First Time Cat Owner Q's

[NVP]

Howdy all,

As my two boys are now beyond the toddler stage I've been after a pet for them to grow up with. After lots of umming and arring I settled on a cat.

I've put a deposit down on 2 twin brother maine **** kittens and am hoping to get them towards the end of next week after their 12 week shots.

Spoiler: TTIUWP

Now I've never owned a pet, unless you count my ant farms when I was younger, so I'm after some advice please.


From my research I know I need to buy a bunch of stuff:
- XL stainless steel litter boxes (x3) + scoop
- stainless steel water bowls (x3)
- Water Fountain (PetSafe DrinkWell 360 Stainless Steel looks good)
- XL Cat carrier
- XL Cat Bed (x2)
- Strong Cat Tree (Cat Tree King look to have some good ones)
- Cat Brush (Coastal Pet - Safari - Cat Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush looks good)
- Cat Nail Clippers
- Cleaning Products (any recommendations?)
- Pheromone diffusers for when I bring them home initially

What else am I missing?

- What Litter? They say crystal litter is better for longer furred cats.
- What food? They say raw is best, otherwise a good quality wet food with high protein. What do you all use?

Anything I should be prepared for?


And finally, Cat Toys:
Any recommendations of both Interactive and non-Interactive toys would be really appreciated please

 

[NVP]

I would strongly suggest you consider getting a second cat at the same time..

I am getting 2, brothers

I agree that beds are pointless, they sleep where they want to sleep

The beds I was talking about were these type of fluffy ones I could just scatter around the house:

You've omitted pet insurance.

Ah yes, cool. I've done a few quotes and £25pm per cat seems to get good cover.

Have you checked that no one in your house is allergic to cats?

Yep, all appear good with any animals so far

Webbox make some decent food,

Thanks, will check them out.

Cat trees x 2, hidey places, boxes are all "must haves".

Get at least 2 of the water fountains.

Even if one has multiple spouts?

Get 2 cat boxes, and put a towel in each of them.

Cat boxes, as in carriers?

If you have the space and you want to let them outside have a ponder about building a catio,

The house has a gated off patio from the conservatory, so would be easy enough to cage a section off. Thanks

I always used clumping litter cos you can just collect the clumps instead of needing to change the litter so fast.

Any downsides to clumping litter?

I hope OP doesn't have any house plants....

Nah, none in the house



Thanks all for the advice so far, really helpful.

Regarding feeding them raw food, will it be messy do you think? Could that get dangerous with young kids around? (Bacteria etc.)

 

[NVP]

Thanks for the further replies, all have been really well appreciated. I will respond individually this weekend when I have time

In the mean time, I'm seeing the cats tomorrow - any questions I should ask or things I should check?

I know 2nd vaccines will be completed 28th as well as microchipping and de worming / fleaing. Both are litter trained and used to dogs and children/babies, and have already been weaned on solid food.

I've seen pics of mum & dad.

What else do I need to know?

 

[NVP]

Received more pictures

Spoiler

 

[NVP]

Was it "whisperer" or "pesterer" lol

I guess you'll get to meet them at the next poker night

 

[NVP]

@Le Clandestin Brun - I'm sure it's been mentioned but if you can, start the kittens in a small bedroom on their own first (for a few days) so they have a safe space that they won't freak out in if they become too overwhelmed.

Once you let them into the rest of the house move the litter trays (don't clean them fully!) to the location where you want them (mine are in the garage and we have a cat flap on the internal door). The familiar smell should let them know where to do their business.

Thanks, yeh I've seen some helpful videos online advising the same. I've got a few places in mind

I’d love a Maine Coone but you couldn’t let them out as some ****** would nick it.

Apparently they're not really outdoor cats? Although I'm going to have a catio thingy and get some leashes too as we live next to a bird park so the boys will enjoy walking one each and the cats will love it too

Furminator cat brush for the undercoat is the best brush you can buy.

Thanks ordered.

We use catsan non-clumping.

Current owner is using catsan clumping so I've ordered one of them for now and then will experiment. How come you do not use clumping?

Cats like warmth so to have the best chance of them using their beds place it somewhere warm like that spot where the sunlight hits the floor

Thanks, got some places planned.

Ask the vendor what they like to eat an overlooked question because they like what they like and it'll save fussing about trying to find something they'll eat

Helpful if you can find out what they are being fed currently and if they’ll give you any to take away to get them started. It’s a big transition for them otherwise with a new house and new food.

Done, and got pictures of the exact food they give. They're also going to give some along with the cats

 

[NVP]

Saw the kittens today What absolute 100% fluffy cute little babies! Very inquisitive and friendly. Good size already, actually!

Thanks for the advice everyone, really appreciated and helped me confirm the decision

Will be collecting next Sunday

So I went on a bit of a shopping spree...

Cleanest way to show everything:

Spoiler: shopping for first kitties

LOL last one is weird, should be this:

And the rest:

Just realised I've got 2 trays but 1 mat, will order another.

I think I'm well prepared. Will get food and things locally during the week.

Thanks all!

 

[NVP]

Hahaha yes, I know, in fact both were just chillin in a small cardboard box when I went to view them

But... I wanted to make sure I am prepared and also have enough things to scatter around the house so they aren't bored, have places to chill but above all have things to scratch!

 

[NVP]

Found insurance for both cats @£21pm covering £4k with £75 excess. Company called Napo. Cheapest I could find with a low excess and an OK limit

 

[NVP]

They seem to be quite comprehensive, will check the small print.




Most of the reviews are about how good the free 24/7 vet video-call consultation by FirstVet is which looks like a good bonus too.

 

[NVP]

Oh yes, so sorry.

Went with the kids and picked them up last Saturday, they jumped straight into the carrier which was helpful, and brought them back gently.

Once home, kept them in my upstairs bedroom for the first 3 nights, and you were all correct, they did not use their bed... the first night one slept on my chest and the other on my bed next to my legs. Then I slowly started opening up the house for them (thanks for the tip @montymint ) and within a day they were perfectly at home exploring the whole house.

The kids have named them, even before seeing them. My eldest named his Fluffy and my youngest named his Eeyore

Fluffy is really affectionate, cuddly, gentle and all round chilled. Eeyore is a little more shy, still comes for cuddles but much less often, he much prefers to stay next to me rather than on me haha.

They're great with the kids, and the kids are great with them - both given each a great workout, which is nice.

I have one litterbox upstairs and one down, and they've started only using the upstairs one for wees and the downstairs for poos which is nice

They're eating Maine **** Kitten dry food, Wild Freedom kitten wet food three times a day (1 can morning, half can lunch, 1 can bedtime - at the moment anyway, I'm still learning) and then they love drinking out of the fountain.

Yeh, so all good kids are happy, I'm happy, and I hope the cats are happy. Got a nice family pack now



Oh yeh, pictures.

Fluffy is just chilling under my desk in a box, and Eeyore is just getting ready to take a nap outside my office door it looks like.

Spoiler

^Fluffy





^Eeyore

 

[NVP]

There's a lot of good info in this thread which covers most characters and types of cats, so you are in good hands if you need help with anything else.

Thanks.

The current debate I'm having with myself is about neutering. Loads of info out there saying it's the best thing to do, but I feel it is border-line evil.

What do people here think on neutering/spaying pets in general?

 

[NVP]

Had the pre-op appointment at the vets today, all booked in

Also:

 

[NVP]

The cats seem to love chilling on the windowsill in my office so I've decided to build them a little perch outside.

It's a second floor window but above the porch roof thingy so falling isn't an issue. They're only there when I'm in the room anyway.

This is just a quick piece of wood I put there for now as a mk1 prototype (lol) but I'm planning to reinforce and add some edges as well as some fixed plant pots and a removable mini snack bowl

So far so good...


...and they're finally using their cat bed

As far as a catio is concerned... they seem to be fine roaming around my garden as is, no real place for them to escape for now but will see as they get bigger.

It think they're happy here

 

[NVP]

As for the perch, unless it's enclosed they will jump, they will find a way to explore.

Thanks

Yeh I'm keeping an eye on them but they've been chilling on the outside sill for weeks now without jumping, although both have fallen once each (like 2ft down onto the porch roof), and since then they haven't even looked interested in jumping down.

But will keep my eye on them and add a cage if needed

 

[NVP]

So I upgraded the perch a little, put a little border on it so they don't slip off and reinforced the bolts as well as upgraded to heavier duty brackets (need to tidy up the bolts and stuff but that's a two man job so waiting for my dad to visit).



The exterior paint finish is much nicer than what I did on the inside haha, I rushed it a little towards the end.

But from the outside it doesn't look too much of an eyesore... I want to sort out some hanging plants or something cosmetically to help it fit in a little better, although this is a pit-stop/temporary house so might not bother too much.



And then here they are currently, sleeping as usual. They're getting big!


(4mo,1wk)