Buying a new kitten???

Question

We are seriously thinking about adopting a 2 month old kitten and i had a few question.

First, is taking care of a cat like taking care of a baby... i mean do i have to look after it 24/7? I'm willing to care for it but I want a heads up on things like...

Do they really scratch up furniture even if the nails are clipped and i buy a scratching post?

Where do u guys keep your cats when u sleep at night...I didn't really want it sleeping on my bed so please give some ideas on this subject.

Also how often do you have to go the vet and is it fairly expensive?

Do cats make messes like pee in random places and not always use a litter box?

In other words how much of a hassle is it to care for a kitty? I really am thinking of adopting one and some help will be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Answer 1

Cats are very independant.  You will need to do a lot of special things for your kitten.  But it is not a human baby.  If you have a job, go to work and feel reassured that the kitten will be fine.  Just make sure it has plenty of food, water, and a safe place to nap while you're away.

Yes, you're kitten will scratch your furniture.  I haven't met many cats that really use just one scratching place...even if your cat likes the post you get.  They will also teeth.  In other words, the cat will find something to chew on to deal with baby teeth.  I had one kitten years ago mangle plastic blinds.  My current kitten (who is about 4 months old) took a plastic comb from the bathroom and mangled it.  They outgrow this stage though.

As for keeping the cat out of your bed...the cat will probably not want to be isolated when you are home.  Especially if its an only cat.  It will probably make a racket at the closed door and might even damage the carpet trying to get in to be with you.  You will become this animals surrogate family.  Its going to want to be near you.  And its not going to respond to being told to stay out of the bed.

You have to take the cat to the vet once a year.  Some vets recomend twice a year.  Plus emergencies...which hopefully won't happen.  Shots can add up.  Kittens will be treated for a variety of other things as well.  Owning a pet is never cheap.

Most cats a litter trained very easily.  But you have to keep the cat box clean.  Let it go and get nasty...they'll start finding other places to go.

If you want to avoid a lot of the hassles described above, adopt an older cat.  While kittens are cute and cuddly, there are a lot of trade offs for that cuteness.  An older cat will have outgrown a lot of the nuisance issues.  

Answer 2

What you want to buy? Kitten the cat or kitten to boil water?

Answer 3

First the cat will sleep where ever it wants, so there is no keeping it off the bed, even if you kick it out of bed it will just jump up when you are sleeping.

It is nothing like a baby, cats have different personalities, some are very needy, some are antisocial. But none of them are like babies, they are predators and can keep after themselves, just keep the bowls full and it is fine.

Some scratch furniture, but there are ways to keep them from doing so. Check other answers for ways to stop it if it starts.

Vets are once a year or when you cat is sick, at 6 months get it spayed/neutered, if you have the humane society do it it is pretty inexpensive and they have a bus that goes around and does the surgery.

Most cats know to use the litter box (some can be trained to use the toilet too!) but there are ways to train the kitten to use the box, again check answers for some suggestions.

It really is no hassle to keep a cat, I have left for 3 days and not had somebody look after the cat, it hurts to leave them but they can take care of themselves. Over 3 days and somebody should come in to clean the box. But if you feed them and give them some attention they are awesome pets.

I have two cats, and one is very antisocial, doesn't like to be touched or petted, and tends to keep to herself,.

My other cat is so in need of attention it gets pretty annoying. I love them both and would give up my life for them.

Answer 4

Kittens are a handful at first but u get used to caring for them. When there younger you really need to have them live in a small confined place so they know where everything is, especially the litter box or else ur kitty will have accidents. For the most part they dont scratch up furniture, and they never do when there younger but as they get older u might want to think about declawing there front 2 paws because they will start  to scratch stuff alot. I really recommend getting some type of animal insurance to help u out with shots and surgeries. Check at your nearest pet co, they sometimes let animal shelters bring in kittens for adoption, thats how i got mine and the best part is they were 2 months old and already potty trained, i really reccomend getting a kitten thats already potty trained so then its easier for them to get used to there new home. I keep my kittens in an office space in my basement, its small and keeps the kitty litter odor away from the rest of the house.

Answer 5

depends on the kitty but i would adopt it most animals in shelters never find a home make shure he\she is from a non kill shelter

Answer 6

We got our kittens when they were a month old.  We should probably take them to the vet more often for checkups, but they've gotten their vaccines and are fairly healthy so far.  They're 3 yrs old now.

Taking care of a kitten (not a cat) takes some time.  You need to baby proof your home a bit, such as putting up cords so they dont chew them.  Making sure the kitty box is clean, having a comfy bed for them to sleep in and making sure you have healthy food to feed them.  Milk can make them have bowel issues, so just do the water and dry or wet food.  When choosing kitty food, look at the ingredients and choose one that has chicken or some sort of meat as the first one listed.  If its corn, ditch it.

They do scratch up furniture, and even if you clip their nails or declaw them, they'll find a way.  Some are worse than others, but thats a risk of getting a pet.  We declawed ours in the front, not back, and while it can be controversial, its up to you as the owner on whether you declaw.  Ours didnt bother using the scratching post.  They liked to scratch our furniture regardless.

When our kittens were very young, we put them in a large crate at night with their beds and food and water.  This was because they would get stuck under our bathroom sinks when we wernt watching or get their little paws stuck in the heating vent.  That scared me, so for safety we used a crate until they were older.  Now, they sleep in their beds or on the floor.  Sometimes they sleep on the bed, but not usually do to my DH swatting them off (he's allergic!).

Our kitties are boys, so when they were a year old (or maybe a bit younger) they started going into heat and would mark everywhere.  We got them neutered immediately.  They still mark every once in awhile, but its usually when they are upset by a change in the house, like a new baby arriving.  Our kitties used the kitty box as soon as we brought one home.  We have no problems with that.

Getting ANY pet can be a hassle.  It depends on how open you are to the extra work involved.  But having the right pet for you is super rewarding...

Good luck.

Answer 7

male cats do pee in random areas, that is called "spraying" that is just how they mark there territory. Females do not do that. a kitten that is at least 8-10 weeks old will not be as hard to raise as a younger one but it will still be young enough to establish a bond with. you will need to give it a fair amount of attention, and if you do not want the kitten sleeping in your bed then you need to buy it a kittie bed. it is best to buy a kitten that is all ready litter box trained, and most of the normal problems a cat has can bee cheap as far as vet bills usually you van just but the stuff you need at petco... over all a cat is a wonderful low maintenance pet to have. but it is your decission on weather or not you are ready for the pet and its responsibalitys

Answer 8

Based on some of the questions you're asking, I'm curious where you got the idea you want a cat/kitten... Do any of your relatives or friends own them? If so, have you had no experience with them?  You could ask them about their cats, how much care/time they require and costs involved, etc.

But generally, no -- taking care of a kitten or cat is nothing like taking care of a human baby.  Any cat or kitten that is weaned and has not been orphaned will be perfectly fine if left alone on it's own for up to a few hours. You *will* need a good quality scratching post, and preferably more than one if you're really that concerned about your furniture.  The little $11 scratching post available from Walmart is okay for a kitten starter; but you'll need something larger and more stationary long-term.  Try checking out the Cat Tree Store from The Pet Supply Guy - http://www.cat-scratch.net/ for some really neat and affordable options -- or if you're handy with wood, saw and a hammer you can save money by building your own.

A cat is pretty much flexible about where they sleep; but if you don't want him or her in your bedroom, close the door at night.  If they have a bed that they really like, they will spend most of their sleeping time in it. I'd recommend whatever cat bedding you get, make sure it's washable (preferably by machine, because accidents WILL happen) and cushy (like a round, stuffed roll) around the sides.  I have around 5 or 6 cat beds set up at any one time for my four cats, and this is the style they seem to prefer more than any other.

Regarding veterinary costs, if your cat stays solely indoors, it will not need as many vaccinations and treatments as if it goes outside or is kept outside all the time (which is not recommended, anyway).  If the kitten is kept away from other animals (of unknown health status), you should be able to get by having the 16-week vaccinations that are good for a year, and then rabies boosters 1 yr. and every 3 yrs. thereafter.  An indoor cat has many advantages over their outside counterparts -- they won't get fleas, they're protected from cars, predators, fights with other cats and dogs (which can cause costly, serious injuries and disease), wandering off and getting lost or impounded, etc.  The only downside you really have to watch for is obesity, which can bring it's own health problems.  This is where a cat tree house and a wide variety of toys, etc. can come in handy to encourage your cats to be more active.  You might also want to watch what and how much your cats eat, and if you see any problems developing take evasive action so they don't become too heavy for their size and breed. Sometimes the better quality premium foods (more costly than the supermarket brands) pay off bigger dividends later in life when the cat is older and more prone to chronic illnesses developing; but I really don't have any specific recommendations and so you'd have to do your research.

Re the litter box, you might have to try out different types of boxes or litter to see which ones your cats like best.  Some cats can be fussy about this, while others are more relaxed and tolerant. Of my four cats, we have only rarely experienced a problem with indiscriminate urination or defecation.  If there is, it could be due to illness like a urinary blockage (you'd have to have this checked by a vet); but normally if you keep the boxes clean and in an accessible place for the cat to use, there shouldn't be a problem. Kittens *might* have one or two accidents while they're reaclimating themselves to a new home or situation, and you would need to be aware of the times your cat might be under extra stress (such as when moving or having lots of guests visiting, etc.) and confine him to a smaller room or area so as to minimize these.

You would need to decide though how much "hassle" you'd be willing to put up with before bringing a cat or kitten into your life.  If you live alone and travel a lot, are in the military (possible deployment or frequent relocation) or are otherwise rarely at home, you might want to reconsider.  People who rent their homes can be a problem, because they often move frequently and then when their next house or apartment dictates "no pets," the cat gets displaced, abandoned or surrendered to a municipal "open admissions" shelter.  You should be resolved to committing yourself to that animal's welfare for the remainder of it's natural life before getting one.

Answer 9

Cats are pretty independent. It's definitely not like a baby, the kitten will come to you when she wants attention. Even with a scratching post they will probably still scratch the furniture, you'll have to train them to stop.I always told mine 'no' and lightly spanked her butt and brought her over to the scratching post. She eventually caught on and started going there to scratch.  My cats sleep in my room. They will ultimately choose where they want to sleep. You can't really make them sleep in certain spots. If you don't want her on the bed you can shut your door. I have 4 cats and occasionally they have accidents, but for the most part they just go in the litter box.  I love my cats, and mine are a bit of a handful because there are 4 of them! One shouldn't be too much work, but kittens are a lot more work than older one's.