant the kitten will be going out, it'll be at least six months before she/he can go out unsupervised anyway as before that it will be too young. That will give you a few extra months to get to know your neighbour and maybe move her around to your way of thinking.

Tortieshell

I agree with SnowyOwl, I've lost 2 cats in 6 months due to road accidents and I live in a "safe neighbourhood".

You shouldnt really let a cat outside until it has been neutered and I cant imagine why your neighbours partner would be affected so I wouldnt let that cloud your judgement.

I think in time your neighbour might come around to the work being done if you decide to let your cat out eventually as it seems she isnt against the work being done but her concerns are for her partner which shouldnt be an issue.

Good Luck!

Supernova

Thanks for the replies.

I hadn't considered the possibility of an indoor cat. Are they really OK with that?

The kitten in question is still at a friends house with its mother & has access to the outside now as far as I know. We won't take delivery until it's old enough.

As for the neighbour, yes it's not a good start putting the note through especially as I had the courtesy to ask & I think the allergy is possibly an invention, exaggeration or excuse for some other reason - principally the garden defecation thing I suspect.

Rgds

pink.1970

I agree with SnowyOwl also, we have a beautiful black cat who is an indoor cat, he has been since we lost his friend to a road accident a year ago now, it doesnt seem to bother him not going out.

misscomickat

All the cats I have had have loved going outside. I live in a flat now and have a cat. I do let her go out sometimes and she really enjoys it.

I can't see it's any of your neighbours business. If someone is allergic to cats, it's not going to affect them if they see a cat in the garden is it?

Tortieshell

I think your kitty will be fine indoors. I always believed cats should be allowed freedom outside but my cats that were run over were not even 2 years old and the loss is something I am finding hard.

I now have a 6 month old British Shorthair and he is being kept as an indoor cat and he is happy enough as long as you give them plenty of toys and he has a HUGE cat scratching tree and me to play with!

If I do decide to let him out I will have to get a pen enclosure built into the garden before I take any risks.

Best wishes