Getting a kitten!

vasseur

We're getting a kitten (in about 4 weeks) my 8 year old daughter is really excited.

Practically what do I need to do now? I know I've got to get things like basket, food bowls a few toys etc but I'm thinking more along the lines of when do I need to get him chipped, at what age should I get him neutered, how long do I leave it before I let him go outside?

Any tips welcome!

chazmo

firstly sooo excited for you and your daughter i have just got a kitten myself and best thing ive done.

i was adv to get him neutered at about 5/6 months and first injection at 9 and 12 weeks.

dont forget to take some pictures.

UKTigerlily

I wouldn't let him outside until he's recovered from neutering, other than once he's fully vax'd you could take him out on a harness or keep him near you in the garden. Personally i'd always chip, collars are dangerous IMO, having had a cat have a very lucky escape from a so called breakaway/safe collar. As said above, 9&12 weeks for injections. If you work all day consider a pair, they'll be much happier with company & won't cost alot more than 1. Most importantly we'll need pics! Enjoy, I was 8 when my parents got me a kitten & he lived to be 15

Miss_Havisham

you need to think about whether to get him insured - medical treatment for pets is very expensive. Can't wait to see the little fella !

rising_from_the_ashes

Fantastic news :j - welcome (nearly!) to the world of cat slavery!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Honestly, you'll all be wrapped around it's cute little paws in no time! (but they're worth every second!)

Re letting out - personally, mine are never let out until they're neutered (around 6 months).

Depending on the weather, you may need to keep him in a bit longer ...... when you start letting him out - very short trips (in a secure garden if poss) - call him back (treat!) and then gradually make the gaps longer.

Mine have a dusk to dawn curfew :rotfl::rotfl:as I'm rural but the odd road around and more accidents unfortunately happen during these times & also things like foxes are around here.

It's fab having a cat that will come back to calling at night etc! (One of mine does & the other is a nightmare:rotfl:) and saves hours of hunting for them!

Pics please, when he's home:D

vasseur

Oh dear I didn't think about him being lonely. I will be out at work. Is that being really selfish? Thing is I don't really want a girl cat and the others in the litter are all girls (so we think, they are being sexed tomorrow). If it turns out there are 2 boys I will definitely take another.

So it will be jabs at around 9 weeks then? What are those? Is it yearly boosters? Sorry I'm such a novice here

I will get insurance sorted definitely.

Fortunately my back garden is really secure (even I can't get out of it :rotfl:) high fences all round so will be perfect for letting him out when he's tiny (I know he'll be able to get over the fences when he's bigger).

Thanks for all the advice - I'm (almost) as excited as my dd now

Fire_Fox

Chip your kitten ASAP, they can achieve Mission Impossible style escapes and I've heard too many stories of much loved kittens getting lost. Should not go outside until neutered: entire males are highly more likely to vanish chasing a queen and at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Strongly recommend you purchase (or make) a couple of tall and very sturdy scratching posts/ climbing trees or you will find your curtains and sofa are scaled and destroyed. Also independently moving solo play toys which they can use in the night or when you are exhausted with their limitless energy. This place has far better toys than any pet shop and profits all go to cat charities
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/shop/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIgdVucDeVU
http://www.ikeahackers.net/search/label/pet%20furniture
Setting up for a kitten can be very pricey compared with an adult cat, but decent quality products last many years and can save you a fortune in damaged furniture! :money:

rising_from_the_ashes

Re jabs - the first ones are 2 jabs, 3 weeks apart (ideally at 9 weeks & 12 weeks)

After that, they'll need an annual booster each year.

Re letting out when he's tiny ..... personally, I wouldn't advise this a) they can (and will) get out the smallest gap in any fence etc b) they can climb easily over fences even when really small c) you really don't want them going out until they're neutered and d) it will be winter time so not ideal weather wise & it's really hard to keep them in once they start going out, so much easier to keep them in until they're ready & the weather's good.

Re litter mate ..... would be good for him to have company, especially if you're out all day & he's going to be on his own - sure a rescue would have a boy kitten if the litter are all girls!

vasseur

Oh no I wouldn't let him out on his own before he's had his bits done, I was just thinking I could go out in the garden with him on a lead. It's a very small garden anyway.

Isis_Black

Have you considered acing a house cat??
I have 4 and all are house cats as we live by a very busy main road

Also would suggest metal bowl as some cats have allergies from plastic ones as they harbour more bacteria that then leads to a cat having a fat bottom lip that's blistered, my ginga ninja has that exact allergy

Also why no girl cat if both would be neutered/spayed??

Turned out we have 3 boys and 1girl
We originally had 2 boys then a year later we got what we thought was going to be 2 girls, well I took one look at one and said that ain't no girl lol

Turns out the boys all adore the girl (they are all neutered and spayed) she can beat the crap out of them all but they don't fight back lol
Shes small too nice with 3 hulking boys :-)

vasseur

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Chip your kitten ASAP, they can achieve Mission Impossible style escapes and I've heard too many stories of much loved kittens getting lost. Should not go outside until neutered: entire males are highly more likely to vanish chasing a queen and at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

Strongly recommend you purchase (or make) a couple of tall and very sturdy scratching posts/ climbing trees or you will find your curtains and sofa are scaled and destroyed. Also independently moving solo play toys which they can use in the night or when you are exhausted with their limitless energy. This place has far better toys than any pet shop and profits all go to cat charities
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/shop/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIgdVucDeVU
http://www.ikeahackers.net/search/label/pet%20furniture
Setting up for a kitten can be very pricey compared with an adult cat, but decent quality products last many years and can save you a fortune in damaged furniture! :money:

Thanks for the links - I've saved the purrs in our hearts in my favourites. I'll have a longer look tomorrow when I'm at work :rotfl: