New Kittens - Help! (1 Viewer)

Great_Expectations · Jun 8, 2021

Despite having two children under two, and currently in the middle of a (long) house renovation, for some unbeknown reason my partner has decided to adopt two kittens….

Other than a previous partner having a dog, I have no experience of pets really.

So any advice on two eight week old kittens would be great?!

Sbarcher · Jun 8, 2021

Don't worry the cats will knock you into shape pretty soon.

skybluetony176 · Jun 8, 2021

Great_Expectations said:
Despite having two children under two, and currently in the middle of a (long) house renovation, for some unbeknown reason my partner has decided to adopt two kittens….

Other than a previous partner having a dog, I have no experience of pets really.

So any advice on two eight week old kittens would be great?!

At 8 weeks old they’ve been removed from their mother too early. They’ve probably been weaned of their mothers milk but now their education starts. Shouldn’t really get a kitten any younger than 12 weeks old unless there’s exceptional circumstances such as the mother has rejected them (extremely rare in domestic cats) or the mother has died and they’ve had to be hand reared (maybe that’s your circumstances). Ultimately they’ll be okay but they’re going to be a handful for a couple of months. Definitely don’t let them out for a good couple of months.

RegiswasGod · Jun 8, 2021

I've just got an 8 week old too. It's day 5 and she's living life. Never stops playing, is now earing 2 pouches of food a day and gives the older cat in the house numerous reasons to be grumpy!

Great_Expectations · Jun 8, 2021

skybluetony176 said:
At 8 weeks old they’ve been removed from their mother too early. They’ve probably been weaned of their mothers milk but now their education starts. Shouldn’t really get a kitten any younger than 12 weeks old unless there’s exceptional circumstances such as the mother has rejected them (extremely rare in domestic cats) or the mother has died and they’ve had to be hand reared (maybe that’s your circumstances). Ultimately they’ll be okay but they’re going to be a handful for a couple of months. Definitely don’t let them out for a good couple of months.

Not sure of the circumstances but I assume they’re up for adoption for a reason.

Yes we have been told to keep them indoors for circa 6 months?

Any other tips?

Great_Expectations · Jun 8, 2021

RegiswasGod said:
I've just got an 8 week old too. It's day 5 and she's living life. Never stops playing, is now earing 2 pouches of food a day and gives the older cat in the house numerous reasons to be grumpy!

Reassuring to hear!

Corrado · Jun 8, 2021

8 weeks is normal now - however the last kitten I got at 8 weeks died within 3 days as like Tony said above it didnt get all the protection it needed from its mothers milk and was ridden with worms. Poor cat.

Defo get a check up from Vets and if it turn lethargic take them straight to vets

Mr Panda · Jun 8, 2021

Don't buy any toys or expensive cat towers/shelters, they get just as much fun from a screwed up ball of foil or a hair bobble.

Before feeding them, assign a command or phrase each time. Really useful later on down the line if you need to get them inside for whatever reason. e.g. my cat reacts to "Dinner time!" and comes running from wherever she is if you shout "Treat!"

When let out, male cats in particular can disappear for hours as their patrol route is a lot bigger. Female cats don't go as far...e.g. my cat is either in either of my gardens, or next door, nowhere else really. It's good to familiarise yourself with where they go just in case you need to find them for whatever reason.

Get them neutered at the first opportunity. Google cat sex, particularly for females it's grim

Mr Panda · Jun 8, 2021

Oh and don't put their litter tray next to their food. Like humans they don't like to eat where they shit

Sky_Blue_Dreamer · Jun 8, 2021

Mr Panda said:
Don't buy any toys or expensive cat towers/shelters, they get just as much fun from a screwed up ball of foil or a hair bobble.

Before feeding them, assign a command or phrase each time. Really useful later on down the line if you need to get them inside for whatever reason. e.g. my cat reacts to "Dinner time!" and comes running from wherever she is if you shout "Treat!"

When let out, male cats in particular can disappear for hours as their patrol route is a lot bigger. Female cats don't go as far...e.g. my cat is either in either of my gardens, or next door, nowhere else really. It's good to familiarise yourself with where they go just in case you need to find them for whatever reason.

Get them neutered at the first opportunity. Google cat sex, particularly for females it's grim

How do you find out where the go? Tracker? Cam?

Is there such a thing as a Go Purro?

RegiswasGod · Jun 8, 2021

Great_Expectations said:
Reassuring to hear!

Obviously I meant loving life and eating 2 pouches a day . She's already reacting well to "want some food" and quickly associated that with dinner time

rondog1973 · Jun 8, 2021

Be on standby to order new furniture..

Ian1779 · Jun 8, 2021

Great_Expectations said:
Despite having two children under two, and currently in the middle of a (long) house renovation, for some unbeknown reason my partner has decided to adopt two kittens….

Other than a previous partner having a dog, I have no experience of pets really.

So any advice on two eight week old kittens would be great?!

They own you now. You will be their bitch for the next 15 years minimum.
Also - don’t let them out for a while, find them stuff to scratch - you can get cardboard scratch trays that cost a fraction of the fancy scratch towers that cats love, and get them on the catnip.
Good luck

Great_Expectations · Jun 8, 2021

Thanks all.

As I sit outside my daughters room after initially putting them to bed two hours again, with them both still wide awake, and my partner still at the hairdressers SEVEN hours later, all I can think is: stitch up!

Sick Boy · Jun 8, 2021

Enjoy them, they’re great fun.

fernandopartridge · Jun 9, 2021

Great_Expectations said:
Despite having two children under two, and currently in the middle of a (long) house renovation, for some unbeknown reason my partner has decided to adopt two kittens….

Other than a previous partner having a dog, I have no experience of pets really.

So any advice on two eight week old kittens would be great?!

They're fine mate, as long as they've been litter trained you won't have a problem at all. With two of them they keep each other company. I've had my two girls since the same age, they're 12 this year.

Great_Expectations · Jun 10, 2021

Thanks for the advice so far all - much appreciated!

Any tips on the best place for the kittens to slee at night? I’ve read a few varying reports. My partner wants to set them up in our room (but definitely not in our bed), but the downside is a likely poor nights sleep for us? Equally if they are in a different room/downstairs, they might be scared/cry all night?

What did people find worked best?

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