Kittens!

Undertow

Right well I'm new to all this folks. I'm getting a kitten next week and want to be relatively prepared. Advice needed, simple as that!

Thanks!

morganafay

Where to start is there anything specific you want to ask?

You could google "cat care" or "kitten care" and probably find websites with loads of tips.

Here's a page about what to do before and after bringing a new kitten home
http://cats.about.com/cs/kittencare/a/kitcareone.htm

I'd suggest giving him/her somewhere like maybe a big cardboard box on it's side, that he can hide inside if he gets a bit scared and overwhelmed. And don't make too big a fuss of him, or have too many people around for the first few days, because he might be frightened because of all the new things.

Don't feed him milk, but have water always available. He should be old enough to eat dry kitten food, but if he's been on tinned food then you can mix it with dry to get him used to it. If you know what food he was on before you can mix that with his new food to get him gradually used to it. He should be fed about 3-4 times a day, if that's possible, or leave dry food out during the day.

He should be old enough to litter train too, if he isn't already. It's very easy, just put him in the litter tray after he's eaten, maybe move his paws to show him how to dig. They seem to just instinctively do it though.

If he isn't vaccinated then he can be from eight weeks onwards, and another one a month later, I think? (Cat flu is pretty common and a nasty illness so it is best to vaccinate.) You can ask your vet about that anyway, and about worming.

You can get cheap cat toys in the 2 euro shop, or ones in a pet shop, and he'll be really entertaining running around with them And you can get pretty cheap scratching posts in Argos, and other things, cat carriers, beds and all. Carriers are pretty important for trips to the vet or wherever because loads of cats jump out of their owner's arms outside the vet.

Zooplus.co.uk is good for cat things too, and has free delivery to Ireland.

They can be neutered anytime from around 4-6 months, depending on what the vet recommends. I'd recommend neutering for a male cat too, because otherwise they'll spray, fight and disappear for days on end, or weeks on end, or just never come back.

If the kitten is going to be going outdoors then keep him in at first for maybe 2 weeks so he knows where home is, and then gradually let him wander out the door and walk around for a while, maybe 10 minutes, and increase the time gradually. Most cats that get hit by cars get hit at night, so keeping them in at night is a good idea.

Good luck, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask them

And post pictures!

Undertow

Ah thanks a million for that reply, its exactly what I was looking for! Great start.

Well I was looking at maybe buying this http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/8706502/Trail/searchtext%3ECATS.htm for starters.

Couple of things of other questions I guess. Are they generally playful for a start? Is it expensive to look after them (e.g food, vaccines etc)? I'm living in a high rise apartment at the mo so I guess it should be kept inside all the time? I do have a massive balcony but dya reckon it'd be safe to let them out?

Apologies for all the questions but all this is new to me! One of my friends is giving them away and I've recently thought about getting one anyway so might as well go for it! My one's the one to the far right!

Cerocco

I defo agree with the above poster. For the first day at least I would nearly ignore the little guy. He/She will be so overwhelmed with being taken away from the litter and new surroundings that he will want to explore and be left alone. To be honest from my experience and I've had kittens and cats my whole life. Don't be surprised if he hides away during the first day and at night has a good wander. After this he should be more sociable.

The litter you start off with will be the litter you will have to stick with. Cats hate change to the litter tray. I once tried to change from the dusty pebbly kind to the wooden pellet kind ( Masks the smell better) and the cats treated it like they were walking on hot coals.

If you are going to use the meaty food rather than the dry food. Keep an eye on it as this time of year if a bluebottle gets in the house they make a line for it and lay eggs which very quickly turn to maggets. I've learned this lesson the hard way. I bought a cake cover in tesco to cover my food when the cats are finished with it. :eek:

Cats love catnip, you can buy it in dried form, in toys and buy the plant to pot outside. They eat it. If you want kitty to get used to a new bed sometimes to sprinkle a small amount on to the bed will encourage him to use it rather than your couch or any other nice furniture you want to keep hair free

If you want to deter kitty from doing something bad eg scratching furniture or carpet get a plastic flower water sprayer set it to the mist setting and spray kitty ( not on the face), its harmless, they hate water and very soon learn the consequence of doing something you don't want them to do. They don't understand a shout

And most important of all, *** Get a scratching post ***

Best of luck, I have 3 adult Cats had them from young kittens and have enjoyed every minute. Post a pic when you get him/her

morganafay

Undertow wrote: »

Couple of things of other questions I guess. Are they generally playful for a start? Is it expensive to look after them (e.g food, vaccines etc)? I'm living in a high rise apartment at the mo so I guess it should be kept inside all the time? I do have a massive balcony but dya reckon it'd be safe to let them out?

They should be playful, but some are more shy or just lazy! Most kittens will be playful though. You could scrunch up pieces of paper or tin foil and throw them around the kitchen floor, and the kitten will chase it and bat it around, my kitten loves that

They're not too expensive if you've just the one, if they stay healthy that is. They won't eat too much so it shouldn't be too bad. Dry food is cheaper than tinned and it's much better for their teeth and health. They can be vaccinated twice as kittens and then it's only once a year, so it's not too bad. Though if the cat is indoors all the time and not around other cats then it mightn't be neccessary to vaccinate it. I'm not sure about that, so anyone who knows can correct me. But I don't think it'd catch anything. It wouldn't catch worms or fleas either, but when you first get it you should worm it, cos most kittens have worms.

I don't really think the balcony would be safe, in case it jumps off or falls off, so I guess if you're in an apartment you should keep it inside. It should be fine though

They're all really cute kittens

The Sweeper

Is that a recent photograph? If you're getting him next week, he's too young! Don't take him!

The kitten on the far right has blue eyes. This means it's under five weeks of age. It really needs to stay with its siblings and its mum until it's 8-12 weeks old. Please don't take him away from his mum before then because he'll miss out on valuable nutrition from his mother's milk, and valuable learning experience with his siblings. Also, his mum is still washing him, cleaning his bottom after he poops and pees, and he may not even be fully weaned.

Hold off on taking him for another month if he's really that young - it'll be far better for the kitten, and easier for you - tiny kittens are a lot of work to look after.

This forum used to have a care-sheet sticky for animals, but I think the thread has been unstickied. Here's the link to the care sheet I threw in for cats and kittens two years ago.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57818717&postcount=53

morganafay

Despite the blue eyes, those kittens don't look under 5 weeks to me, and that could be an old photo.

The Sweeper

Those tiny little pinched faces and slightly oversized head?? The kittens in that pic are about 4 weeks old. If the pic is a few weeks old, then great. If not, it'd be criminal to take one of those away from its mother.

Undertow

Yep just found out they're 5 weeks old alright!

morganafay

Best to wait until at least 8 weeks then. Some people say 6 weeks is ok, but the kitten might not be as healthy then, so it's not worth the risk really.

Undertow

Ok so. Cheers for all the good advice folks! This might sound like a stupid question but should it be neutered when I get it?

morganafay

Nope, you can get it neutered from around 4-6 months or so, depending on what the vet advises.

mymo

You say you have a balcony, would you be willing to make it safe with some wire mesh?
My friend has a couple of cats in an apartment with a large balcony and has spent a few euros to get someone to cat proof it. They used a fine wire mesh thats hardly noticeable from outside(its 3rd floor), it goes from the top to the bottom of the balcony with no gaps and the same at the sides. They also have scratching posts and shelves on the wall for the cats to sit on, as well as some trays of grass and some other plants. The cats love it and can go out of a small open window onto the balcony whenever they want.
The mesh has quite large holes in it but her cats are large adult cats so can't get through it, but wouldn't trust a kitten not to squeeze out. Its worth looking into.
The other thing is, have you thought of taking two? or finding another after a few weeks? If you're out during the day they will keep each other company, and wear each other out.

Undertow

Yeah I've heard that I should consider getting a second! Well I'll see how I get on with the first and take it from there... This is a whole new experience for me so if I enjoy the kittens company, well then maybe I'll add to it! I've heard I should look into getting this [EMAIL="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-Boing-Cat-Motion-Sensor/dp/B002IE6U96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1275657987&sr=8-1"][/email]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-Boing-Cat-Motion-Sensor/dp/B002IE6U96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen&qid=1275657987&sr=8-1 and this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cat-Dancer-Charmer-Toy/dp/B0002DHV16/ref=pd_sim_kh_1 to keep em occupied!!

I wouldnt really consider getting wire mesh for outside tbh, it sounds like a lot of hassle. Besides, I'm only renting! I'll keep it indoors I think.

Here's another photo that was taken yesterday!

flowerific

i would wait until they are 12 weeks before taking them. I'm rehoming Kittens and even the vet said 12 weeks is best. 8 is even too early. Oh and most cats Love being able to go outdoors. Are you sure you are suited to getting a cat in a highrise rented apartment and one without mess on a balcony, Sorry but I think you should think a bit more about your chose of pet

Calhoun

flowerific wrote: »

i would wait until they are 12 weeks before taking them. I'm rehoming Kittens and even the vet said 12 weeks is best. 8 is even too early. Oh and most cats Love being able to go outdoors. Are you sure you are suited to getting a cat in a highrise rented apartment and one without mess on a balcony, Sorry but I think you should think a bit more about your chose of pet

I was under the impression 8 weeks was acceptable, the local SPCA is rehoming kittens at 8 weeks and its generally accepted from then on should be fine.

Most cats love going outdoors but it doesn't mean that they have to, there are a number of threads on this forum with people advocating not giving cats the ability to roam and having them as a house pet.

morganafay

Yeah I think from that photo, the kitten does actually look younger than I first thought.

8 weeks should be fine, especially for a healthy kitten, it looks strong and healthy in the pic. The mothers are usually sick of them by 8 weeks anyway, and they get very skinny from feeding them all any longer than 8 weeks. Also they're at a better age to socialise with you. That's just my opinion anyway. I've gotten loads of kittens at 8 weeks and they were perfectly fine. I got my current kitten at 6 weeks and she was fine and healthy, though I wouldn't advise that, that was just the age her owner was giving her away at. Though she is pretty bold, so I think her mother didn't have enough time to discipline her well :rolleyes: or I spoilt her, both are possible

Most people give them away at 8 weeks, but pedigree cat breeders seem to wait til 12 weeks. I'd say 8 weeks or later is fine, but not too old, or they might have trouble adjusting.

And the cat will probably be fine in an apartment. I prefer cats being able to go outdoors, but obviously that's not possible for you, so I'm sure it'll be fine indoors. It would just need a lot of attention and playing is all.

I'd definitely agree with getting two, but good idea to see how the first one goes first.

Dudess

Gorgeous!

morganafay wrote: »

Dry food is cheaper than tinned and it's much better for their teeth and health.

+1
Dry may be less exciting (tinned stuff is like a drug to them!) but it strengthens and cleans their teeth, as well as offering other nutritional benefits - e.g. for their coats. In addition, I'd feed them "human" food (tuna juice squeezed onto the dried stuff = happy kitty) and only give them water to drink, not cow's milk. A lot of cats can't drink tap water as the chemicals taste too strong to them (very heightened sense of smell/taste) so leave a container out to gather rain-water.

They also fare better on small amounts little and often rather than two or three big meals.

flowerific

I'm sure people do re-home kittens at less than 12 weeks but any advise I got from a vet was its Best to keep them for a least 12 weeks. and any internet sites bar Forums say 12 aswell. They are still learning social skills etc. from their siblings
http://blogs.chron.com/animalqa/2009/06/how_long_do_we_have_to_keep_th.html

The Sweeper

There's a big difference between 'can' and 'should' with kittens. I've fostered litters of kittens who've come to me with their mum and stayed until 10 weeks old, and I've fostered bunches of orphan kittens who've come to me at 4 weeks, without an adult cat, but weaned, and stayed for four to five weeks to be socialised before being returned to the shelter for rehoming.

Four to five week old kittens are tiny - really tiny, and they shouldn't be away from their mother unless something terrible has happened.



This is Sasquatch at about seven weeks. He came to me with his foster mum and his siblings at four weeks of age and stayed - and continued to stay, because he was a failed foster and I didn't give him back. In that litter, I had one black and white kitten who was the victim of a mix-up at the pound - he was about three weeks old. The rangers who were sorting the kittens knew the chocolate burmese came with four kittens; one blue, one tabby, one tabby/white and one black/white, but they put the wrong kitten in with the tribe coming to me. Sasha, the mother, was a sweet soul and she took him in anyway, but it was touch and go for the first week whether he'd survive.

At six weeks, the kittens were robust - running, jumping, playing, but still very small in comparison to an adult cat. If you haven't had kittens for a while you forget how small they are.

Here's Sasquatch at about 10 weeks. The two other cats in this picture are juveniles, only 7 months old.



As a brief guide:

Kittens are born helpess, and suckle from mum from day one.
Eyes open between five and 14 days, depending on the type of cat.
Eyes are blue in all kittens. At 4-5 weeks eyes change colour.
At anywhere from 3-5 weeks, kittens will start experimenting with whatever solid food is provided for them. You can wean kittens early in desperate cases, like at two weeks if they're orphaned and there's no foster mother, but the calcium and calories in mother's milk are irreplaceable.

At 4-5 weeks they're also using the litter tray alongside mum, if she's been a good mum and demonstrated what to do.

At six to seven weeks, kittens are pretty independent. They are still suckling from mum, but they're also eating solid food, exploring their surroundings thoroughly, and playing with their siblings and their mum. They're also sleeping in a lot of small bursts, between play. However, if you take a kitten at this age, you rob him or her of what happens next.

Depending on the cat, a mother can come back into season at about seven weeks and may lose interest totally in her kittens. She may also become impatient and irritated with them, swatting them away and hissing if unhappy. Then the next thing she'll get a wave of maternal instinct and cuddle and wash and suckle them. This is good learning time for the kittens - they still get the goodness of their mother's milk, but they learn how to interact with an adult cat who may not be happy to see them.

From six to 12 weeks, a kitten who's allowed remain with the mother and siblings gets the following benefits:

They can put on great weight, because they've two sources of food; mother's milk and whatever solid food you're offering. Their claws and teeth are now capable of hurting each other, and their mum, and she'll put them in their place if they get too rowdy. This helps them understand the limits of what they should and shouldn't be doing with their teeth and claws.

If you handle them a *lot* bewteen six and 12 weeks, you will end up with extremely social cats. By 'handle' I don't necessarily mean 'lift up and carry around'. If you do too much of that and the kitten doesn't want it, you'll end up with a growing cat that detests being picked up. You should sit and spend time with them, play with them, stroke them and cuddle them, pick them up occasionally (and set them down if they get a fright or struggle).

They should also, if possible, between the ages of 6 and 12 weeks, become acquainted with things like: the hoover, the TV, a hairdryer, other animals they may be required to live with in the future (this should only happen in well controlled socialisation situations), kids, the inside of a cat carrier, a ride in the car inside a cat carrier, a variety of food (I feed all fosters a number of meals a day, with one kind of food at each meal; including kibble, canned wet, wet pouches and raw meat). (The OH used to sit in the kitten foster room and play the acoustic guitar to them every day. First day they were petrified. Within the week they were trying to chew the strings and climb on his head.)

If these introductions into the new world are conducted in familiar surrounds, with the company of siblings and possibly still mum (though she's not essential), you'll end up with bomb-proof kittens. If you're in need of good homes, this is brilliant because they'll really sell themselves to prospective owners.

So yes, you *can* take very young kittens, but unless you have a lot of time, you're better off with an older kitten who's been properly socialised.

anniehoo

Does your friend have homes for all of them?Im looking to get a second cat and id love a grey one

Undertow

They're all gone now Im afriad! I'm actually picking up the kitten in the morning and just to clarify things, the kitten is now 11 weeks old so Im told!

Cant wait!

april99

Oh, it's so exciting for you! Best of luck with your new kitty! Don't know if anyone has mentioned it before & you probably know this already , but make sure you have pet insurance! For one cat it's about €10 a month .It's so well worth it if your little cat gets sick/injured, could save you a fortune! No harm in bringing the kitten to meet your vet as well, just for a check-up and you'll get lots of advice from them too.Good luck & enjoy!

The Sweeper

Good luck with the kitten, they're really gorgeous when they're that age, better than telly! Also, MORE PICS!

Undertow

No probs, I'll take a few over the weekend!

Another question, if the cat is kept indoors and is not mixing with other cats, does it have to be vaccinated?

The Sweeper

I would always get the kitten vaccs, then boost every three years - you can't legislate for your kitten or cat escaping and tangling with other cats. Vaccinations don't stop your cat catching a disease, but they can help it fight off the disease. Also if you ever need to board your cat in a cattery in case of an emergency or unexpected event, or if you're going on hols, their vaccinations have to be up to date.

misslt

I got one on Tuesday and it's the best thing I ever did!

Yoshi is only 6 weeks and she's a cutie.

She's very good, she's using the litter tray by herself, the guy I got her from said she'd used it once. She's had one accident the morning after I got her, I lifted her and put her in the tray and that was it.

It took her a few days to get used to us, Thursday night she was very comfortable with me, following me around and she climbed up my leg for a cuddle.

She's eating Royal Canin dry food and a little Whiskas wet food.

She still won't drink the water, but I've been told thats an age thing so yours might be okay with water!

You will LOVE your kitten, I don't know what I did without her

morganafay

I gotta get a couple of kittens sometime . . . it's like every year I want another one, they're just so cute!

I love how they learn to use the litter tray so fast, so much easier to train than dogs

tallus

My two

I rehomed Figgis, the grey fella, about 10 years back and Kitten 3, I rehomed from a boards member as her cat had kittens.
Best of luck with your kitten OP. I know you'll have years of fun with him/her

Undertow

Right well I've had the kitty for 2 hours now and first impressions are the total opposite to what I expected! She's super friendly! Follows me everywhere. Constantly waving its paws at me and licking me! Not one bit shy. I've had the cardboard box on its side open thinking thats where she'd hide for most of the first day... not so! She hasnt got into it once!

On another note, Im putting it into its litter box after see eats and so far, so good. However its not taking to its little bed I bought, and wants nothing to do with the scratching pad! Dunno what to do here as she's already starting to ruin the bed throw I have on the couch! Its also taken to sleeping under me couch too!

tallus

Put some catnip in the cardboard box

april99

Hi! Glad all going well with ur kitten I also had a lovely bed ready for my new kitten but he decided that sleeping on the top of the couch ( at the head rest bit) was much more to his liking! Years later, and many attempts of introducing different types of beds, he's still sleeping on couch !