Adopting a kitten - advice needed

Have a look at the cats protection site

It will answer everything you need to know😊

I found it invaluable and you can always contact them for advice.

I also recommend Cats Protection for advice. We adopted 2 kittens from there and they have so much practical advice. We changed our kittens names after adopting them and they seemed to cope

Call your kitten whatever you like, it will get used to its name.
If you have a utility room keep your litter tray there, if not how about a downstairs loo? We used to keep the litter tray there, the kind with a hooded type lid.

I’m great believer in dap diffusers when I get a new pet. Feliway for cats. Not sure that they work but I always get one. A mistake I made with a cat years ago that I had problems with toilet training was that I put her litter tray in the downstairs toilet but also put her food bowl there too to stop the dog stealing her food. I’d personally keep her inside for as long as possible but then I’m a terrible worrier. I’m reading Sophie from Romania at the moment and they changed her name. I remember when I did have cats I used to shake their munchies box to bring them in from outside ( although not a good idea to create sudden noises with a rescue cat, at least for a while).And I used to feed them late afternoon so they would get used to being at home before it got dark.

The litter tray should be kept separate from her food/water dishes. Not sure why you say you won't fuss her until she comes to ask for it. I'd leave her to find her bearings for the first few days but afterwards I'd handle her as much as possible. We have a cat flap that is operated by the cat's chip which means that only our cats can access it. We close it at night and our cats aren't allowed out until morning to ensure their safety. Good luck with your new baby!

Changing the kitten’s name shouldn’t be a problem. Our little rescue cat had had three different names by the time she adopted us. I’ve always trained my cats to answer to a gentle hand bell. It makes it easier to get them in at night! U

Where did that U come from?! 🙄

Any chances you could adopt another one same age?

They would keep each other company and would play together a lot

That is the standard advice in the US.

Worked very well for us

I've just had the home visit on FaceTime. Apparently she's four months old, not seven. The reason I said I won't fuss is because she's very shy. Apparently her mother was what they call a 'working cat' - in other words from a farm or stables, with very little human contact, hence the shyness. But they hope that because she's so young she will come to like and trust people. Her poor mother was just a year old - so young to have kittens, poor thing!

I've searched the house and can't find the old litter tray, so I'll have to hit the shops. The lady on FaceTime was very helpful and reassuring, so fingers crossed she'll be happy with us. We've decided where to put her at the beginning, in a small bedroom, to give her time to find her paws.

And I think we've settled on the new name.

I'm getting excited now! Wish me luck.

Our rescue cat took a very long time to settle, we couldn't get near her ! It took months. Had her 6 years now and she is adorable and affectionate! You will need to let her go at her own pace . We changed our cats name- no problem. She sleeps in the utility room in her cosy bed - off the floor. Her litter tray is in the same room but well away ftom her food and bed - it's quite a big room.
If she is outside during the evening I call her in , it can take 10 minutes sometimes but she always comes! Summer evenings are a different story, she sometimes refuses to come in.
We have never had any aggression from
her. Good luck and enjoy your new friend.

If her mum is feral she may be shy for quite a while. I had a farm kitten who hid for a few months and only came out to eat when I was not in the room. He eventually was a great pet.

Definitely get 2 similar age cats if you can. We're currently have 4 cats (numbers 6,7,8 and 9,) but only one of them was chosen by us, the other 8 wandered into our lives at various points and adopted us !

Best to adopt two together. All advice given so far is good but Cats Protection best ones to sort problems. So good to Adopt not shop too! Had my latest lovely boy for about 18 months & he is still settling as I am his 3rd Cat Parent! Hard for him poor boy but he is a much loved older indoor boy so no problems of him getting lost, stolen or run over. At my age if I outlive him he will be my last cat so I make a big fuss over him so start gently getting your new one used to being touched then played with. Best of luck with her!

She has no name the rescue made one up. You need to assess her before letting her out. You need to risk assess your environment and your circumstances. Keep her in and try to encourage her to keep to your garden. No pressure to let her out you need to assess your situation for (her) safety.

I have the cat tray in my wash-kitchen. It should be somewhere fairly private, as a lot of cats dislike being watched while using the tray, and in some this modesty starts while they are kittens. Female cats tend to become very cross indeed if the litter tray is allowed to become too dirty. They decide, not you, what too dirty is.

Make sure she has something that she may sharpen her claws on. You can go out and buy a scratching-post, but my cats have all preferred either a suitably sized (in your estimation) branch with bark still on it, or an unplaned pine board. If you can break one off a pallet that will do fine.

Always place her food and water dish in the same place, and a fairly private one,

If she has not been vaccinated against cat's flu etc, and neutered have both done as soon as the vet deems her old enough.

Remember that kittens need to be played with - whether you feel like it or not, although obviously you choose the time. If you do not feel like running around, or crawling on hands and knees to get ping-pong balls out from under the sofa! a long piece of string with a large knot tied in one end, can be waggled by a person sitting comfortably in an armchair.

Make it clear from the start where you do not want to see her.

My list embraces on the kitchen table, or the table we eat at, climbing curtains, book-shelfs. Inspecting the sideboard cupboards where I keep my best china, and climbing the Christmas tree.

Keep the washing-machine empty, when it is not in use, and find the kitten once you have filled it before you turn the thing on! Same applies to the dryer, if you have one. Discourage the delightful game of unrolling an entire roll of toilet paper, and keep the lid down on the toilet!

Give her a new name of your choice and use it when you speak to her.

Enjoy her, tell her she is a good girl, when she is, and give her lots of cuddles, and she will grow into a lovely and lovable cat.

I agree with getting two cats at once, makes your life easier and theirs better.

I had two indoor cats at one time and it caused problems as they didn’t like using the same litter tray which resulted in one of the cats being very unclean inother parts of the house. It’s didn’t occur to me at the time that that was the reason for her doing it though. I’ve had dogs and cats over the years that have become firm friends but, in general my cats never really seemed to gain anything from having another cat in the house. It may be different if you have two litter mates perhaps but I’ve never done that.

Only advice is don't over think, go with the flow and all will come good..

Oh and a hooded cat litter tray they're so more 'cleaner' than the open one.

Boxes.. Our kitten loved boxes, hiding and playing in/with them

Scratching post (though corners of sofas work a treat 🙈)

Hithere

Any chances you could adopt another one same age?

They would keep each other company and would play together a lot

That is the standard advice in the US.

Worked very well for us

I had 2 rescues for 17 years. They never once acknowledged one another 😂

I know of people that have taken on a second dog because the first one had separation anxiety and ended up with two dogs with separation anxiety. My ex husband has two cats and they seem to exist in different dimensions. Because they’re both black I only know which ones which by their totally different lifestyles.

Make sure she's microchipped if she hasn't been already and keep details up to date.

We've always had 2 cats or on odd occasion, 3. Sometimes same litter, sometimes similar age, sometimes very different ages! They reach equilibrium, usually snuggling together, possibly with the dog.
DS took in a feral cat a while back. His teenage 2 cats now live upstairs, feral lives downstairs - equilibrium

Good post AuntieE you’ve covered most things .
I have adopted single older cats, and pairs of kittens, and they have few needs really.
A warm place to sleep, regular meals and a handful of Dreamie treats, and to go outdoors during daylight hours if they show an inclination.
They like routine, their coats brushed and to be played with.
Register with a Vet in case of illness and for inoculations if you intend to put your cat in a boarding Cattery.
In return you’ll have companionship of the nicest kind. 🐈‍⬛

One of my regrets is that I will never again enjoy the joy of a new kitten.
My cat is seven now, she was given to me by my GD with the understanding that she will keep her when I am no longer here.
My GD lives with me so is attached to her and loves her like I do.
I wish you all the best with your new kitten, just treat her as a family member and all will be well.