New kitteh moving in - gimme your top tips!

Get some jeyes fluid in a spray bottle. Cat wee stinks and this is the only stuff i've found that neutralizes the odour. Obviously, once they are toilet trained, you won't need it as much, but make sure you keep the tray clean as they won't use it once it's got a couple of craps or wees in there. They'll do it on your carpet next to the tray instead.

An enclosed litter tray is a good idea, but it you have to check it more often compared to an open top tray due to it being enclosed.

If you're allergic to cats like i am, you will have the sneezing fits and itchy eyes after stroking the cat and when you put your hands near your face. I've found that on the first sign of an allergic reaction flaring up, i wash my hands and flick water on my face. This usually stops the reaction getting so bad.

Let the cat out as much as possible. If they are constantly warm in front of the fire all though winter and never go outside in summer, they will never stop malting.
 
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Todge said:
One last thing and by far the most important.

get some of the same food that it has already been eating to feed it on when it first rocks up. Cats have sensitive stomachs and the stress of having a jab or de working (typical at that age) does not need to be compounded by giving it the ***** because you also changed its food.

When you do want to change its food do not just stop giving it the old and give it the new. Gradually introduce it over a week a bit at a time. If you don;t chances are you are going to have very wet poos!
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I'd been thinking about that actually, I did ask the lady what she feeds them and she said that it's something she makes herself. They live on a farm and are pretty self sufficient from what I could tell so it might be tricky but maybe she'll give me some of it.
 
wolvers said:
Excellent thanks. One question with the enclosed tray, does it not make it trickier for them to discover it at first?
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I got my two this:

xcartpic-134.jpg


from here:

http://www.pet-supermarket.co.uk/products-Cat-It-Hooded-Cat-Litter-Pan_NC2400.htm

when they were about 8 months old. They did find it a bit strange to use at first (we don't have a cat flap so they found it hard to negotiate the door), but were fine after a couple of days.

I would suggest getting a normal one for the time being if it's a little'un because it's a bit of a jump up - then when you want to make the switch, I know it sounds a bit gross but let it use the existing tray for a day or two, then put the dirty litter into the hooded tray so it can smell it and figure out that's where to go now.

Ours has been amazing, it's got a charcoal filter so it's really cut down on the smell, especially with two cats.

+1 for the pet insurance, it's been a godsend as our little lady has got skin allergies and is on medication.

Don't go too mad with toys etc - kittens will play with anything, screwed up balls of paper, anything that crinkles, paper bags, but now ours don't touch the things we bought when they were little. The one exception is the laser pointer we got them - they love it. Keeps them entertained for hours.

On the food issue, we were told by our vets that kitten food is basically a total swizz - the only advantage to it is that the food is cut up smaller. The nutritional difference is next to nothing compared to adult food.

If you're going to feed it wet food, it might get a bit smelly so don't leave too much down. Though remember cats eat when they're hungry and may wander away and come back. Kittens will let you know when they're hungry and TBH we just fed ours when they wanted it.

If you're going with dry food you need to make sure there's plenty of water down at all times.
 
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Another +1 for pet insurance, you might want to check with whichever vet you will end up visiting, which insurance providers they like to deal with.. mine will only accept direct payment from Petplan, I have 2 kitties at the moment, one insured with direct line, the other with petplan, its much easier not having to fork out loads of cash in an emergency, if the vets can deal straight with the insurer.
 
Cute kittehs - look just like one of my guys :)

My number 1 tip (as somebody with feline nutrition/behavior expertise...) is to feed them good quality wet food. Definitely do not feed them a dry food only diet. It's OK to leave a little out in a bowl for them to snack on - just don't make it their main food source. I feed mine canned food in the morning and then at night - nothing in between apart from the odd snack or something from the dinner plate :)

Dry food is pointless (apart from convenience/cost for the owner) because what little meat that's in it (and some has practically none) has been nuked and lost most of its nutritional value. Dry food also tends to be loaded with grains - cats are obligate carnivores and can't even utilize anything other than meat. Cat's also have a low thirst drive and are designed to get the majority of their fluids from their food - giving them wet food will keep them nicely hydrated and help avoid urinary and kidney problems. Finally, the reason cats like dry food is because they spray it with crap to make it taste good. Basically, think of dry food as cardboard sprayed with chicken flavor :)
 
well, they seem to be quite happy playing in your company, but they will probably appreciate a comfy place to be thats really tucked away and secluded if they get scared of something.

our cat is a rescue cat, and is terrified of fireworks. she will always run under the bed if there are some fireworks going off nearby.

also, keep them away from carrier bags. ours has had a massive fear of carrier bags ever since she got her head caught in the handle of one. even ten years after the incident she runs away if you rustle a carrier bag.

last thing i can think of that hasnt been mentioned is that laser pens make for fantastic cat toys

*edit*
oh, how could i forget, dont forget to keep a pair of gloves handy for whatever 'presents' the cats bring you. our cat brought in giant lumps of pond weed from next doors pond (it looked like string i guess), several worms, and a hell of a lot of really big frogs, also from next doors pond
 
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