What do we need and what don't we need for new kitten?

[countdowntoxmas]

We have our first ever kitten arriving in a few weeks' time. Please give me suggestions as to what will be essential for it, and what will be a waste of time/ money? Children are very excited and I don't want to get too carried away buying non-essentials!

[cozietoesie]

Okey cokey. Taking your 'essentials' literally (and looking at your other thread as well):

Plastic Litter tray. (Probably 2 - a spare is handy.)

Litter. (My cats' personal favourite has always been Fuller's Earth which is available from any supermarket. One bag at a time probably until your kitty has used it and given the seal of approval.)

Litter scoop.

Good kitten food. (Don't use adult food because it's not formulated for a kitten.)

Brush and cat nail clippers. (The earlier you can get the kitten used to grooming and nail clipping the better. The nail clippers should be cat-designed but the brush can just be something from any shop or the internet. I've found the cats like best a comb-type brush. Stiffish bristles in a row of three - I think they're actually called 'styling brushes' or something - but experiment. You may have a good one around the house.)

Everything else should probably be around the house, I think. Small shallow bowls for food and water, blanket/rug for sleeping on, newspapers for poo parcels, soft toys which have been discarded by DCs, a big cardboard box and some eg toilet roll innards for playing daft games. (You can buy expensive cat toys but they're often just as happy with rolled scrunched bits of paper or rolled up newspaper; and some of the bought cat toys have nasty hard or sharp bits inside or button eyes!)

If you've got rid of all the old soft toys, buy some from the local charity shop - some little ones are good - and put them through the washing machine on a soft wash. They may not say they're machine washable but they pretty well always are which is just as well when the little blighters decide to 'dip' them in their food.

I've probably forgotten something - others will doubtless add.

[neontetra]

Also some kind of cat carrier in case of vet trips - I think the wire ones are best, but they are quite expensive.
And at some point you will need a cat flap.
Good luck!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Vax carpet cleaner.

One day when we own and dont rent and I have velvet pile carpets coming out of my ears I will have a carpet cleaner.

I covet this one.

[countdowntoxmas]

So, no need to buy a special bed? Are blankets just as appreciated?!

[neontetra]

In my experience, cats tend to ignore any special cat beds you buy (the more expensive the bed, the more disdain they treat it with) and find their own preferred places for sleeping (ironing basket, sock drawer etc!) I did have one who liked a cardboard box bed I made her! I would say buy a cat bed if there's one you like and money's not tight, but be prepared that they might not use it. I wouldn't say a bed was an essential though.

[Cailleach]

No need for a special bed, they usually choose something inconvenient like the nearest pile of clean laundry... ;)

They do need a scratching post though, and some toys....like little balls, toy mice, stuff they can kick around the floor basically. Car boot sales and charity shops are good for picking up cat stuff cheaply.

Don't go mad - like kids, cats are happier with the cardboard box the thing came in rather than the expensive toy in it.

And have fun with the new arrival :)

[cozietoesie]

I've had so many old cats, TiredenessKills. They can't generally do their own claws so I have to help - and if they haven't learned to be clipped, you have real problems.

I should say that after a lifetime of Siamese, I've never found a bought scratching post to be worth anything at all. They generally nominate a piece of furniture or you can train them to a piece of carpet. (Carpet samples are great.) They have to scratch 'something' so you just have to agree on what it's going to be.

Sorry - have to go to bed now or would expand.

[justtryingtodomybest]

I agree about not bothering with a cat bed. Mine also ignored any I bought - with one exception. I got one that was a metal frame with a fleecy cover stretched over it and it hooked over the edge of a radiator. He loved that and used it all the time until he eventually got too big for it.

[kittencuddles]

When we got our kitten I made him a bed out of a low sided cardboard box, filled with towels and blankets. Every time he fell asleep I carefully popped him in there and he loved it. He eventually went in there om his own accord. When he grew to big for it I bought him a proper bed, which he has never used!!

[cozietoesie]

I decided to strike a blow for freedom for once and tried that on the second last cat. He thought it was a great game being put in the box and leaping out of it ! (Before I gave in through weariness and gave in to him coming into the bed.) Never bothered to try that again and just accepted the inevitable.

[summer111]

We got our kitten yesterday. I bought a cat bed and lined it with a fleece blanket and she slept in it yesterday and last night! (she's also partial to a warm lap!!) I bought a few cat toys but the most fun so far has been had with a ping png ball. We also scrunched up coloured paper and tied it to string which has been great fun.
She's also used the scrathcing post (it has a feathery toy attached to it). I bought sainsbury's basic nappy sacks and have scooped her poos from the litter tray into them to discard - works very well. I was advised to buy non-clumping cat litter, as seemingly kittens can attempt to eat it and if it clumps into a large piece they can choke on it. She's eating whiskas kitten wet and dry food and drinks water. I bought pottery kitten food bowls which are heavy and therefore can't be knocked around easily. The whiskas website gives lots of helpful tips about kittens. Ours is just gorgeous, the kids (teens) love her, I'm sure yours will too

[cozietoesie]

And where's the picture, summer?