New kitten/s, please help?

Question

Hi,
I know of someone that has a litter of kittens, ready to leave their mother in a week. I've been thinking of getting a kitten for a while. Now I'm wondering should I maybe get two? Is getting two better than one? Would they be company for each other? I know it would be more cost and take more time to look after but that's not an issue. Also, what do I need to buy for a new kitten? Food, litter box and cat litter.....anything else? And, if I get two, should they each have their own litter boxes? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Wow! You sound like you're gonna be a good cat owner.

Yeah, I would get two kittens instead of just one. Not only because I love cats, but they'll be happier in the long run if they have each other to play with. As far as litterboxes are concerned, the general rule of thumb is 1 box per cat plus 1 extra (the cheap, uncovered litterboxes are the type that are preferred by most of the vets I know). Unscented, clumping litter also seems to be preferred by cats & make sure to scoop the boxes once daily. Canned food is usually prefered by vets, so get some high-quality canned food such as Nutro, Wellness, or Natural Balance (Nutro & Natural Balance are available at Petco). You can also pick up some high quality dry cat food just in case the kittens don' tl like the wet (not likely, but you never know). As far as feeding instructions are concerned, just follow the label instructions on the food Ok, to make a long story short, my new kitten shopping list would be:

litterboxes
litterbox scoop
kitty litter
food & water bowls
food
lots of toys
nail trimmer
scratching post(s)
brush
a good vet (a good website to visit for this is the American Association of Feline Practitoners: www.aafponline.org )

Sorry this is so long winded. I just love helping new cat owners!

Good luck!

PS: Be sure to kitten-proof your house. When my guys were little they loved to chew cords and knock over knick-knacks.

Answer 2

First you need to make sure that you financially able to care for 2 kittens. They'll need their shots, vet visits and to be spayed and neutered. If you have the money to care for both kittens I say go ahead and get 2. But keep in mind this is a lifetime commitment and you can't just get rid of them cause you get tired of them waking you up at night or scratching your furniture. Kittens are a handful, they get into everything. As for food, keep them on a high quality kitten food until they are a year old. I recommend Nutro Natural indoor kitten formula. The indoor formula doesn't give them gas like the regular kitten formula. As for the litter boxes the rule of thumb is one extra litter box to the number of cats. So technically you would need 3. I don't go by that rule cause I have an electric litter box. I was looking at some more at petsmart yesterday and they have them from $109 to $180 I think. And I have another regular litter box too. I also recommend Tidy cats for small spaces, I live in an apartment and it works great. And you can sprinkly baking soda in there to help absorb odors too. Be sure if you get a regular litter box that you scoop it every day. Sometimes the kitties don't use it if its dirty. Also you're getting kittens so they'll want toys. Jingly balls, catnip mice, wands with feathers on the end would all be great toys. Theres tons of kitty toys out there so just find some that you will think will be fun for kitty. Also PLEASE don't declaw the kittens. Its an inhumane process. You can go here to read about what happens to kitties when they are declawed. http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm
Hoped that helped alot!!!

Answer 3

Hi. Yes, definitely get two, as long as they are from the same litter. We got a brother/sister 15 years ago and they were so great together! Played, slept, groomed together! The girl just died last year (and we miss her terribly). We had 3 other cats (including her brother) and said we would not get another...but then my husband found a stray kitten...adorable, but VERY frisky and needy! He's a year now, and I often think we should have gotten him a companion...it would have kept him out of trouble having someone his own age to play with...that's why I always tell people to get two (the same age) It's really not much more work having 2 than one (it's the 3rd & 4th ones that create the most work!!). You need a litter box (one should be enough), kitten food, toys and not much else. Clay litter is cheaper, but clumping litter is easier for you to use. (See which THEY prefer!). Take them to the vet for 1st checkup/shots...then for spay/neuter later on. Make sure your house has no pitfalls (i.e. open cabinets w/poisons, threads etc. Watch for blind cords. Make sure all window screens are secure). Consider them toddlers and keep all unsafe item away till they are old enough to know better. Try not to let them get to high places, because jumping down may injure their legs. As they get older, they get smarter and know their limitations.

Hope this helps!! Good luck and I know you won't regret getting both those babies!!

Answer 4

Yes, yes, yes!!!

The answers to all your questions is yes!

Two are definitely better than one, for all the reasons you suggested.

Cats are sociable critters, to such an extent that some shelters and rescue groups will only adopt them out in pairs (or more) with the idea that keeping them solitary from others of their own species amounts to cruelty.

In fact, some cats are OK as singletons, but the majority of them prefer the company of their own kind, and this is just about guaranteed if the company is their own littermate who they've been with from birth.

Take two! Take Two!

Yep, you'll need food, litter and boxes. Two boxes is good as they age. In fact, I've read that the ideal number is one more box than there are cats, so you might try three. But that's for when they're a little older and know where the boxes are kept and can always get to them in time.

While they're babies you should get several and leave them in various places around your home. When little kittens have to go, they have to go Right Now, and they might not make it to a box in the basement or wherever the final location will be. As they grow up you can cut down the number of boxes until you just have them in their permanent location.

The other thing to buy is toys, lots of toys. As you would with a human baby, avoid toys with little parts that could be chewed off and swallowed.

Here are some good resources for learning how to care for your new kitties:

This is the most important one; it's about how to properly feed a cat, and it will show you that much of the advice you'll hear and read about that is completely wrong!

http://www.catinfo.org

Here's a couple good ones about feline health:

http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/FelineHealth.html

and

http://www.vas-awareness.org/

Enjoy your kitties! May you share many years of love and happiness!

Answer 5

Getting two would be ideal, if you are out of the house a lot. They would definitely be company to each other, and siblings already love each other so they get along.

There's not really a need for two litter boxes unless there's an issue with them getting along. It's really not even that much more expensive or time consuming to have two.

You will need to get:
Good quality kitten food (dry/canned) Science Diet, Iams, Nutro, etc. (Cat Chow, etc. is more like 'junk food' and not the best nutrition for them)
Keep dry food out for them at all times, with fresh water. You can feed canned at mealtimes, and you will need to give them kitten food until they're at least 1 year old.
Food/water dishes
Litter box
Cat litter (I suggest scoopable provided they're past the wanting to eat it stage. If they aren't, you can get corn litter at a pet store)
TOYS!!! As a new mommy, you'll probably want to buy them LOTS of new toys -- little furry mice, a little track-ball thingy - have fun perusing the pet stores. Kittens LOVE new toys -- and wads of paper, for that matter. *LOL*
Catnip may help them calm down once they're in a new place.
You'll need a carrier or two for transport to and from the vet -- AND your biggest immediate expense will be having them spayed/neutered -- which you MUST do -- plus shots!!!
You should check your home for things they can get into - plants, cleaning solutions, etc. - and safeguard those. Some plants are toxic to kitties (as can be onions in any form). Tiny knickknacks that could be swallowed, etc. should be put away, as well.
There are tons of great sites online to help you with the rearing of the new babies, but mostly you just love them and spoil them rotten. "Feed me, love me, play with me, pet me." You're about to become a "parent", and this is a lifelong committment. Just fall in love with them and they'll teach you most of the rest. If you haven't been owned by a cat before, you're about to embark on a lovely experience.
Best of luck!!

Answer 6

how old are the kittens? kittens shouldn't get separated from the mom until they are two months old.

and yes you should get two it will be easier for you.
the overall cost difference between one to two cats is not very high. the first year is a little high. there is spaying and the vaccinations to do.
once they are spayed there is only food a sand once a month and once a year vaccinations.
the monthly cost is about 50$/

Food:
There are several good companies: pro plan, royal canin and science diet.
I recommend pro plan if they are over four months, if they are less royal canin baby cat will be great for them then when you will finish that bag get them proplan. pro plan boxes cost between 10 to 30 dollars depends on the size.
It’s not all that expansive, and if you buy the big box it lasts longer and in the yearly over all it will costs you less. On the back of the box it says how much to give.
The ideal weight for a cat is about 12 IBS.

Sand:
I use ever clean it’s a clumping sand there are other companies that may cost less, ever clean costs about 25$ and lasts for about a month a month and half. You can also mix buy one box of ever clean and one big bag of the regular type and mix them. I don’t do it I buy one box of ever clean and I’m happy with it.

Other thing you need:
1) A Sand box and a spoon, to clean the box. Clean everyday add a little bit more sand once a week and change all the sand about once a month
2) Two bowls one big for water and one small for food, Purina has a great feeding bowl it’s really cool ask the salesman in the store I just bought and I love it and so is my cat.
3) Games and a scratching posts as well as a climbing tree. Games you can get at the pet shop as well as make on your own. Search the net you’ll find some great articles. There are also articles that explain how to make a scratching board on your own as well as a climbing tree thing.
4) a carrier to get them to the vet. Either get two small one’s or one really big so that it will have enough space for when they will grow up. You can double use the carrier as a bed for them.

If the cat scratch the sofa you can do two things: one cut his fingernails once every three weeks or put a product called soft paws (www.softpaws.com) it’s a great product though in some cats it’s hard to put on cause they a little more wild then others mine had to be sedated when we put it on her we stopped cause it wasn’t fair to her I just try and clip her nails at least once a month.
Best way to get them used to the cutting is to play with their paws a lot press of the joins so the nails will come out after awhile they will get used to being touched there and pushed they won’t mind when you will cut the fingernails.
Do not dewclaw them!!

They will need to see a vet, get vaccinations and be spayed when they will get bigger, six month’s is a good age to spay them both.

That’s pretty much it.

is you have any more questions you can email me.

Answer 7

getting two would probably be best. they aren't alone when your gone because they have each other. yes, you need kitten food, litterbox, and cat litter (I recommend Fresh Step Clay cat litter). I've used it for over 2 years and love it, wouldn't buy any other brand. I advise you to buy a covered litter box for their privacy. (my female is very picky about her privacy when she "goes"). I also urge you to buy Purina Kitten Chow, this is a very good brand for kittens too eat and has all the nutrients that they need to grow. also, you may want to get them many toys to play with to occupy them from snooping around your house. whatever anybody tells you, in my household I have 2 cats that use only one litter box. my 2 year old female and 5 month old male couldn't use the bathroom any better. you also have it good because if you adopt two, then they will grow up together and be use to the other one using their litter box. so in a way you have a great advantidge. oh, and if you decide to get two kittens, which I hope you do, I advise you to get a male/female because they tend to get along better. one more thing, as soon as they turn 6 months old, PLEASE, PLEASE get them spayed/neutered. you seem like a very responsible pet owner in my opinion so I think you know that already, but I'm just reminding you. Good Luck with your kitties!! HIH!!

Answer 8

Of course they'll be happier with a buddy, but they also adjust to being alone pretty quickly.

One litter box will do great for both. One goes, and the other wants to go...it helps them to keep eachother trained.

Get them a good kitten chow, don't give much milk, it will give them the runs. If you give canned food, give them some mixed in their dry once a day, kind of as a treat. They need the crunchies to keep their teeth healthy and clean.

Toys, toys toys! Kittens need to play. You can buy them in walmart, but truthfully, a feather tied to the end of a stick or a long piece of ribbon will keep them amused for hours!

Enjoy your new baby/babies! They're such fun! Oh, and get them spayed and neutered when they're old enough. You might want to consider the cost of this when choosing one or two. Also, neutering males is less expensive than spaying females.

And don't forget their kitten shots!

Answer 9

I think you should get 2 kittens. They will have each other to play with and cuddle with when they sleep. You will enjoy having 2 of them also. They can share a little box. Make sure you buy litter for multi cats. It is worth it. I found that the best little out there is Tidy Cats with crystals in it. You would not know we had cats in our house if you did not see them. And make sure you buy them some toys. They normally love the small little colored mice and also the plastic balls with bells in them. Good Luck!!!

Answer 10

hi! good luck with getting the cats. I think that two kittens are better yes they will keep each other company. You need to get them only one litter box and make sure that thair mother has trained them to use the bathroom. You also need to get them their food. and while they are little milk. Also you should take them to the vet the first days you get them to make sure they are okay. Also sign up online with Purina for cats and periodically they will send you coupons and other tip on your new kittens Have Fun with them! Hope this helps!