Kitten checklist

[wvjules]

1. Food/water bowls
2. Food
3. Litter box/liners
4. Non clumping litter (as advised while they're still young)
5. Scratching post
6. Play house
7. Toys
8. Squit bottle
9. Carrier
10. Bed
11. Nail clippers
12. Kitten shampoo
13. Collars - too big at this point, they will have to grow into them
14. Treats
15. Nightlight for the bathroom

What am I missing? They come home tomorrow so I'll have time to get missing items tonight.

 

[freckles and boo]

Here are some free things...

Wadded up newspaper balls, rings off the milk cartons, dust bunnies from under the couch (which look very cute on tiny whiskers), a worn t-shirt that smells like you to put on the kitty bed, old beanie babies for them to drag around the house.

Congratulations! We brought our girl home at the end of June when she was 11 oz. She is almost seven pounds now!!!

ETA - one warning about litter box liners - kitties might associate those with going to the bathroom and could pee on any old plastic bag they find laying around. My mom and I both had that problem so we stopped using liners. YMMV.

 

[NAB]

We just got a kitten about a month ago. All as we got was the litter box, we did get clumping litter but unscented because he was a kitten, the scoop for the litter but I guess you have the no clumping one. Toys that is it. We only have kitten dry food too. Nothing to fancy. He usually curls up on my kitchen chair on the chair pad. That is were he stays most of the day. My daughter gave him a bed from her build a bear and a blanket and he won't stay there.

The only thing I know I would like now is a scratching post. I do have the squit bottle because he climbed up my blinds the other day...

edit-- we dont' use liners either.

 

[Fitswimmer]

ETA - one warning about litter box liners - kitties might associate those with going to the bathroom and could pee on any old plastic bag they find laying around. My mom and I both had that problem so we stopped using liners. YMMV.

Another vote for skipping the liners, I have not had good luck with them either. They either shred them or they will find other plastic things to use as a potty because of that association.

You'll probably still want a scoop, even though the litter isn't clumping.

Ping pong balls make GREAT toys. They're cheaper than the balls you buy in the pet stores, lighter and they BOUNCE really high off the kitchen floor. Those bouncing balls create quite acrobatic kitty leaps!!

I'm also real fond of the Kitten Mitten-a glove with LONG fingers on it that you put on your hand and wiggle for them to ATTACK. Saves your hands from scratching while still letting you and kitties have fun.

 

[CheshireVal]

Nail clippers??! I can tell you that in all my years of owning cats, I've never bought nail clippers for them. I'd be too afraid to try.

I second the posts about litter box liners. Especially if you're using clumping litter, they're not really necessary.

Also, my cats have never really liked traditional scratching posts. They like the little cardboard things that lay flat alongside furniture. (Super Scratchers)

 

[angel_bright05]

I don't think you really need the bed. I mean, they might sleep in it, but they may not. You could always buy a fleece throw blanket instead and put it somewhere. They'll like to kneed with their claws into it. When we got a kitten we bought a little bed...he didn't even use it.

They'll probably end up just sleeping wherever. I'm not a cat expert though!!

Hope everything goes great, kittens are awesome!

 

[Fitswimmer]

Nail clippers??! I can tell you that in all my years of owning cats, I've never bought nail clippers for them. I'd be too afraid to try.

I second the posts about litter box liners. Especially if you're using clumping litter, they're not really necessary.

Also, my cats have never really liked traditional scratching posts. They like the little cardboard things that lay flat alongside furniture. (Super Scratchers)

I clip my kitties nails. If you start when they are kittens they get used to it. They never like it, but they tolerate it. I had the vet show me the first time and I've done it on my own since then.

I bought a kitty tower a couple of years ago and it was the best investment I ever made. They will climb on it rather than the TV or the piano since the tower is higher than any of the furniture. They also use it as a scratching post which is nice too.

 

[wvjules]

I'm not allowed to de-claw them so they suggested clipping their nails and starting at an early age to get them used to it. When they get older hopefully they'll be used to me messing with their nails and allow me to put on the caps.

I'll rethink the liner but I got the pellets they used at the shelter and I don't think I can scoop that. I will gradually switch over to scoopable litter. (Oh, I do have a scoop.)

I hope their tummies adjust to the new food easily. The shelter uses 9-Lives. I got them Science Diet, Iams, or Pro-Plan (can't remember which lol).

I can't wait until tomorrow.

And with that post, I'm off to go visit them during my lunch hour.

 

[Imzadi]

I clip my kitty's nails too. Started young while she was sleeping. Start by simply petting the paws. After a couple of days, Snip! Snip!

The best tip I got was that I don't have to clip all the nails at once. If it takes two or three days to get them all, that's fine. Now that she's older, she knows what's happening. Depending on her mood, she's more or less tolerant. Not having to clip them all in one sitting has been a lifesaver.

Also, my cats have never really liked traditional scratching posts. They like the little cardboard things that lay flat alongside furniture. (Super Scratchers)

I've read that cats tend to be a vertical or horizontal scratcher. So you have to find which your cat is & find either the appropriate post or pad to match.

 

[TurboKitty]

If your house is anything like mine (or kittens as curious as mine?) write yourself a note to check the refrigerator everynight before bed to free the little cat...

(Our DD would not see the kitten inspecting the lower shelves while the door was open, and shut the little snoop in there.)

 

[Dodie]

I third, fourth, (or fifth) the thing about NO litter box liners! We did that with our first kitten and he did indeed grow up thinking that anything plastic on the floor was an okay receptacle for him to do his business!

 

[Imzadi]

I third, fourth, (or fifth) the thing about NO litter box liners! We did that with our first kitten and he did indeed grow up thinking that anything plastic on the floor was an okay receptacle for him to do his business!

I had one cat do that. I accidently left my dry cleaning (in plastic sheeting) on a table and didn't realize the cat went on it until I was at work & pulled it out of the bag to find a BIG yellow stain on the back of my white jacket. The stain was set in & totally ruined my the jacket.

 

[Fitswimmer]

If your house is anything like mine (or kittens as curious as mine?) write yourself a note to check the refrigerator everynight before bed to free the little cat...

(Our DD would not see the kitten inspecting the lower shelves while the door was open, and shut the little snoop in there.)

Ditto for closets. Mom and Dad's new kitten got locked in the hall closet for the better part of a day because nobody saw Miss Curiosity go in there and her "meow" was so tiny they didn't hear her!!

 

[KPeveler]

i say no to liners as well...

we just got a kitten, and we clip her nail, otherwise she thinks my leg is a climbing toy!

we have discovered tops from water/soda bottles are favorite toys

we also put ice cubes on the floor and she is very intrigued by the cold toy! (just make sure they are wet first, cause otherwise they will stick to her kitty tongue!)

 

[Philadisney]

glad I found this thread - I am also adopting a kitten this month. I have had dogs, guinea pigs, lizards, gerbils, and birds, but never a cat before!

 

[CheshireVal]

Ditto for closets. Mom and Dad's new kitten got locked in the hall closet for the better part of a day because nobody saw Miss Curiosity go in there and her "meow" was so tiny they didn't hear her!!

My cats are adults and they still get locked in closets occasionally. They dart in there when I'm not looking!

 

[Imzadi]

For those of you new to having your first Xmas with your cat:

How to display a christmas village when you have cats?

 

[helenabear]

I think you'll be fine, but I have a feeling you might have too much on the list.

I agree with teh no liners. I have had friends who use them and had issues with cats peeing on anything plastic. Not a habit you want to try to break

I also thinkt hat maybe a playhouse and bed won't be necessary. Nor will kitten shampoo. I can't think of the last time I ever used any of that. Something I will suggest will be getting baby wipes. They are great for little messes that occur

Oh and why the nightlight? Cats see much better in the dark than we do

I think you'll be great though. I agree that clipping while young is wise to do. Reminds me I need to find my clippers and get one cat's claws clipped. I will suggest if the kitten has issues with clipping, do a paw at a time and let it go. We have to do that with my Lily still (we adopted her in February, but she's an adult). I never do back paws though. They never seem to get sharp enough to need it.

 

[Daxx]

We have 2 cats and trimming their claws is so easy! They actually don't mind it now and are v. patient while I snip away. Like someone else said, my vet showed me how far to go down to trim.

Congrats on your new kitty. We're in the process of finding a 3rd but have had zero luck in the past 2 months. I know it'll happen ... it's just a matter of time!

 

[chyam]

Have to agree about the litter box liners also. I use human nail clippers on my kitties, it's never been a problem, usually when they are curled up in my lap I will gently do each paw, and I too have never done the back ones. About the kitten shampoo, start them early, then you will have very little problems as they grow older, all of mine (6) get a bath about every 6 weeks, it cuts down on the dander and it keeps them smelling good. I know cats groom themselves but I still feel they need a bath. I had one that would actually get in the shower with me, he also used to get on the vanity to be blow dried, even when he was dry! Good luck and have lots of fun.........kittens are such a joy!