new cat or kitten advice (merged)

A question about : new cat or kitten advice (merged)

getting a kitten- what do you really need to buy?

Best answers:

• Hello! fleecey blankets are great beds for cats! and easy to clean too.
  keely.
• Why not advertise your 'Wanted' list on your local Freecycle website https://uk.freecycle.org/ ?
• A scratching post is a must, preferably made of rope so it lasts longer than the carpet ones. Be prepared for a little damage to furniture, curtains etc kittens can be little tinkers!
  Don't really need to bother with toys, things like shiny sweet wrappers, plastic plug protectors, straws etc go down a treat!!
  As for food, i tend to buy felix, you can get some good offers in supermarkets, and my cats love the aldi cat food but i've not heard any reviews on that on here so don't know if its good for them.
  You'll love every second of it! They're such fun creatures x
• Whiskers and Felix do kitten starter packs, just pop along to their websites -
  https://www.freekittenpack.co.uk/
  https://www.catslikefelix.co.uk/kittens/kittens.asp
  You can feed kitten food for the first year, it's got a higher protein count than regular cat food which helps them grow.
  Mine had kitten food, whiskas or felix - whichever was on offer at the pet shop! I gave them wet and dry food.
  Now they have Aldi wet cat food and Purina dry biscuits but they're almost 2 now.
  And you'll get some samples, vouchers and a toy :-)
  Definitely get a scratching post...it will help to save your furniture although probably not altogether!
  Ping Pong balls make great toys too.....mine love to chase them all round the house and will even fetch them to me to play!
  Good luck and enjoy your new bundle of furry love :-)
• No tips as everyone is saying good stuff, but pleeeeeassse put up lots of cute kitten pictures!
• Get old fashioned large blankets from charity shops and cover all sofas and chairs for a couple of months as s/he will make a mess otherwise scampering all over the place.
  Cardboard boxes turned upside down with holes 4r55555r ( sorry cat input there)either end to make a tunnel
• If you want to be economical, I wouldn't bother with a basket as s/he will probably sleep anywhere but but I would spend a bit more on getting a litter tray with a lid and filter.
  I found clumping litter (catsan) the best.
  Afterthought: if you meant basket for carrying, I recommend the argos one with a little hatch on the top for putting your hand in to calm puss whilst travelling in car/ sitting in the vets.
• Before you get a kitten, pop along to the vet see what jabs they should have and when, worrm tablets, also check the price to get it 'chipped' and speyed. you might also get some free sample of food.
  Ask about keeping their teeth clean, see what they suggest in the way of a toothbrush, also get a small brush or preferably a 'nit' comb to check for any fleas
  When kitens are small you need to get them used to being combed and brushed, also having their mouths opened. They're cute and cuddly now but when they're a few kilos heavier and full of large sharp claws grooming or getting them to take a tablet came be quite hazardous.....voice of experience
• thanks for all this, keep em coming! I will be taking thousands of photos!!
  I was thinking of getting an oversize basket to pop under the stairs with snuggly blankets in the hope she would use it if she needed a retreat from toddlers, but I guess she might pick her own place.
  I think I will get insurance, as if I stashed Ј7 a month it wouldn't cover anything major, and hubbys major hangup about getting pets is big vets bills.
  My mum is saving coupons for the go cat gym, and we have some old baby toys that might do too- plastic balls and rattles.
  I hadn't thought of the litter tray with the roof but thats a very good idea with kids about, I will see where I can find it cheapest thank you.
• ps- here she is at 5 days old and I visit again tomorrow.
  https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsmeep/510850767/
• the best place I found for cat bits and pieces was www.zooplus.co.uk they were really cheap and delivery was really quick
  I also insure all three of mine with M&S. I worked in a vets for 6 years and know how much it costs when things go wrong.
• This is the tray I got:
  https://www.petsathome.com/invt/13005
  If you do buy toys ( not really necessary...homemade just as good) the little mice with lifelike fur filled with beads and feather stuck on tail were a favourite here. ( local petshop so can't post a link)
• Few things weve learnt from our kitten:
  *Dont bother with a bed, and if you do make it a cheap one. Ours has never stepped foot in it. Shes much rather sleep on the sofa / with the dogs / on my bed (as Im not there) / on my mums pillow.
  *Make sure you take her to your local vet within a few days of getting her. They will sort out jabs and microchipping and you may get a free kitten pack (we did, had food and toys )
  *We use whiskers kitten food, but shes starting to turn her nose up at it now. Shed rather have real meat (my mum spoils her...)
  *Buy a scratching post as a must, this will stop her going for your sofa instead!
  *Get a few toys but do what we did. Invite all your friends over when you first get her, we did and all my aunties came with toys! Hehehe. But we have to be carefull with toys as if she plays with them on the floor then one of our dog pinches them and chews it.
  Little sods now work together, Jess (cat) jumps on table and knocks something off then megan (dog) takes it under the dining room table (like her den) and chews it! Nothing is safe now as the cat and dogs can open doors. Grrr. Hehehe.
  Oh and lots and lots of pics!!
• hiya- that 19-99 litter tray looks a lot sturdier and nicer than one in argos for 12-99 so thanks for that, and I have found a scratching post for Ј6.
• Try your local farmers stores, they do bulk packs of cat food (biscuits and tins), cat litter etc and are excellent value. Just pid Ј1.80 for a litter tray (getting a cat in September, getting prepared).
  Total for cat bix (2kg, they do up to 25kg), cat food (12 tins), collar tray, scoop, litter and bowls...Ј14.77
  All we need now is the cat