new cat or kitten advice (merged)

hev_2

I don't know about flea treatment as such - ours were indoor cats and fleas were only brought in on neighbours' clothes:eek:. You could wait until you get to the vets, buy the first lot of treatment from them and then search the web for the same product at the stated intervals afterwards. That way you know you are getting the 'good' stuff and you get the really good advice at the start. If you don't want to wait, ask if your vet will do a telephone consultation, especially as you are already booked to go back. Ours are very good about that sort of thing, when to de-flea and what with.

When I did have to de-flea I just wandered down to the pet shop and looked at the instructions on the back of the packet. I suspect they need to be a bit older than your little one.

My point of view is that if you don't think there are fleas, don't treat. If you do think there are fleas then treat cats, carpets, curtains, rugs, matressess... They will return more time than you think is possible if you don't. When we had the 'gift' from the neighbours I bought stacks of the stuff and did the whole house! Just to make things even better, Shadow was allergic to fleabites! So we ALWAYS knew when we had fleas.

As for holes - when we first got our old tom cat he got stuck down a coal hole we didn't know we had. Watch out for the kitten curling up in a warm washer or tumble dryer.

You are starting out on a wonderful journey, and your cat will provide so much entertainment and companionship that you will wonder how you managed without it.

Your kitten sounds very lucky to have you.

ETA If your cat is going to go out then you will need to treat - sorry! Frontline is very good, in my limited experience, but I think your little one may need to be a little older for it. The vet will be able to tell you.

tishywish

Here's some info on Frontline:

• FRONTLINE® Spot On is for the treatment of cats and dogs only and for external use only
• Veterinary advice should be sought prior to using FRONTLINE® Spot On if there is any sign of skin irritation or if the pet is unwell
• FRONTLINE® Spot On is safe to use in breeding, pregnant and lactating !!!!!es and queens
• Do not use on sick or convalescent animals
• Do not use on kittens weighing less than 1kg or puppies weighing less than 2kg
• Minimum treatment interval 4 weeks
• Do not use on puppies or kittens less than 8 weeks of age
• Do not overdose
• Pets with a known hypersensitivity to insecticides or alcohol should also avoid contact with FRONTLINE® Spot On
• Avoid contact with the animal’s eyes
• The product should not be used on rabbits as adverse reactions and even death could occur.
• It is important to apply the dose to an area where the animal cannot lick it off. If licking occurs, a brief period of hypersalivation may occur, due mainly to the nature of the carrier

I'd speak to the vet about it when you take her in for her vaccinations, presumably she won't be going out until then so she shouldn't be able to pick fleas up. I mainly use Frontline when I have a cat who isn't allergic to it but will use Stronghold sometimes as well which I think also does roundworms.

MrsTinks

Aaaaawwwww kitten snuffles!!! Mine were small and cute once... *sigh* I'm glad I kept pictures to prove it as OH says there is no way the Fat Dude was EVER small He's still cute tho.
Mine used to sleep on my bed but OH banned that when I moved in and we had a couple of nights with little sleep...
Now the sleep in a spareroom at night - they have a single bed with covers on, a cat bed and blankies... and half the time I find one of them snoring in my bathtub!!!! I ask you!
I got them when they were 7 weeks old too, the cats just round the corner had gotten cat flu so we thought it safer to move them a week early than leave them there.
They were fine
Lots of toys and scratch areas! You'll need them! Be prepared for needlesharp claws in you feet too... they wiggle so delightfully they just MUST be attacked!
Enjoy!

lady_stardust

It sounds like everything is going very well so far. With the first night with our cat she jumped on the bed at 2am a few times wanting to play but quickly got the message that we weren't interested and went off to amuse herself!

bindiboo

another question. I have noticed her scratching one ear and shaking her head sometimes. Is this ear mites/fleas/infection. I have had a look and cant see anything and there is no redness. Other =wise she is feeding well, sleeping well and definately playing well.oh and using her litter tray well.

hev_2

When you go to the vets for the boosters, ask about ear mites. They are more common than you would think. I wouldn't recommend poking around in there unless you can be sure your little one will stay still. I believe you have about 10 days to go before you get to the vets. If you notice any redness in them, bring the visit forward. Another sign is a bald or sore patch behind the ear. I am not one to ignore going to the vets - my vets humour me because I think they would rather have a dippy owner than a neglected animal. Those more knowledgeable than I will be able to tell you if you could hold off until the booster visit - it does sound like your kitty is doing okay.

Shadow had ear mites when we got her. She had to be treated by drops. If your little one has to be treated and it isn't your kitten just having an itchy ear, warm the drops first. She will learn to recognise the bottle extremely quickly - keep it hidden til the last moment and prepare for a rodeo to get her held to give her drops. If you get the knack, wrapping her in a towel can really help. Don't let her guilt trip you and give her a treat afterwards.

Have you got insurance sorted out yet? You can go through Quidco to get insurance, but most will not treat for pre-existing conditions or conditions that have previously occurred - like ear mites.

Your kitten is lucky to have a loving owner.

bindiboo

hev wrote: »

When you go to the vets for the boosters, ask about ear mites. They are more common than you would think. I wouldn't recommend poking around in there unless you can be sure your little one will stay still. I believe you have about 10 days to go before you get to the vets. If you notice any redness in them, bring the visit forward. Another sign is a bald or sore patch behind the ear. I am not one to ignore going to the vets - my vets humour me because I think they would rather have a dippy owner than a neglected animal. Those more knowledgeable than I will be able to tell you if you could hold off until the booster visit - it does sound like your kitty is doing okay.

Shadow had ear mites when we got her. She had to be treated by drops. If your little one has to be treated and it isn't your kitten just having an itchy ear, warm the drops first. She will learn to recognise the bottle extremely quickly - keep it hidden til the last moment and prepare for a rodeo to get her held to give her drops. If you get the knack, wrapping her in a towel can really help. Don't let her guilt trip you and give her a treat afterwards.

Have you got insurance sorted out yet? You can go through Quidco to get insurance, but most will not treat for pre-existing conditions or conditions that have previously occurred - like ear mites.

Your kitten is lucky to have a loving owner.

any recommendations for insurance.

bindiboo

oh my lord, we though we had lost her about an hour ago. she was playing under the dining table one minute and then just dissapeared. The patio door was slightly ajar but all the internal doors were shut so she cant get out, but we thought she had done!!!! searched high n low, one of the kids and myself near to tears thinking she had got out through the door and maybe we hadnt shut it!!! had to call dh home to help us find her as we had looked and looked and couldnt even hear her crying. BUT WE FOUND HER...... she had jumped up under one of the dining chairs which lining was hanging apart slightly. I was just expaining to my dh where she was playing under the dining table, went to move the chair, had my hand under the chair and felt her warm body. we had to rip the rest of the lining off to get her out as she had wedge herself between the springs. Thank goodness no one sat down on that chair.
Crikey almighty................

she is happily playing now under our watchful eye and the offending chair has been moved pending repair............

red_bertie

Frontline do a kitten flea treatment, ask your vet - they give them as freebies sometimes. Also they sometimes have kitten packs for new owners.

Felix and Whiskas usually have an address on the kitten food packs for free kitty packs [food, toys, bowl, etc.]

Yes that sounds like ear mites, your vet will squidge some stuff in her ears and look down with an "earscope" :rolleyes: [sorry not technically correct], it's quite common in kitties. The vet will probably give you some drops.

RB

hev_2

bindiboo wrote: »

any recommendations for insurance.

Absolutely not a clue! There will be someone who can help later on I am sure.

Tesco pet insurance has a £40 excess and has in the past paid out without much problem with little Smoke. On Quidco there is RSPCA pet insurance, and a percentage of the premium goes to the RSPCA, but I don't know how well they treat their customers. It may be worth starting a separate thread about pet insurance to get other people's experiences. Or you could ask your vet which plans pay out best (especially if your vets don't sell insurance themselves :rolleyes:)

Your little Cleo is really lucky to have you. BTW Shadow used to sleep inside the settee as a routine thing and Smoke regularly shoots out from underneath duvets, valances etc. Cats love dark, warm spaces. Shadow used to let us search the house for her, and then we always used to find her on the landing, until I rumbled that she had a hiding space underneath a wardrobe. I think she used to enjoy hearing us call and enjoying the fuss!