DD4 Got a Kitten Today!!!!!!

[disneylovinfamily]

Well we had no intention of getting a cat, EVER. I am allergic and DH hates cats. We have been avoiding DD's asking for over a year now and having 1 dog and 2 fish is enough, thank you. Well today we went for a play date over DD's friend's house and she and her brother just got 2 outdoor cats. the kittens were precious and when DD was playing with them---there was such joy in her face. She looked up at me with big pleading eyes and asked for one again. Her frend's mom told me she got them free down the road. Well a call to DH and 5 minutes later DD is now mom to a new kitten. She is over the moon happy. I convinced DH by saying we will keep it outside in our old bunny's house on the back patio (under cover). The kittens were living outside anyway. So all afternoon DD played with "Marie"---yes after the Aristocat while I set up the house. DH gets home from work and immediatly took to the cat---although he won't admit to it. He said we can't keep it outside, it will get too hot.

So now Marie (it's a boy) is in an old rabbit's cage in DD's room and I am hopped up on allergy medicine. He is really cute though and Raven (our black lab keeps kissing him through the cage) so I guess Marie is here to stay. the name thing is a problem though because DH wants to call him captain Jack because he is mostly white with a black patch in the backa nd one over his one eye.

So does anyone have any advice for us non-cat people. I have never even thought ofowning one so any advice would be great!

 

[Juliet25]

I come from a long line of cat haters...and now have two!

They sure do grow on you. I always thought cats were aloof and unfriendly, and it's so not true! They love my DD (also 4) and are very affectionate. Sure, they're not about pleasing you like dogs are, but they're good pets in their own right.

I think you'll find that cats are incredibly easy to take care of. Since it's a male, and expecially if he'll spend any time outside, get him neutered ASAP. If you're going to get him declawed, do so at the same time so he's only knocked out once. My DD's kitten bounced back real quick from surgery.

As for allergies, I don't know what to tell you there. I was allergic to cats (itchy, watery eyes mostly), but I think I just got used to them and now their dander doesn;t bother me. My older cat is a domestic medium hair--very furry. I can rub my cheek against her and not break out in a rash.

Anyway, congrats!

 

[pweyl36]

Well dont take this the wrong way but ,ARE YOU NUTS?! First of all you do not keep cats in a cage,you do not give animals to 4yr olds.This is going to be another unwanted cat that will end up a the SPCA.I just cant stand it when people get animals because they are so cute .Well your cute cat will probably scratch you daughter when she is squeezing it to hard,the cat will also tear up your furniture. I just cant believe you just gave a 4yr old a cat!! Well thats my two cents!!!

 

[ohiominnie]

I also come from a long line of cat haters. I grew up with "barn cats" who often times were 1/2 wild. I also have two. (now one indoor, one outdoor)

Here's some things I've learned over the years of having cats....
Have two litterboxes. For whatever reason, you should have one litter box for each cat PLUS one. Supposedly cuts down on random peeing.

I agree, get the male neutered ASAP. Helps decrease spraying for territory marking.

Feed the cat one can or one pouch of wet food a day. Male cats are very prone to feline lower urinary disorder (crystals in the urine) I listened to a vet's podcast and he talked about the rationale for giving wet food once a day. Our male cat has had this disorder and is now on prescription cat food and wet food (and only bottled water, etc etc) so do what you can to prevent it. Btw, great podcast about cats is http://www.tacomacat.com/

As for the allergies. My ds is allergic to cats, but LOVES them. He was allergic to the newest cat we got, and the cat insisted on sleeping right by ds's head! We did claritin, and benadryl at night. Occasionally he needed patanol eye drops. But now he's fine with just a claritin every day (he also has seasonal allergies, so he takes one every day anyway) But what we've noticed is that he's become sensitized to this cat. He'll now get itchy eyes and a runny nose around OTHER cats, but not our own. So you may get better just being around the cat for awhile.

Feed high quality food.

Give lots of love (like that will be an issue!)

Oh yeah, and post pictures!!!

 

[ohiominnie]

Well dont take this the wrong way but ,ARE YOU NUTS?! First of all you do not keep cats in a cage,you do not give animals to 4yr olds.This is going to be another unwanted cat that will end up a the SPCA.I just cant stand it when people get animals because they are so cute .Well your cute cat will probably scratch you daughter when she is squeezing it to hard,the cat will also tear up your furniture. I just cant believe you just gave a 4yr old a cat!! Well thats my two cents!!!

Oh, yeah, cats don't stay in cages, but it is a VERY good idea to not let your kitten have the roam of the house first thing. Let it stay in your dd's room (litterbox, food, water in the room) for a few days. Then open it up to a slightly bigger area of the house (if there is a way to close things off without giving the cat free roam) Especially with the dog the cat will need to adjust a bit.

Good luck!

 

[pweyl36]

Oh, yeah, cats don't stay in cages, but it is a VERY good idea to not let your kitten have the roam of the house first thing. Let it stay in your dd's room (litterbox, food, water in the room) for a few days. Then open it up to a slightly bigger area of the house (if there is a way to close things off without giving the cat free roam) Especially with the dog the cat will need to adjust a bit.

Good luck!

We did let our cats roam as kittens and never had a problem. We got both our cats as kittens,plus We have to boxers that never hurt out cats.

 

[me again]

Congratulations on your new kitty! I'm sure you'll ocme to love him as a member of the family!

My advice--don't bother with that automatic litter box you seel advertised on TV. It doesn't work. The stuff clumps in the blades, then you have an even worse mess than if you just scooped it to begin with.

Also, no one's mentioned it, but since you're new to cats, do be sure to get his rabies shots. I don't know when you can get them, at what age, best to call the animal control for your area and ask. If the cat bites or scratches someone it will be exterminated to see if it has rabies without the shots being up to date. Also, don't pay a fortune for the rabies shots, our local animal shelter does them for $5. A vet will run you $40=$50 or more!

 

[Order66]

First, let the kitten out of the cage. They are not gerbils. Nor do they need crate training like a puppy to potty train them. Take the kitten to his litterbox and put him in. Scratch his feet in the litter a few times....and he's housebroken. Kittens do not typically have accidents in the house once they know where their box is. It's fine for short term confinement, but if you keep this kitten caged all the time you're going to create physcological and behavioral problems.

Since these kittens were born outside, I suggest making a vet appointment ASAP to have him checked over and most importantly tested for FeLuk (Feline Leukemia) and FIV (like kitty AIDS). Both of these viruses are much more prevenlent in outdoor cats and spread through fighting and biting, as well as passed on to offspring by an infected queen. Being positive for one or both doesn't necessarily mean the kitten will be sick, but it makes illnesses much more complicated and generally does reduce their overall lifespan.

Kittens are very fragile and easily injured by clumsy big dogs and rough kids. Make sure your daughter understands he's a living animal, not a doll and to treat him carefully until he's bigger. You don't say how old he is but make sure he eats a good quality growth formula if he is under 6 months. Wet food is better to keep the kitten hydrated and as someone else said, to keep the mineral content lower and the kidneys well flushed to reduce Feline Urological Syndrome. Nobody understands the real reason behind this problem be it genetic, diet or something else....but it can be a life threatening emergency in a male cat. Females have a larger opening and can pass the crystals, but males can block up and need immediate treatment. Dry can be offered on the side as well. Feed the cat out of reach of the dog. Cat food is too high in protein for dogs. Not only will it fatten your dog to no end, but can cause kidney problems in your dog over extended times.

He will also need vaccinations in a series just like human babies, then boosters depending on your veterinarians protocol. They will need vaccinations for FVRCP (kitty respiratory illnesses) and Rabies. Rabies is usually mandated by state law since it can be transmitted to humans through saliva or blood. If he's going outside you may also want to consider the FeLuk vaccination. Neuter as soon as your vet says it can be done, but do not declaw if he will be going out. Cats need their claws outside for defense and climbing. You can keep scratching down by clipping the nails and providing him scratching toys to play with indoors. Cats are very territorial and fighting is a problem in outdoor cats. They do not handle bites from their own species well and often get abcesses in wounds that need medical treatment.

And just so you aren't scared by some other information here, animals are not euthanized for bites. You will get a visit from the health department should your animal bite someone, but they are not put down. You'd be required to quarrentine for a 10 day period and have a veterinarian administer a shot and verify the animal had no symptoms. The bitee would have prophylatic treatment and you'd probably be liable for the costs. But to save the headaches of all that.......get a Rabies shot. One at 4+ months then 1 year later. After that it depends on your state law. Most require it to be boostered every 3 years.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

With a 4-year old, I would make a rule that she may not pick up the kitten without supervision. I've heard too many stories about kids either squeezing animals too hard or dropping them when they get startled.

All of my animal experience is with bunnies, but I think this is a good general rule of thumb for small kids with any animals. My boys are 8 and 11 and they're still not allowed to pick up the bunnies (bunnies are squirmy creatures and won't hesitate to try to jump away if they get scared). They can open their cages with permission to pet them or sit next to them on the floor when they are out to play. I just don't think it's worth the risk to the animal to let kids handle them until the child is old enough to be responsible and really understand how to hold them properly.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

i'm 22 and i'm still asking for a kitten and have been since i was 2..it hasnt happened and now it will never happen..2 puppies have not made me 100% lol maybe when i have my own place and family!!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Please don't keep the kitten in the cage. If you want a loving, friendly fur baby he will need to be taught that human contact is a good thing, lots of lap time and snuggling. Get him to the vet for all the shots and test recomended above. If at all possible keep him indoors, so many things can happen outside, cars, other animals, poisoning from yard sprays...it's a life lesson your DD doesn't need yet. Inside or out get him fixed as soon as the vet says he is big enough. Introduce the dog and kitten slowly, usually through sniffing through a closed door at first.

 

[disneylovinfamily]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. We had the cage as an idea for outside to get hime use to the area first but now since DH has agreed to let him be an indoor cat, the cage will go altoghter. We kept it in there last night so the daog would not bother it. We have had Marie out all morning and I have been supervising very carefully with the dog and they are getting along fine.

As for DD, she does only hold her on her lap as I think she is scared to pick her up because of my overall rule about animals. We have had the "talk" about being gentle and since DS is 1, she knows how to treat "babies".

As for being crazy to give a 4 year old an animal, I am not stupid or naive. i know that most care will be left to me but my DD is very nurturing by nature. We got Raven (our lab) when I was 8 months prego and Raven was 8 weeks----everyone including the vet said we were crazy. Well they are best friends and we have had no problems. DD feeds her evry night and helps give her baths. DD also has 2 fish that shes feeds every night while I am making dinner. i don't even have to remind her. We have had Nemo and Cinderella for over a year now and the novelty has not worn off. DD loves animals and I know my child and this was a goo fit. This animal will not be unwanted and is already a part of the family and we all love Marie already.

I will make a vet appoint ASAP. She is only 8 weeks so it will be a little while before we can get him nuetered, I think but will have that done as well.

Anymoore advice is welcome. This has been very informative and I knew my freinds at the DIS would help me out.

 

[reginaastralis]

With an indoor cat, I would also keep all my clothes in a basket with a lid. I adopted a kitty in college who was partially wild, his momma killed the litter and he was the only one who was saved. This kitty was raised by hand from day one, but for some reason, like to poo in my clothes! I kept his litter box prestine, scooping every day ... and my dirty clothes at the bottom of my closet, but he would still do his business on them.

I finally convinced my mom and dad to take him in, and he became an outdoor kitty. He was a sweet guy ... but for some reason loved my clothes. Ew

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Toys, lots of toys, your new baby will need things to "kill" or hunt. My 1 y/o little boy kitty loves "soccer balls", the 3y/o girl likes fluffy toys. Get a wide variety to try out, they are pretty cheap. Also get yourself a few scratching posts, when littler both mine preffered the carpeted ones vs the rope ones, now they tear up the cheap carpet one(but still love it) the rope one seems to handle their attention better. Just like with all babies, he will try things out with his mouth, so keep an eye on things, like electric cords. My little guy eats things he shouldn't, like string(so no balls of yarn for him), this can be a problem to digest so don't leave him unattended with that type of toy.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Congrats on the new addition! I give you a lot of credit for getting a cat with your allergies. I am allergic and break out into hideous hives and meds only calm the reaction for me, but they don't completely eradicate the problem. Your a good mom!

My friend has several cats and she goes through scratching posts at a record rate. Her cats also love toys that move on their own-she has a battery operated ball that jumps all over the place and the cats go wild over it. Have fun! I wish I could get one, but just admire from afar!

 

[scorpad99]

OK now I`ve got to put my 2 cents in, since he is a male cat, they spray when they start to go into heat, and 8 weeks is not too early to get that kitty neutered, do yourself a favor and make the appt this week (there might be a waiting time for an appt)
You will be sorry if he starts spraying and trying to get back outside to find a mate. We have 2 female cats and they r both spayed, I trim their claws about twice a month so they dont ruin our furniture (have been doing it since they were small, so they r used to it)
Depending on the cats temperment , and since he is growing up with a dog, he will probably be very trusting and lovable!
good luck to you, and hopefully allergy medicine will help you with that problem, but let me tell you my best friend was highly allergic to cats, and now has 6 of them, I think you become ammune after awhile, so if you love him , bare with the suffering for now!
LOL

 

[virgojmk]

Ok, I have had cats all my life. We currently have 4 extremely spoiled ones (ages 1,3,5 and 18, 2 males and 2 female). Part of the reason they are so spoiled...our 12 year old (who has always at least had 3 cats since she was born) absolutely dotes on them.
Our 18 year old, was part of our "trying to have a child and couldn't", that's how we ended up with the first 4 (one year to 18 mos apart). His sisters all passed away at the 15 year mark. We thought he was going to go a year ago when we got our youngest cat. Nope she extended his life, he loves playing the mother cat and immediately took her under his wing.
I do not think 4 is too young, but then it depends on the child, and you know your child best. Cats do much better exposed to children as kittens OR an older cat introduced to a newborn IMO.
I would definately take him to the vet for his first check up and have him check for the feline leukemia and kitty aids. Rabies is at 4 mos, and most states you have to license them by 6 mos. After a clean bill of health, if mine don't have a problem I just do the vaccination clinic (pet stores hold them) or try your local animal shelter for their regular shots.
Also check with them about getting him fixed, our local no kill shelter just started a program that fixes them for $10, but other cities around here have voucher $30 programs (which I wish I had known when we got our 5 year old she was $130 ).
They will fix them as young as 8 weeks, however on males they say 16-20 weeks is better, if their testicles have not dropped it could make them more prone to cancer later.
The breeder my sister got her ragdoll from also recommended having them done at the shelter, because they tend to only be fixing cats that aren't sick, where at a vet, there might be other sick animals to pass something on to your cat.
As far as declawing, I was raised where you just had it done. After much research, I will not declaw a cat now. In fact most vets in our area refuse to do this. Start clipping his nails while he is young.
And most of all enjoy the new member of the family!

 

[Safari Queen]

So happy to hear your furperson is out of the cage ut staying indoors! Sounds like your daughter is well trained. I'd approach it VERY carefully, but you might see how your little guy feels about water. Some cats don't mind being wet. If you can bath him, your allegies will decrease significantly. If not, you will become somewhat desensitized to him as time goes by. I LOVE cats and dogs and am allergic to both, so allergy medicine is my friend.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

So happy to hear your furperson is out of the cage ut staying indoors! Sounds like your daughter is well trained. I'd approach it VERY carefully, but you might see how your little guy feels about water. Some cats don't mind being wet. If you can bath him, your allegies will decrease significantly. If not, you will become somewhat desensitized to him as time goes by. I LOVE cats and dogs and am allergic to both, so allergy medicine is my friend.

Even if he is initially scared of the water you may be able to train him to tolerate it, as with anything else if it is part of the routine he will accept it. My DD leash/harnes trained her kitten, when Inky see us with her leash she is at the door purring. I even had a cat that, even though she didn't love getting a bath, she liked the way she felt when it was done. During the summer/shedding months she would often pace and cry infront of the sink where we bathed her.
Just becarefull of what you bath him with, if you are doing other flea control(Advantage or other products)do not use flea shampoo it can poison him. He is so young flea shampoo is not recomded yet any way, try some baby shampoo.

One more thing WE NEED PICTURES!!!!!!!!!

 

[mimif1]

Congratulations on your new baby! I've never not lived with a cat and can't imagine living without. We currently have 4 and they are just as much a part of my DDs lives as well. One thing, you might need to have that baby wormed after awhile. A lot of outdoor cats have internal parasites that have to be dealt with. I would check with a vet about worming as I've heard that most over the counter wormers are really too stong, especially for young cats. As others have said, get that baby neutered hopefully before he starts spraying, as some older cats will continue spraying even after being neutered (as my sister can attest!)