We're getting a kitten!

Shazzie116

My mom found 4 little kittens living in the bushes of the garden by their pool this morning! They look like tabby's, probably 8-9 weeks old. She's been feeding them and she said they're just kind of hanging out snuggling and eating!

I'm so excited, we're going to bring one home next weekend! My mom has a couple people who already want the others, so as long as the vet visit goes well, I'll have a little kitten next week! I'm so excited, I haven't had a kitty since I lived at home! 

Any advice? I know it's not always sunshine and rainbows with kittens, but I feel pretty prepared and very excited!

pandasquishy

My advice is to feed it good, quality food.  I suggest Wellness.  They keep emailing me to tell my friends that I can them free samples, so give me your email address and I'll get you the link for the free sample.  Blue Buffalo is also good.  Go with the kitten formula until kitty is a year old, or close to a year.

General rule for cat food - if you can buy it at the grocery store/Target, it's not good food.  We get good at Petco, they have a really good rewards program, so sign up for that.

Toys:  Don't waste your money on Kong toys.  Mittens likes her Kitty City, though.  And Petco has this mouse that has a soundchip.  When it gets tapped it squeaks like a real mouse.  Mittens goes NUTS for this.  It's a must have, I think it's about five bucks.

Kittens are lactose intolerant, so no human milk.  You really shouldn't feed it human food either, there could be something harmful in it, and/or kitty will learn to beg.  Trust me, we learned this the hard way! 

Also, the first night you have it, you'll probably be up all night.  It's like having a newborn baby.  Mittens pee'd on our bed the first night.  Kitten proof everything - remove all breakables and hide the paper towels. 

I can't wait to see pictures!! 

 

Shazzie116

Thanks, that's really helpful advice. I knew about the no milk and human food thing, I wouldn't want to upset its little tummy.

I was planning on only getting a couple little toys and a good scratching post, so I'll look for that mouse you mentioned. 

My email is shannonlsorensen at gmail dot come. Thanks lady!

Here's a pic my mom took yesterday: 

 

I told her I want the one that looks pissed it can't get to the food. lol

Whippet8

That's so awesome! congrats on getting a kitten!

awww I'm so jealous..DH just told me that he doesn't know if he's ready for a dog yet, so I'm having a little bit of a hard time haha.

 

My parents have a cat, we rescued her when I was a freshman in high school, and what's funny, is that I didn't even think about having any advice. Seriously, our cat acts like a dog. She'll even scratch at the door if she has to go to the bathroom so we can let her out, and she comes running across the yard when we call her name. HA.

allie828

Thats so exciting...Congrats!   We were out running errands yesterday and Pet smart had adoptions, I totally want a cat but MH is allergic and untl we get a house it is def. not an option for us.

As fas as advice goes, I have not had a cat in about 10 years so I don't really have any..sorry. Do you have a name picked out yet? Best of luck with your new little kitty.

bellebride116

Congrats!!! That is so exciting. I'm not a cat person, but I love my doggies and FYI they become your babies in no time. LOL. But, I do love animals and I'm super thrilled the kitty will have a new, good home. My heart breaks whenever I see any animal left alone, etc. 

One of the first things I would do is make a vet appt. That way you can make sure kitty has all his/her shots, etc and just have the vet check him/her over and start a file!  

  

bellebride116

Oh yes, and pictures are a MUST when you bring the little one home!! 

pandasquishy

Ok, I sent it!

musgral8

aww I grew up with kitties, but now that I'm with D we have dogs. I am much more a dog person than a cat person, but my parents wouldn't ever get one lol. 

Word of advice: baby the cat. Don't terrorize it when it's little because it won't trust you when its older and it will learn to bite. Play with its ears, paws, tail, and hold it on its back. If a cat will let you hold it on its back, it trusts you.  

pandasquishy

musgral8:

Word of advice: baby the cat. Don't terrorize it when it's little because it won't trust you when its older and it will learn to bite. Play with its ears, paws, tail, and hold it on its back. If a cat will let you hold it on its back, it trusts you.  

It's so true!  The first time Mittens met my brother he made an obnoxious noise at her and now she won't go near him.  Also, if the Kitten bites you in play, but it on the floor and ignore it for a bit.  This teaches them that biting is not okay... it worked for us! 

Shazzie116

Awww you ladies are so sweet. I'm a little sad, my mom called me today and said the kitties were gone. I don't know if they took off after having a good meal or what, but I am feeling a little heartbroken. I hope they're ok...Sean saw how excited I was though and said we could adopt one down here. So I'm on the lookout!

pandasquishy

Shazzie116:

Awww you ladies are so sweet. I'm a little sad, my mom called me today and said the kitties were gone. I don't know if they took off after having a good meal or what, but I am feeling a little heartbroken. I hope they're ok...Sean saw how excited I was though and said we could adopt one down here. So I'm on the lookout!

 

Oh my goodness!  How did they get out of the house?  That's so sad, I hope they're doing ok on their own

If your'e looking to adopt check at the local shelters.  I hate people to buy cats when there are thousands who need good homes at shelters and will be put down otherwise. Like H's parents who spent thousands on a purebred Siamese who is a PITA.

Shazzie116

We are going to keep an eye on the shelters, the only way we'd get one is to adopt. 

I don't know if they ever even got the kitties inside, they were hanging out all day with my mom while she was outside cleaning the pool. She was hesitant to bring them in the house (which I wish they'd done in the first place) because they hadn't had a vet visit yet (understandable). She's hoping they turn up, but I don't have a good feeling about it. She said she went to run some errands because they seemed content with the food and snuggling together in the garden, and when she came back she couldn't find them anymore. It just kind of makes me sick to my stomach. I am trying not to get mad at my mom, but she can be a bit of a flake and I think she just thought they'd stick around as long as there was food. 

musgral8

If the kittens were real young, the mom will move them to protect them. Once people find them she thinks they're in danger. We had a mom kitty lay kittens one year under our porch and we found them when they were 3 weeks old. Well, she moved them and we couldn't find them for 2 weeks. One day my dad was moving a rock pile and she had moved them INSIDE of it! I'd keep an ear out because she probably didn't move them far from a food source, but she was just nervous about her babies. When they get hungry they'll Mew. 

Shazzie116

That's good to know. I'll tell my mom to keep an ear out. They have a barn, a cottage, a summer kitchen, and a large vegetable garden on their property, so there are a number of places they could be if they're still around.