I am very much a dog lover, I grew up with them, I know how to handle them etc, Anyway I have never owned a cat before and we have just got a kitten from a relative for our kids. I really don't know where to start with it. Do I keep it in the house or outside? Do I buy it a bed like a dog? and what about cat litter and feeding it?
Advice on new kitten?
Kittens should not go outside until they have been neutered.
Neutering is at 4-6 months of age.
Kittens and cats need injections.
Kittens need to be free from fleas and worms, so will need medication from the vet.
Kittens are like babies they need plenty of stimulus.
They need a scratching post for their claws
A litter box with cat litter
A bowl or a water fountain to drink water out of. Some cats cannot see water in a bowl.
Some kittens/cats are lactose intolerant.
Kittens like small meals and often as they have little tummies.
Cats and kittens like a box by the radiator with a blanket in it. They mainly find their own place to sleep and that usually means scratching outside the bedroom door and miaowing.
Please make sure the house does not contain poisonous plants such as lillies as these can kill them.
Neutering is at 4-6 months of age.
Kittens and cats need injections.
Kittens need to be free from fleas and worms, so will need medication from the vet.
Kittens are like babies they need plenty of stimulus.
They need a scratching post for their claws
A litter box with cat litter
A bowl or a water fountain to drink water out of. Some cats cannot see water in a bowl.
Some kittens/cats are lactose intolerant.
Kittens like small meals and often as they have little tummies.
Cats and kittens like a box by the radiator with a blanket in it. They mainly find their own place to sleep and that usually means scratching outside the bedroom door and miaowing.
Please make sure the house does not contain poisonous plants such as lillies as these can kill them.
Keep it in the house for a few weeks. A kitten shouldn't go outside until it has had its vaccinations from the vets and been spayed or neutered. This I believe is somewhere around 6 months (never owned a kitten, only one adult cat). You can buy a bed if you want, but generally they sleep where they want to. Make sure the kitten has access at all times to a litter tray. If you have a 2 storey house, in an ideal world, one upstairs and one downstairs. Water should be left down too. As for feeding, maybe to start with, keep the same food and routine as it is used to. Ask your relative for advice. Take the kitten to the vets to get checked over and ask about what the kitten needs. You will need flea and worming treatment which initially is better coming from the vets. They will then advise when the vaccinations need to be done and when it needs to be neutered or spayed. Be prepared for sleepless nights. I am sure there will be lots of kitten owners on here to give you more advice.
Originally Posted by orangebird:
“How old are your children? Are they aware it's a living creature, not a toy?”
“How old are your children? Are they aware it's a living creature, not a toy?”
I actually find that highly condescending from a cat owner who has two small children - I wouldn't let my kids treat their toys bad or break them, the cat however can look after itself
Originally Posted by TWS:
“I actually find that highly condescending from a cat owner who has two small children - I wouldn't let my kids treat their toys bad or break them, the cat however can look after itself”
“I actually find that highly condescending from a cat owner who has two small children - I wouldn't let my kids treat their toys bad or break them, the cat however can look after itself
”
I have rescued a kitten from a home that had children. My last kitten had been abused by a small child who put hair removing cream on her.
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“I have rescued a kitten from a home that had children. My last kitten had been abused by a small child who put hair removing cream on her.”
“I have rescued a kitten from a home that had children. My last kitten had been abused by a small child who put hair removing cream on her.”
That's horrible, but not every home will be like that. I had cats growing up, and my kids have had kittens and puppies (now cats and dogs) and never had anything like that happen.
Originally Posted by bazaar1:
“That's horrible, but not every home will be like that. I had cats growing up, and my kids have had kittens and puppies (now cats and dogs) and never had anything like that happen.”
“That's horrible, but not every home will be like that. I had cats growing up, and my kids have had kittens and puppies (now cats and dogs) and never had anything like that happen.”
Very true. I grew up with a cat and a dog.
The dangers of what can happen do need to be highlighted.
I have just read about a gang of teenagers in the next suburb to me kicking a kitten about the other night and leaving it damaged in the street.
Teens also need to need to know about pets.
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“I have rescued a kitten from a home that had children. My last kitten had been abused by a small child who put hair removing cream on her.”
“I have rescued a kitten from a home that had children. My last kitten had been abused by a small child who put hair removing cream on her.”
yes some kids have shitty parents nothing new there no different than idiots letting their kids ride their dogs or pull their ears whatever, but no need for people to be so blooming rude, thousands of homes have nice kids with happy contented animals.
The only thing that needs rescuing in my house is my child and has needed rescuing on more than one occasion from a playful cat who has picked him for the best toy ever
Originally Posted by TWS:
“yes some kids have shitty parents nothing new there no different than idiots letting their kids ride their dogs or pull their ears whatever, but no need for people to be so blooming rude, thousands of homes have nice kids with happy contented animals.
The only thing that needs rescuing in my house is my child and has needed rescuing on more than one occasion from a playful cat who has picked him for the best toy ever”
“yes some kids have shitty parents nothing new there no different than idiots letting their kids ride their dogs or pull their ears whatever, but no need for people to be so blooming rude, thousands of homes have nice kids with happy contented animals.
The only thing that needs rescuing in my house is my child and has needed rescuing on more than one occasion from a playful cat who has picked him for the best toy ever”
How was I being 'blooming rude'? As you've pointed out yourself there are some shitty shitty people that think pets are there to indulge their children, so I think my question was completely reasonable.
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“Very true. I grew up with a cat and a dog.
The dangers of what can happen do need to be highlighted.
I have just read about a gang of teenagers in the next suburb to me kicking a kitten about the other night and leaving it damaged in the street.
Teens also need to need to know about pets.”
“Very true. I grew up with a cat and a dog.
The dangers of what can happen do need to be highlighted.
I have just read about a gang of teenagers in the next suburb to me kicking a kitten about the other night and leaving it damaged in the street.
Teens also need to need to know about pets.”
I agree, I often mention at work that school based pet education sessions would be a good idea, but we don't have the budget etc. it's often a lack of understanding that means mistreatment, which doesn't excuse it, but does mean it can be tackled.
Originally Posted by orangebird:
“How was I being 'blooming rude'? As you've pointed out yourself there are some shitty shitty people that think pets are there to indulge their children, so I think my question was completely reasonable.”
“How was I being 'blooming rude'? As you've pointed out yourself there are some shitty shitty people that think pets are there to indulge their children, so I think my question was completely reasonable.”
Your post is aggressive IMO when there is no real need just because someone has kids does not mean they can't be a responsible pet owner
Originally Posted by TWS:
“Your post is aggressive IMO when there is no real need just because someone has kids does not mean they can't be a responsible pet owner”
“Your post is aggressive IMO when there is no real need just because someone has kids does not mean they can't be a responsible pet owner”
Considering the OP hasn't got the first idea what he is doing I don't think there is anything whatsoever aggressive about orangebird's post.
Quote:
“I really don't know where to start with it. Do I keep it in the house or outside? Do I buy it a bed like a dog? and what about cat litter and feeding it?”
“I really don't know where to start with it. Do I keep it in the house or outside? Do I buy it a bed like a dog? and what about cat litter and feeding it?”
Seems pretty valid question when this is the level of knowledge we are looking at.
Originally Posted by TWS:
“Your post is aggressive IMO when there is no real need just because someone has kids does not mean they can't be a responsible pet owner”
“Your post is aggressive IMO when there is no real need just because someone has kids does not mean they can't be a responsible pet owner”
IMO you're completely overreacting to my question and it wasn't even aimed at you. The OP clearly hasn't got a clue about cats/kittens. The poor thing was bought as a present for his/her kids (pets should NEVER be bought as gifts unless planned and discussed with the receiver - which wasn't the case here by the sound of it). Not the best of starts is it?
Originally Posted by Yeah_Jackie:
“Considering the OP hasn't got the first idea what he is doing I don't think there is anything whatsoever aggressive about orangebird's post.
Seems pretty valid question when this is the level of knowledge we are looking at.”
“Considering the OP hasn't got the first idea what he is doing I don't think there is anything whatsoever aggressive about orangebird's post.
Seems pretty valid question when this is the level of knowledge we are looking at.”
Exactly.
Originally Posted by orangebird:
“IMO you're completely overreacting to my question and it wasn't even aimed at you. The OP clearly hasn't got a clue about cats/kittens. The poor thing was bought as a present for his/her kids (pets should NEVER be bought as gifts unless planned and discussed with the receiver - which wasn't the case here by the sound of it). Not the best of starts is it?”
“IMO you're completely overreacting to my question and it wasn't even aimed at you. The OP clearly hasn't got a clue about cats/kittens. The poor thing was bought as a present for his/her kids (pets should NEVER be bought as gifts unless planned and discussed with the receiver - which wasn't the case here by the sound of it). Not the best of starts is it?”
Not an overreaction I don't particularly care I am just stating IMO it comes over quite aggressive I am sure it could have been worded a bit better, yes the op has no idea I agree it at least they are asking for advice even after the fact asking for advice is better than not seeking advice at all.
I guess I have just learnt to go a bit gentler as working in rescue sometimes advising is all we can do and educating people
Originally Posted by dave81uk:
“I am very much a dog lover, I grew up with them, I know how to handle them etc, Anyway I have never owned a cat before and we have just got a kitten from a relative for our kids. I really don't know where to start with it. Do I keep it in the house or outside? Do I buy it a bed like a dog? and what about cat litter and feeding it?”
“I am very much a dog lover, I grew up with them, I know how to handle them etc, Anyway I have never owned a cat before and we have just got a kitten from a relative for our kids. I really don't know where to start with it. Do I keep it in the house or outside? Do I buy it a bed like a dog? and what about cat litter and feeding it?”
You really should have got yourself more prepared, but that aside , yes it needs a bed ( if it anything like my two it will have several and then always choose to sleep where they please, often on my head when I wake up ) and it needs to be allowed to settle in, tell the kids not to play with it like a toy , its a baby so needs to come to trust you and know its surroundings, as has been said make sure no poisonous items are around. You need to make a decision if its going to be an indoor or outdoor cat a lot of that will depend on where you live , the kitten cannot go out as has been said until its had all its jabs and been spayed/neutered . If it is going to be an indoor cat then it needs space and plenty of toys and indoor cats thrive better with a friend , if its going to be outdoor make sure its has a collar and tag when it does go out and speak to the vet about microchipping .
A nice soft on the paws cat litter is needed and somewhere not to busy to place it and easy to get to also I would recommend a water fountain as opposed to a bowl.
Give it plenty of love and affection and if it has a little accident don't shout at it, it won't understand.
Oh and make sure you talk to it all the time , get it used to your voice and it will get you used to its so you will know what it wants when its making its little noises.
Is it possible for the relative to take the kitten back for a few days until you are prepared? I would recommend getting a book (or two) on cats from either the library or bookshop. Pets at home have a range of books too. Before I got my cat I read several from the library and bought the RSPCA's Complete cat care manual.
If it can't go back please don't be put off by the somewhat intemperate replies you've had so far - I'm sure we can offer advise and only have the kittens welfare at heart.
If it can't go back please don't be put off by the somewhat intemperate replies you've had so far - I'm sure we can offer advise and only have the kittens welfare at heart.
Thanks for the advice, my kids are a bit scared of it to be honest, its nice to look at but they're not so fond if it gets to close to them.
What about litter training, whats the best way to go about this? At the moment he's get going where ever he wants and his dribbles are so small they are often hard to find until you stand in them.
What about litter training, whats the best way to go about this? At the moment he's get going where ever he wants and his dribbles are so small they are often hard to find until you stand in them.
Make sure the tray is in a quiet spot. After feeding put the kitten in the tray - hopefully it'll use it then. If you see it squatting down, quickly pick it up and gently put it in the tray. Don't do the 'rubbing their nose in it' thing.
Its usually recommended to have 2 trays in the house - e.g. 1 upstairs, 1 down.
Its usually recommended to have 2 trays in the house - e.g. 1 upstairs, 1 down.
Cats protection have some downloadable documents you should find useful:-
Care leaflets
The two most relevant right now would be:
Caring for your cat
Welcome home ( has stuff on kittens)
Though a 'cat manual' of some sort would be very useful too
Care leaflets
The two most relevant right now would be:
Caring for your cat
Welcome home ( has stuff on kittens)
Though a 'cat manual' of some sort would be very useful too
Originally Posted by dave81uk:
“Thanks for the advice, my kids are a bit scared of it to be honest, its nice to look at but they're not so fond if it gets to close to them.
What about litter training, whats the best way to go about this? At the moment he's get going where ever he wants and his dribbles are so small they are often hard to find until you stand in them.”
“Thanks for the advice, my kids are a bit scared of it to be honest, its nice to look at but they're not so fond if it gets to close to them.
What about litter training, whats the best way to go about this? At the moment he's get going where ever he wants and his dribbles are so small they are often hard to find until you stand in them.”
Litter training is the easiest thing about kittens - show them once where to go and that's it!
PS - CatSan is the best one.
