kitten me up - everything there is to know about kittens?

[Dovydaitis]

when i got mine, i signed her up to the VIP scheme. i pay £8 a month and this covers all injections, flea and worm stuff as well as a check up with the vet and another check up with the nurse 6 months later. i also get 10% off anything i buy or have done.

will sign littlun up as well when i get him. apparently he'a taking his first steps! *goes all mushy*

 

[Geri]

Two or even three mogs is definitely the way forward.

I'm not allowed to have more than two, for fear I will become known as the Mad Cat Woman of Eastville.

 

[_angel_]

You say that you are going to acquire a kitten.

No, a kitten (or two) is/are going to acquire a house and some slaves. It'll start with you thinking that they're just adorable little bundles of fluffy joy (which kittens are) and will end with you doing their bidding at every opportunity they invent for you.

You see, cats (being the veritable image of perfection that they are) view humans as being rather crude, unsophisticated and simple-minded creatures, constantly in need of guidance and instruction from their feline superiors.

Aaah well, they're up against two mad, insane autistic boys. This could be interesting. I still reckon the humans will create most of the trouble.

How fast can you toilet train the kittys. I have a garden, dont want a litter tray.

 

[Geri]

One of mine was toilet trained when she arrived, the other one had a couple of accidents before she learned. You'll need a litter tray to begin with until they can go out.

 

[_angel_]

One of mine was toilet trained when she arrived, the other one had a couple of accidents before she learned. You'll need a litter tray to begin with until they can go out.

Hum. A bit worried about having a cat lit tray and J and J about. The dogs bad enough but at least that's outside.

Why would I need a cat lit tray if I have a garden? I know my mum never had one for Ginger.

 

[baldrick]

they need to be indoors until they're vaccinated/neutered, so you're going to need to have a litter tray at least for a short while.

 

[mrsfran]

I like kittens.

 

[mrsfran]

This is what some kittens look like.

 

[mrsfran]

This is what happens to people around kittens.

 

[Jazzz]

So, I am standing on the brink of acquiring a kitten(s). Is this too much responsibility?

Can I get them neutered free? (I think I can) How many jabs do they need these days? Which is the best pet insurance plan??

1) If you are claiming benefits I think so - here's a page with info on vouchers
http://www.catchat.org/neuter.html

2) My opinion is that vaccinations are not good for cats. You should certainly question whether they need yearly boosters

3) Marks & Spencers have been recommended

 

[_pH_]

This is what happens to people around kittens.

i *heart* that one

 

[Bakunin]

This is what happens to people around kittens.

Cats know this.

And they use it to their full advantage.

 

[secretsquirrel]

Yeah, my IQ has dropped about 10 points since ours burst into the world

Ginger No.2 snuggled up and fell asleep on both me and fuct last night. He's the first to find his way out of the box we've been keeping them in since they were born. A scrabble for the edge, heft himself up and a backflip over the top onto the rug and he's free!

(Ginger No.2 is my current favourite and 'most likely not to be given to others' at the moment. I feel really guilty having a favourite )

 

[baldrick]

He sounds lovely. Are you definitely keeping one?

 

[Looby]

Hum. A bit worried about having a cat lit tray and J and J about. The dogs bad enough but at least that's outside.

Why would I need a cat lit tray if I have a garden? I know my mum never had one for Ginger.

They can't be neutered until 6 months so they do recommend you keep them in til then. If you can't have a litter tray then it's probably a bad idea getting them because there will always be times when you need one. If one of them is poorly that sort of thing.

 

[secretsquirrel]

He sounds lovely. Are you definitely keeping one?

Well, we'll see how we feel after a full 12 weeks of rampaging kittens

Right now, I can't imagine giving any of them away. Ginger No.1 (first to be born) is a bit dozy but quick to follow Ginger No.2 (the youngest) if he leads the way. Ginger No.2 is definately the most adventurous, curious and has the most personality at the moment. Blackie (the middle one) is a bit of a late starter - his eyes only fully opened about 5 days after the other two, he's much quieter and will curl up in a corner whilst the other two explore.

However, I think since they're not even 4 weeks old yet I'm probably being a bit premature on judging their characters

 

[panpete]

Although cats are classed as a flight-less animal.........

 

[se5]

We acquired six kittens when our cat gave birth last year:

We kept two of them (and the mother) but for the seven or so weeks between birth and giving four of them away we had a blissful house of kittens

It is very easy - soon after you get them register with a vet near to you (or convenient for dropping off on your way to/from work) and get them inoculated and dewormed at 9 and 12 weeks and then they are set up for life and can go outside without risk of catching diseases - the inoculations cost around £55 per cat. The vet can also give them a general check to make sure they are developing normally.

Then get them neutered at six months (unless you want some more kitties) - a cost of around £80+ for females, £60 for males.

Add in also cost of getting started - basket, bowls, litter tray, cat litter etc and maybe cat flap. I think realistically you will need a litter tray as tehy will use it until they can go outside and at night time if you dont have a cat flap

Then add cost of ongoing flea treatments and worm treatments (eveyr month / 3 months) and cost of kitten food (which seems to be around £1 more than normal cat food) and treats. According to the manufacturers they can move onto normal cat food at 12 months but otyher owners I know have moved kittens on to adult food at around 6 months with apparently no ill effects.

Register with cat food manufacturers for free samples - people like http://www.catslikefelix.co.uk/sample/, http://www.purinaone.co.uk/uk/cat/sampling/, http://registration.mars.com/oods/WhiskasCarePack.aspx but be prepared to accept the fact that the kitten/ cat wont like anything but the most expensive brands of cat food and will have a tendency to change preferences to another brand just as you buy a bumper pack of a particular cat food!

We havent had any need for further vet treatment and dont have insurance but obviously will face big bills if something major were to happen - I'm banking on the fact that it wont!

 

[Geri]

That little black & white one at the front has got the funniest expression on it's face!

 

[se5]

That little black & white one at the front has got the funniest expression on it's face!

Yes she was always a bit different to the others - she was the only girl among the six - apparently she is now called Mini and doing well living in Kingston.

 

[oryx]

I'm taking mine on Saturday - if no-one's got back to you by then with a figure I'll let you know.

I am dreading it. When put into her little travelling basket for a visit to the vet for the good of her health*, she behaves as if being skinned alive, and makes a noise accordingly.

*yes, I know SHE doesn't know it's for her own good.....

Epona's answered anyway - but I never got my cat to the vet on Saturday as she absolutely refused to go in her travelling basket! Despite me using Feliway to calm her down.

I need another person to help me and my partner was out - so the two of us are trying again on Thursday evening.

To me, one of the biggest nightmares of cat ownership is getting them in a basket to take them anywhere. All the cats I've ever owned have been terrible like this.

SE5, the cat and kittens are gorgeous.

 

[_angel_]

To me, one of the biggest nightmares of cat ownership is getting them in a basket to take them anywhere. All the cats I've ever owned have been terrible like this.

.

Remember my mum trying to stuff a demented Ginger inside my Dad's satchell (we never had anything like a cat box) giving up, and having to drive with him loose in the car. NOT what you want.

I think I may leave the kittens as people are saying that they need to stay indoors and it's summer and the dog and the kids need access to the back garden. I do have a fence but unless I get the gaps plugged they might sneak out.

Maybe in winter would be better when I can keep them indoors.

Oh, I don't know, I do want a kitty.

 

[citygirl]

i want some kitties too

 

[Looby]

Remember my mum trying to stuff a demented Ginger inside my Dad's satchell (we never had anything like a cat box) giving up, and having to drive with him loose in the car. NOT what you want.

I think I may leave the kittens as people are saying that they need to stay indoors and it's summer and the dog and the kids need access to the back garden. I do have a fence but unless I get the gaps plugged they might sneak out.

Maybe in winter would be better when I can keep them indoors.

Oh, I don't know, I do want a kitty.

To be honest if we got another we'd wait for winter. It's a pain in the arse having windows and doors shut in the middle of summer.

 

[_angel_]

To be honest if we got another we'd wait for winter. It's a pain in the arse having windows and doors shut in the middle of summer.

Oh God the windows too! Maybe I will wait at least until the kids are back at school and it's slightly cooler.

Do kittens get born all year round ??? Or just in springtime? I know nothing about cat fertility.

 

[Looby]

Oh God the windows too! Maybe I will wait at least until the kids are back at school and it's slightly cooler.

Do kittens get born all year round ??? Or just in springtime? I know nothing about cat fertility.

Windows too, ours escaped every chance they good.

Not sure about the cat fertility thing, I assumed it was year round but by coincidence I've bought kittens in July/August both times so I'm not sure. Maybe that's when I get broody.

 

[se5]

Windows too, ours escaped every chance they good.

Not sure about the cat fertility thing, I assumed it was year round but by coincidence I've bought kittens in July/August both times so I'm not sure. Maybe that's when I get broody.

I think in theory they can be born at any time of the year but in practice most kittens are born in spring and summer - I think its to do with the heat: cats are more likely to ovulate in warmer temperatures and so can then become pregnant when they go on heat. In my experience it is relatively common for cats to have a litter in April/ may and then another one in August/ September. Certainly in my youth our cat had one litter at the end of April and then another one at the beginning of August and the vet told us that Florence our cat (pictured above) was on heat when we took her to be done 10 weeks or so after her kittens were born.

 

[Looby]

So a litter born in august would be perfect then because you can't take them for about 10 weeks.

 

[Vintage Paw]

Re the cat basket thing: our Charlie sleeps in his, so it is never too much of a problem to get him in it. He does, however, have a special kitty sense that alerts him that we are trying to get him into the basket for nefarious purposes

_angel_ – if I'm being honest, I really don't think you should get cats. No matter how much your heart strings are twanged by the cute piccies on here, if you aren't prepared 100% to make the necessary sacrifices (or can't) then you shouldn't have them. It would, imo, be irresponsible. Donate some money to the Cat's Protection League or something, if you wanted to make a difference to a cat's life. But I don't think your situation is ready for having them at home.

 

[Looby]

I would agree with that VP, they're a lot harder work than I realised and I didn't have any other responsibilities.