Getting a kitten soon, need a little advice please!?

Question

Hi,
After much deliberation my mother has finally given in to the idea and is happy with me getting a little kitty (yay)
Anyway, i've never had a cat before. The only animal i've ever had have been fish!

I just need abit of advice about kittens and things.
How much does it cost to have them spayed/neautured?
Also the extras such as bed, food, toys etc
(i live in the UK!)

Also, how often should i feed him/her etc.
I'm probably going to keep him/her as a housecat but i want to take him/her outside every now and again just to the garden so is their a certain age i should wait before introducing them to the garden?

Any other advice would be great!
sorry if i sound like i don't know much but i thought i best get all the info before i get my kitty!
i'm getting him/her from a rescue center aswell, so don't worry!

Thanks.

Answer 1

Instead of a kitten, you really ought to get an adult cat since you are inexperienced. Adult cats are cheaper, friendlier, and easier to take care of. I don't know about prices in the UK, but you need to have the equivalent of several hundred dollars set aside for initial expenses at the very least. Cats generally like wet food once per day (often of a morning) and a constant supply of dry food left out for them in a bowl. You also need to make sure that there is always a full bowl of water out and easily accessible. If you are only going to take your cat out on occasion, consider buying a small dog harness and leash when you take your cat out. Unlike dogs, cats will run off and go exploring on their own when they get to go outside, with or without you, and they may never return if they get away from you. A leash would prevent your cat from running off. Also, make sure you introduce the cat to the location of the litterbox soon after you get it home so that the cat knows where it is.

Answer 2

That is awesome!!! Cats are great, I have 5!!!! I feed mine about 2 times a day. You don't really need to buy toys for them. They will always find something around the house like a bouncy ball, paper towel roll, or anything else that will get their attention. I would recommend getting a little cat leash to take her outside, especially until she's ready to go out on her own. Because she might see a squirrel and decide that that's lunch. I would check with a few different vets around you and get the price of getting spayed or neutered. I hope you enjoy your kitty!!!!!!! They are so much fun, but be boring sometimes when they just sit like statues and look off into space. :)

Answer 3

I live in the US so I don't know how much things cost there but as far as food dry food usually once a day. I perfer to feed our cats dry food to wet so the cat uses its teeth. Since it is from a shelter make sure the cat has become used to you and your family before you bring it out. They also sell cat leashes so you can walk him/her first to get the kitty used to the garden. Cat toys are great but a string (make sure you dont leave the cat alone with the string so it cant choke on it) , balled up piece of paper or even a empty back can have you laughing for hours. Good luck with your kitten it is sure to give you so much happiness.

Answer 4

Having a kitten is a wonderful experience. They will rely on you for fresh food and water and lots of love and play time.

The first few days of having a kitten can sometimes be stressful for both you and kitty. I was very scared to leave my little Manhattan alone because I live by myself. There were many new places for her to explore and crevices to get into.

It will take time for kitty to get used to their new environment. S/he may meow a lot, that is normal. They are in a new place and aren't used to it yet.

It is a good idea to have a kitty bed, scratching post, toys, food, littler box, etc. Kitty may want to sleep with you for the first few weeks or so but I think that's adorable. S/he will get used to the kitty bed eventually.

Make sure you engage kitty in about an hour or so of play before bedtime. I've trained my cat to sleep when I do -- at least when I get into bed. I know she plays at night but, that's what cats do.

To have my baby girl spayed, it cost around 100 dollars, if I remember correctly.

Have fun with your new kitten!

Answer 5

First I'd like to thank you for adopting and not buying from a store!

Cats are the easiest animals to take care of, next to fish, that is, lol.

I'd always have food and water avalible for him/her. Due to the fact that they're growing alot. My 6 month old kitten can eat a one cup bowl of food three or four times a day.

I haven't gotten my kitten fixed, and I don't plan to because she's an inside cat year round and only goes outside if its on a leash.

But food costs, usually $6 for a bag of kitten food, $5 for the litter box, $8 for the litter, $45 for the cat, $10 for a few toys.

Cats really don't need a bed, they usually wont use it. Mine didn't, she prefers the windowsill. So i'd say don't waste your money on that.

Answer 6

I know you want to be nice to your kitty and take him or her out and play in the garden, but this isn't what's truly best for the cat. The average life expectancy for an inside cat is 22; outside cat is 2.2.

Kitties get into fights, get hit by cars, eat stuff they shouldn't...If you really want your cat to stay around for a while, keep her inside.

TX Mom

Answer 7

When I got one of my cats, I was able to go to a sponsored vet through the ASPCA. It was a vet who volunteered their services to perform the spay for less than it would normally cost. (so it wound up being approx 100 US) But I hope the idea may be universal in that similar organizations want to help lower the #s and cycle of unaltered animals, so you may be able to find one there also.

Also rescue centers may have already altered the kitten and incorporate the cost into their adoption fee. I got my last little guy already neutered and with his shots...his adoption fee was 100 US.

Where I live they also have free clinics for rabies shots etc if your pet is licensed with the township.

Answer 8

Alright. First off, congrats!

It cost me about $140 to get my kitten spayed in Alaska. Toys are cheap, you don't need to spend much on them since the kittens can be entertained with just about anything!

Depending on the age of the kitten, the amount of feeding varies. If it's a very young kitten still on milk it will need feeding every few hours. If it's eating solids and is still young it'll need feeding about half that. But I just keep a bowl of food out for it so it can eat whenever it's hungry and my cat is active enough he stays fit. :)

You can take the kitten outside from day one if you like, but only if you keep an eye on them. It will need lots of supervision anyway, but I'm sure taking it outside wouldn't be a problem. I took my kitten out to play constantly.

As for advice, just like children, kittens need limits and boundaries or their behavior can become aggressive or just bad in general. Don't let them chew on you, they have toys for that! Attacking your toes and such is one thing, but you don't want them to hurt you. Make sure they know that; put them in 'time out' if it hurts you. They're usually quick learners, but it takes patience. :)

Good luck with your new kitten!

Answer 9

Always buy the best kitten feed with the best Nutrition; such as Friskies kitten feed with real carnation dry milk in the feed.

the nutrition your kitten gets determines the health of the cat as kitty grows.

A health treat is:

one egg; one teaspoon oil; one drop of cod liver oil; wheat germ 1 teaspoon mixed and then added to her regualar feed.

You can cook fish or chicken; tuna is good.

Look for Purina or IAMS natural DRY feed.

Keep a bowl of water out with the dry feed.

for toys

simply get empty clean cardboard boxes of all sizes and place the boxes around...Kitties love to explore cardboard boxes to play.

Answer 10

I don't know about stuff in the UK............
You can get it somthing like a bed, cat food, a litter box and toys,
be nice!
try to make him/her like you by playing with it,
Feed it when it wants it,
first try feeding it every 6 hours or less at frst,
it will start meowing at the food dish when its older,
thats when you feed it,
try showing the garden to it when its a little older,
you should pet it everyday and pay attention to it alot,
Cats need that!!
dont give cats to much milk,
hope this helped!!
see ya!!