What have we done?! Help with a kitten!

[Ebor337]

Ok, after much deliberation we have gone and got ourselves a kitten (12 weeks old but already a bit of a lump!) and was just wondering if there are any cat people who can give some helpful tips and advice?

We're really dog lovers but decided it was unfair to keep one in our 1 bed flat whilst were both out at work all day - so a cat was the next best thing!

We spent £120 in pets @ home () on saturday so are sorted on the kit front but do they sleep anyway they want?? We bought him a bed but he just looks at it and thinks '**** that' and nonchalently walks out!

He's had no jabs as yet - is this something i need to do asap?

Also, is it right we have to leave him 2-3 weeks before letting him out???

Thanks cat lovers!

P.s. A pic of the litter fella is below - his name is Randall.

[Cassius Marcellus]

If your one bed flat is a few floors up you could always test the theory that a cat lands on its feet... ... as long as it's not in a sack.

[philossify]

Buy the book - 101 Uses for a dead cat - hehe

http://www.cartoonstock.com/101_dead_cats/image3.htm


Seriously though you don't need much help managing a kitten, it will be managing you before you know it . Remember dogs look up to you, cats look down on you.

p.s was your previous cat called Hopkirk?

[Pocket Lady]

He's had no jabs as yet - is this something i need to do asap?

They normally have a set of 3 innoculations 1 month apart when they are approx 3 months old they cost around £20 per injection and you can pay in one go or after each injection.

You have to consider on having him Neutred and the the Innoclutaions against Cat flu, Feline Lueukaemia and Feline Enteritis. All these will cost you quite a bit, but in the long run will pay for themselves, as you will only have to yearly boosters.

Tip for if Randall wants to use the sofa for a scratching post:

Strips of double sided tape placed vertically on the base - this is also handy as it will trap shed fur too.

[Ebor337]

Originally Posted by philossify

p.s was your previous cat called Hopkirk?

We didn't name it!!!

I read another quote the other day - dogs have owners, cats have staff!

[Ell Ess Dee]

Should of taken to vets at about 8 weeks old to see what vaccinations he needs, I suggest a visit ASAP, yes.

No point spending loads on toys, a total rip-off and totally unnecessary IMO. Our kittens used to love playing with rolled-up newspaper, kept them entertained for ages. Also a pair of your missus's (or yours ) tights/stockings rolled up will do the trick also..

They sleep and go where they want, usually somewhere warm. Ours used to sleep on our bed, jumping/licking our faces when they knew it was feeding time..

Used to hate cats personally before the missus got our kittens, soon grow to love them and they are plenty of joy.. Especially at that young age, need more attention now then they do when they get older..

Can usually let them out at 16 weeks, I personally would keep them in through winter though. Cat's can be kept indoors all there life. I felt too guilty doing it but see why loads of people do it as one of ours got run over earlier this year, plus they can stray, get lost, stolen and so on. Again, its all personal preference..

Nice kitty BTW

[Ebor337]

Cheers pocket, i've just booked him into the vets on Thursday so hopefully he will be able to give us the lowdown on all the jabs and innoculations etc.

Think we're def going to get him neutered.

cheers for the tip re the sofa - he's got a scrathing post but seems to like the sofa!!!

[Matt]

Best idea might be to buy a dog.

[Ebor337]

Should of taken to vets at about 8 weeks old to see what vaccinations he needs, I suggest a visit ASAP, yes.

We've only had him since saturday - it was a but of a rescue job - past owners couldnt afford him and ho=is mum and subsequently, couldnt afford the vets bills. He's goign in on Thursday!

No point spending loads on toys, a total rip-off and totally unnecessary IMO. Our kittens used to love playing with rolled-up newspaper, kept them entertained for ages. Also a pair of your missus's (or yours ) tights/stockings rolled up will do the trick also..

We're slowly starting to realise that - although we didn't go mad! He's mroe than happy with rolled up paper!

Can usually let them out at 16 weeks, I personally would keep them in through winter though. Cat's can be kept indoors all there life. I felt too guilty doing it but see why loads of people do it as one of ours got run over earlier this year, plus they can stray, get lost, stolen and so on. Again, its all personal preference..

I know, we're still umming and arring - we've been told to keep him in for at least 3 weeks but we'll see.

Cheers mate.

[Pocket Lady]

Originally Posted by Nehemiah

We're slowly starting to realise that - although we didn't go mad! He's mroe than happy with rolled up paper!

I know, we're still umming and arring - we've been told to keep him in for at least 3 weeks but we'll see.

Deffo keep him in for a month - let him get used to the smell of home

Our kittens loved a matchbox tied to a piece of string which we used to drag slowly across the room - they would stalk it then pounce - absolutely hilarious to see them wiggly their tiny butt like a big cat just before they pounce.

[whycantistayawayfromdogs]

Originally Posted by Nehemiah

I read another quote the other day - dogs have owners, cats have staff!

hahah too true. Cats generally go through phases of where they sleep, every two weeks or so mine seems to sleep in a different room

[Cassius Marcellus]

Our village has lots of cats, most of which come to crap on our lawn at least once a week. Bastards. We got a tip to put down old tea bags dipped in disinfectant and placed along the perimeter fence to keep them out. Little fcukers come in through the front way now.

Mrs CM loved to feed the birds every day, but the cats have killed at least two doves, and a few blackbirds and thrushes this year, so she stopped.

Don't get so many cats now the birds don't come any more, but they still come for a sniff round.

[Datapunter]

but do they sleep anyway they want?? We bought him a bed but he just looks at it and thinks '**** that' and nonchalently walks out!

Yep, anywhere they feel like it.
It helps if you can provide a spot thats cosy,warm and private, one of mine (got 2) prefers sleeping in a big cardboard box, the other one always takes an afternoon nap..... crawls under the blankets of my bed, really, digs her way in like a miner.

As you're away all day you can pretty much forget about any kind of training or conditioning, basically you're ****ed. It's the cats house now. If you have anything that you really really really don't want scratched.... make sure it can't get at it.

[Tulenos]

Pretty much all has been said - and the cat will tell you/teach you the rest. Defo keep him in before he gets the whole vaccination set. Also, after our two cats were killed by a car, we have decided to keep our new kitten in as much as possible - two graves at the rear of our garden are enough and cat just can't help it and go out. Also test what kind of food he likes as their tastes differ wildly and you might end up with a load of something he doesn't like.

[Tulenos]

Our little devil one month ago, btw

[url="http://www.punterslounge.com/forum/%5BURL=http://img68.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pa034619kw4.jpg%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img68.imageshack.us/img68/729/pa034"][IMG]http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/729/pa034

[Tulenos]

Originally Posted by Tulenos

Our little devil one month ago, btw

[IMG]http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/729/pa034

*

[Ebor337]

What a lovely little fella!

[McG]

Best tip I can give is to get the little 'un insured. We got ours insured (via M&S) for £70 for the year, no excess, huge limits on individual treatments.

She got hoofed in the belly by some toerag and most of her internal organs were wellied from their housing on the lining of the stomach - £3,500+ of vet's bills, but she recovered after 2 ops, and we insured her again the following year for virtually the same price - M&S