ChatterBank1 min ago
kittens
14 Answers
I wonder if you can help.
I have my eye on one of my friend kittens. We have never had a cat at home, and have no cat flap.
Firstly, would you recommend a boy or girl and secondly, what other tips can you give me if I take one of the beauties home tonite. Thankyou in advance. : )
I have my eye on one of my friend kittens. We have never had a cat at home, and have no cat flap.
Firstly, would you recommend a boy or girl and secondly, what other tips can you give me if I take one of the beauties home tonite. Thankyou in advance. : )
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I dont have a cat flap! And I have 7 feline friends! It does mean when I am home I am forever the door opening servant for them!
And as soon as my little Cefa is old enough, our bedroom window will be open for them again to come in & out as they please!
Take it home tonight? Be prepared! It will spend the first couple of days either hiding or sniffing around and inspecting its new home!
Get in some food, a poop scoop, a litter tray, plenty of toys, a scrath post, those sort of things that the little one will need straight away or in the near future!
Hope that is some help|!
I dont have a cat flap! And I have 7 feline friends! It does mean when I am home I am forever the door opening servant for them!
And as soon as my little Cefa is old enough, our bedroom window will be open for them again to come in & out as they please!
Take it home tonight? Be prepared! It will spend the first couple of days either hiding or sniffing around and inspecting its new home!
Get in some food, a poop scoop, a litter tray, plenty of toys, a scrath post, those sort of things that the little one will need straight away or in the near future!
Hope that is some help|!
I got my first kitten 3 years ago.
I decided I wanted a female as they are supposedly slightly smaller and less likely to roam/fight. I picked what I was told was a female only to take it to the vets and discover it was a boy! He is massive now but has been neutered and doesn't fight or wander off and I wouldn't swap him for the world.
I also wanted the cute black kitten from the litter but this was the liveliest and I was advised to get a quieter one as it was my first time. Mine was like a tasmanian devil once he'd settled in, not quiet at all!!
He ripped the wallpaper to shreds in the kitchen, he used to climb up the wall with one paw each side of the corner, I swear there were claw marks about 2cm from the ceiling!
Make sure he/she has a scratching post to scratch and hopefully they should leave your wallpaper alone (mine doesn't so i haven't got any now, its all paint!)
It will probably climb your curtains, get into any hole/space it can find (behind/inside the washing machine, on top of shelves, behind the TV etc) so make sure wires etc are out of reach and check the washing machine before you close the door!
Get it neutered / spayed as soon as your kitty is old enough, usually about 6 months, and make sure it is vaccinated before going outside.
You will need some toys to keep it entertained, a bed, litter tray, scratch post and a cat carrier for taking it to the vets.
They are sooo cute and playful when they are this age, good luck!
I decided I wanted a female as they are supposedly slightly smaller and less likely to roam/fight. I picked what I was told was a female only to take it to the vets and discover it was a boy! He is massive now but has been neutered and doesn't fight or wander off and I wouldn't swap him for the world.
I also wanted the cute black kitten from the litter but this was the liveliest and I was advised to get a quieter one as it was my first time. Mine was like a tasmanian devil once he'd settled in, not quiet at all!!
He ripped the wallpaper to shreds in the kitchen, he used to climb up the wall with one paw each side of the corner, I swear there were claw marks about 2cm from the ceiling!
Make sure he/she has a scratching post to scratch and hopefully they should leave your wallpaper alone (mine doesn't so i haven't got any now, its all paint!)
It will probably climb your curtains, get into any hole/space it can find (behind/inside the washing machine, on top of shelves, behind the TV etc) so make sure wires etc are out of reach and check the washing machine before you close the door!
Get it neutered / spayed as soon as your kitty is old enough, usually about 6 months, and make sure it is vaccinated before going outside.
You will need some toys to keep it entertained, a bed, litter tray, scratch post and a cat carrier for taking it to the vets.
They are sooo cute and playful when they are this age, good luck!
Great! You will have an endless source of entertainment once you acquire your new additon, I have always had boy kittens, only because they are cheaper to neuter lol, but you wont regret it, it will change your home routine, and sometimes can be a testing time keeping a watch on your kitten, and the mischief he is getting up to, you need eyes in your bum lol, but its still fun! Also make a habit of handling your kitten lots and stroking him and cuddling him so he gets used to the attention and get him/her used to their name too so they come to you when called. Dont worry about having a cat flap i dont have one either, and I think it can be a blessing as no stray cats can nip in and eat the food and no unwated dead birds or mice can be brought in either! Do you live i a flat or house ?
Enjoy!
RQ x
Enjoy!
RQ x
Firstly I'd echo everything said above. Especially about the neutering - please get the kitten neutered - if its a boy it will stop it wandering and getting into fights and if its a girl it will stop you having to cope with numerous other kittens. And before you get the kitten neutered, don't let it wander. A female cat can get pregnant earlier than you might imagine and if allowed to wander almost certainly will.
Personally I'd recommend a boy - once neutered they tend to be much more affectionate and loving than girl cats (although that is a generalisation). Mine is a perfect example - he's never happier than when lying on my chest snoring loudly and he greets me like a dog when I get home from work everyday - miaowing at me and jumping on me - its lovely!
Just make sure you're prepared before you bring one home - get everything mentioned above and don't be surprised if your new ball of fluff spends the first couple of days hiding somewhere out of reach - he/she will have just left his/her mother for the first time ever, be in a strange place with a person he/she doesn't know - just be patient and gentle, use a calm, quiet voice to talk to him and don't push it - he'll come to you when he's gained a bit of confidence.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
P.s. I don't have a cat flap either - he's let out when I let him out and brought in when I bring him in! My house - my rules!!
Personally I'd recommend a boy - once neutered they tend to be much more affectionate and loving than girl cats (although that is a generalisation). Mine is a perfect example - he's never happier than when lying on my chest snoring loudly and he greets me like a dog when I get home from work everyday - miaowing at me and jumping on me - its lovely!
Just make sure you're prepared before you bring one home - get everything mentioned above and don't be surprised if your new ball of fluff spends the first couple of days hiding somewhere out of reach - he/she will have just left his/her mother for the first time ever, be in a strange place with a person he/she doesn't know - just be patient and gentle, use a calm, quiet voice to talk to him and don't push it - he'll come to you when he's gained a bit of confidence.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
P.s. I don't have a cat flap either - he's let out when I let him out and brought in when I bring him in! My house - my rules!!
I have a boy and a girl, only a month difference in age. The boy is a nightmare!! lol He is in to everything and anything, its like having a baby finding its feet in the house!! He is loving and affectionate too, just a pain bless him, but thats just his character. He too uses anything as a scratch post including my gas boiler?!?! My girl is the opposite, she is very timid but,with me anyway, is very affectionate and gentle. I didnt have my cats straight from the litter, they sadly had a very rough start in life which is why I think my girl is the way she is.
Basically, be prepared for ANYTHING and good luck lol You'll have great fun!
Basically, be prepared for ANYTHING and good luck lol You'll have great fun!
Something I have just thought of that may help the new addition settle in tonight, put a cuddly toy or two and a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel in its bed. I'm not saying it will actually use the bed yet, a lot of kittens/cats tend to hide away at first. But if it does, it will almost be like curling up with his brothers and sisters.
Oh thanks all, some fabulous advice for novices like us!
How exiting, I saw all the kittens today (could not take one then as I was going back to work) and they were g o r g e o u s.
Mr Sunflower is as we speak on his way to pick up a boy black tabby. He is determined to get a boy because he wants to call it Colin.
annavc when you put it like that it makes you feel sad, the poor little thing is gonna be snatched from it's mummy!
But a great thing to remember in the coming weeks.
We have : kitty milk, scratch thing, toys, biscuits, kitty litter, catfood, bowls; the hot water bottle and toys is a brill idea, just hope he/she stays off me curtains! Thanks again.
How exiting, I saw all the kittens today (could not take one then as I was going back to work) and they were g o r g e o u s.
Mr Sunflower is as we speak on his way to pick up a boy black tabby. He is determined to get a boy because he wants to call it Colin.
annavc when you put it like that it makes you feel sad, the poor little thing is gonna be snatched from it's mummy!
But a great thing to remember in the coming weeks.
We have : kitty milk, scratch thing, toys, biscuits, kitty litter, catfood, bowls; the hot water bottle and toys is a brill idea, just hope he/she stays off me curtains! Thanks again.
My only previous cat experience was an adopted ten year old female - Flo Bo!! However I was given a tiny baby girl kitten as a pressie in February. What an experience!! She needed lots of love and settling in ( I skived work with Flu for first two days having her!!) I have never enjoyed a pet as much, even with claw holes in the curtains, up my legs and my arms!!
Just be aware that they have to learn, develop, explore and grow!! When people talk about curiosity and cats it is definitely related to to the kitten years!!!
It gets a bit much at times, but they start sleeping through the night a lot quicker then human babies!! Is worth it all - I love my Luna to bits!!! (Oh BTW called her Luna as I loved the meaning of the name - is actually quite handy now as I dont have to put in too much extra effort when I say 'Oi Lunatic stop it' !!!
Enjoy 'parenthood'!!
Just be aware that they have to learn, develop, explore and grow!! When people talk about curiosity and cats it is definitely related to to the kitten years!!!
It gets a bit much at times, but they start sleeping through the night a lot quicker then human babies!! Is worth it all - I love my Luna to bits!!! (Oh BTW called her Luna as I loved the meaning of the name - is actually quite handy now as I dont have to put in too much extra effort when I say 'Oi Lunatic stop it' !!!
Enjoy 'parenthood'!!
OOh wolf 63 does that mean there will be less spiders in my house now - I hadn't thought of that, superb, some we get will be really crunchy!
Well, we have the most gorgeous boy cat, Colin, all black tabby with grey-blue eyes.
My kids were over the moon but Mr S is really taken with him, even spent the night on the sofa (that was a first, honest).
Cat has been ok, wobbly legs but finding his feet, playing and cuddling a lot.
We were a bit concerned he hadn't really eaten or drunk anything but I think it is just the adjustment, after all he has been breastfed by his mummy and maybe has not learnt to lap yet!
It is lovely having our new addition, he fitted in perfectly .
: )
Well, we have the most gorgeous boy cat, Colin, all black tabby with grey-blue eyes.
My kids were over the moon but Mr S is really taken with him, even spent the night on the sofa (that was a first, honest).
Cat has been ok, wobbly legs but finding his feet, playing and cuddling a lot.
We were a bit concerned he hadn't really eaten or drunk anything but I think it is just the adjustment, after all he has been breastfed by his mummy and maybe has not learnt to lap yet!
It is lovely having our new addition, he fitted in perfectly .
: )