Getting a kitten!

con1888

Guys, I think she meant the tray had been put in the garden - not the kitten !!

OT: congratulations you will have lots of fun. I got a kitten from a friend of a friend so wasn't a proper breeder or anything, someones housecat escaped and mated with some stray (suspected feral cat).

My Frankie is a joy though as is his sister Cleo who I took home with him but gave to my brother as his cat had been PTS. I did want to keep both as they looked so cute when they slept curled up to each other. The one I rehomed to my brother is now living permanently with his wives sister.... long story but for some reason she doesn't like my brothers baby and they had to be in seperate rooms at all times or she would pounce at him. She is much happier and relaxed now that she isn't living with the baby - we don't know why she behaved this way around him, they sought vets advice and the vet was stumped too.


Basics you will need litter and tray, food and bowls. Everything else will come along. I got Frankie neutered at 6months and it cost me around £50, his insurance is about £5 a month.

vasseur

Oh gosh yes I did mean the tray was put in the garden, not the kitten...haha must re-read posts before submitting.....

It's not from someone I've just met...it's a friend and she already has 3 cats. The kittens are going to the vets tomorrow not just to be sexed, they are being checked over and they just want to confirm for definite what they are before giving them away.

Thanks for all the food and litter advice.

scaredy_cat

it is also good to be aware that kittens can squeeze into the smallest of holes and gaps, so might be as well to just have a check and board or block any.

my cat when i first got her manages to squeeze herself behind the cooker!!

VeggieCatLady

I have to say it is reassuring to see posts like this where people actually ask for advice rather than just getting a kitten without any research!

I agree that getting two kittens would be wise. It's much fairer on them as they have company of their own species. They will also learn from eachother as they grow up.

Cat litter wise, personally I have found that Tesco value is very good! I had a Tesco delivery of litter (I buy in bulk) recently and my usual value bags were substituted for their own brand clumping (awful and heavy!), low dust (the dustiest I have ever used!) and low oder (lies!) and also catsan. I found catsan to be good but no better than the Tesco value, which is much cheaper. I have also used wood pellet but this had little oder absorption. A word of warning-personally I would avoid using clumping litter because some cats will eat it. This can lead to a lump forming in their gut which will have to be removed surgically!

Food wise, it's important to start off with whatever the breeder was feeding them and slowly move them on to another food if you want to change it. Kittens especially have sensitive tummies and they may get the runs if you change too quickly.

Finally, if at any point either of the kittens go quiet or don't seem quite themselves, seek vet attention immediately. Kittens can go downhill very quickly and the first sign will most likely be quite subtle. I found this out last year and I really hope you don't experience it, but feel it is important to warn you. If you have any doubts, don't wait to see if they get better by themselves.

I wish you the best of luck with your kitties and I hope you are all happy together! Photos please :-P x

vasseur

Turns out the litter was 4 boys and 1 girl haha...so we will be getting 2 boys - rebalancing the male:female ratio in our house in one swift move

Although it's going to cost a little extra I do feel happier about getting 2 now

Thanks for all the excellent advice. I WILL be back

rising_from_the_ashes

scaredy_cat wrote: »

it is also good to be aware that kittens can squeeze into the smallest of holes and gaps, so might be as well to just have a check and board or block any.

my cat when i first got her manages to squeeze herself behind the cooker!!

OMG - yes - you've made me remember when wee cat managed to get herself wedged up the inside of the gas fire :eek: - honestly; I thought I was going to break her trying to get her out ......

polesalot wrote: »

Turns out the litter was 4 boys and 1 girl haha...so we will be getting 2 boys - rebalancing the male:female ratio in our house in one swift move

:j brilliant news - I know several male cats with rather feminine names as they are notoriously hard to sex properly when they're tiny:rotfl:

Fire_Fox

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

gettingready

Brilliant that you gonna get 2

When are you collecting them?

Photosssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Thread invalid with no p[hotos

gettingready

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

hard to sex properly when they're tiny:rotfl:

Jojo sexed Lucy's litter 100% spot on at 4 weeks - and ended up with Ninja the kiten from helllllll... and I got Macius the evinl twin of Ninja the kitten from hellllll LOL

OP - watching 2 willl be so much fun than just one.....

vasseur

gettingready wrote: »

OP - watching 2 willl be so much fun than just one.....

That's what I thought - they'll keep me on my toes and it will be better than watching TV

We won't pick them up till 11th August and I have the following week off work so will help to settle them in. I might take a blanket and the carrier round so they can get used to it for a week or so before they are put in it to come home and they will recognise our 'smell'. Does this sound like a good idea?

When do I Frontline them?

I will put pics on as soon as I have them here (although I'm not very techy so not sure how to do it :doh:)