Getting a kitten - advice please

[bushbaby_de]

My family always had cats when I was a child but I've been living pet-free for the last 12 years. I am soon moving into a house and will be getting a kitten. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of advice on the internet - can anyone please give me any basic advice or point me in the direction of a good resource that they have personal experience of? I want to make sure I get everything right to give my kitty the best start in life :) Thanks in advance.

[B00]

Well i wouldn't call it an attack, more a lazy chow down on my hand. She even purrs as she's mid chomp!

[strawberryfields]

just make sure your house is safe-ie no friends bringing round dogs, or letting screaming curious kids pick them up by their heads ect. Cats are not generally great around children. Make sure they have somewhere to sleep-i do suggest buying a cat bed-or anything that resembles a large pillow-reason being if you dont train a cat to use a cat bed when they are a kitten-they never will, and they will most definately get into the habit of using your bed as theirs-which is fine if you dont mind-mine always used to sleep at the end of mine but i used to resent the cat hairs left afterwards and they are hard to brush off. Cats that go out do also get fleas-as much as you de flea them, and you dont want flea poo/eggs in your bed sheets. In regards to food-i prefer wet food, how would you like to be fed hard biscuits for the rest of your life? plus if they develop any teeth problems which cats often do during adult life they will find eating painful. In any case you should give them kitten food first for a few months as their tummies are still quite sensitive then go onto adult food afterwards. Iv had many cats and kittens over 20 years and my advice has always gone good for me. One thing i definitely reccomend is Pet insurance. Vet bills are prohibitively expensive and the smallest of injections can cost minimum of £40. My cat was very ill before he died and the resulting treatment over 3 days came up to £750. And thats without operating. My other cat had to have her teeth done and that cost almost £100. so consider your finances first before getting a pet, and consider insurance that has no excess either. I have a cat who is almost 17 and she needs looking after alot-dont get a kitten based on playfulness/cuteness ect-kittens turn into cats quickly so be sure you are able to look after it properly-ie feeding it properly and on time, giving it your time-interacting with the cat, (this helps it to become more sociable too) ensuring it is safe-ie ensure it cant get out of your garden if you live next to a motorway, but if you cant help it at least make it wear a reflective collar so cars can see it, microchip it and NUETER IT!, unless you want your cat roaming for miles increasing possibility of it being run over, or spraying the inside of your house, and trust me you dont want it doing that-it smells really really bad and the smell is hard to get rid of-plus its being responsible by neutering to help stop him fathering strays adding to the stray cat populaton. Other than that cats are the best pets and will reward you with love and affection always-be nice to it and it will love you in return. You dont need two cats-one is fine, especially if you are letting it out to entertain itself. I loved playing rough with my kittens and i found they still bit (playfully-but can still be hard!)b as adults so play gently if you dont like that sort of thing. (i do haha)

[kiki22kiki]

Cats can provide great friendship. They can love you unconditionally. Their specific way of showing their love for you- makes this creatures so adorable. Another positive side of keeping cats is that their food is less expenses then the dog’s food.

[B00]

"their food is less expenses then the dog’s food. "

Yeah? Tell that to my Maine Coon kitten as she munches on MC kitten food at 20odd quid a bag whilst my dog is on Tesco value fodder ;-)

[LoftyLottie]

My cat has become a 99% indoor cat by her own choice. She wants to be with me all day and follows me around the house wherever I go. I never did let her remain outside when I was out and she quite happily used to come in when called, just like a dog. She has never roamed even though we are surrounded by fields. And she has always come in to use cat litter - never would go outside to perform, stupid cat. I think indoor cats can be very, very happy as long as they have company and stimulation and better that than being knocked down on the road, taken by cat thieves, etc.
My cats disproves the notion that cats are independent creatures who like places better than people. We can take her anywhere - as long as she is with us she is happy.

[pastafreak]

"their food is less expenses then the dog’s food. "

hmmm...maybe that's why in my house the cat seems to prefer the dogs food......

And my advice is not complicated...just love it,and it will love you back......when it's not shouting for food ;-(

[bushbaby_de]

Thanks for all the advice, and a special thanks to strawberryfields for the effort put into such a long post!

We have really thought about getting a kitten (I've had 12 years to plan/dream for it!) and can definitely afford all the food, toys, equipment, insurance etc (on that note can anyone make a personal recommendation of a good company please?)

We are both home every evening and all weekend bar for a couple of hours here and there, and have no other pets or children, so can definitely give kitty the attention she deserves. I think I'll try letting her out for a while, when she's old enough, and she how she takes to it. I certainly won't force her to stay out all day whilst I'm at work if she'd rather be inside!

I was thinking of getting one of those little cat sheds so she has a shelter when she is out, and I was going to get it and keep it in the house before she can go out so she gets used to it.

I've also seen those indoor radiator hammock beds - are they any good?

[bushbaby_de]

Can anyone comment on the pros and cons of male vs female kitten please? Thanks

[bushbaby_de]

I forgot to post when we first brought her home, but my avatar is hopefully showing my new baby :)

[bushbaby_de]

ok so gravatar hasn't updated yet... sorry I'll try again tomorrow!

[bushbaby_de]

ahh... there she is!