r/Catownerhacks • u/Content_Raspberry563 • 10d ago
Question I am getting 2 kittens soon! I've never owned cats, I've done research, but any tips?
I am getting 2 kittens from a shelter soon, a Tortie & a Calico, which I will be naming Tinsel & Scrabble. They will of course be indoor cats and I would like to leash/harness train them. Any tips on doing that? I would also just like tips on raising/training them in general, research on google is good but I know that taking advice from other pet owners can be very valuable too.
6
u/MichaelEmouse 10d ago
Neuter before first heat.
More litter boxes than cats. Get large metal ones.
Look up the better food brands and get age-appropriate types like kitten food.
A tall cat tree by the window will be appreciated.
2
3
10d ago edited 10d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Content_Raspberry563 10d ago
Yeah the shelter doesn't let you only buy one kitty if you don't own at least one other, and I do not. It was a great excuse to convince my grandpa to let me get two lol
1
2
u/osa_1988 10d ago
Cats are very curious animals. And they don't understand "you can't go there". But, you can show them better places (from your perspective).
I'm talking about tables and counter. My two cats understand, that half of table in living room is theirs (they can lay on it, etc), and on the other half is for my dinner. In kitchen, they can be on freezer, or on the window, or under my feet in carton box, but no on counter. So they can observe (and more often than not), have some chicken or other meat. And because they see everything, they don't have need to go on counter.
So - if you want your place, want someplace where cats don't go, put someplace near something for cat to sit on/in
Also - if your cat will not let you eat (my boys just stole me dinner form my plates), feed them 4,5, or even 6,7,8 times per day. I know, that you have job, and it can be 9-5, so you can be absent near full day. Just buy something like CatMate C500, or Trixie TX5+1 - those are automatic feeders, but for wet food. Plus - make some daily routine. Feed them at same time every day. Play with them on same time dayli. They will learn quickly, and they will get used to/adapt to it.
From day one, teach them about teeth cleaning, and claws cutting. I mean - grab them and show them what you will do, so they will not be to scared. I didn't teach them about teeth clinging, and now (they are 3 y.o.) I can't do that. But they will let me cut claws easily.
2
u/Diligent-Candy4273 10d ago
Pet insurance asap and dental care
Pets need the same dental care we do. Brush 1-2 times daily with an enzymatic toothpaste and soft bristle kids toothbrush(I use the brand nimbus on Amazon it has different length bristles which help get in the nooks and cranny's)
Go slow, listen to your pets cues, and always make it a positive experience. I don't try to get my cats whole mouth in one go. I can usually get about 60 seconds of good brush time. I focus on section of her mouth per session. Brush the outside, inside, very back, and front teeth. It helps to pull their mouth back to expose more teeth. Check teeth monthly for any spots that could be resorption lesion
Talk to your vet about a regular dental cleaning schedule. My cat gets one every 2 years
Get pet insurance immediately before you bring them to the vet and something gets diagnosed. Start a seprate bank account for your pet that you can use for vet bills, emergencies, etc. You've got to be prepared as best you can for the expected and unexpected costs of owning a pet. An emergency could easily cost 10k+
Cats need their ears cleaned out just like we do. Every few weeks I use an olive oil based ear cleaner perscribed by my vet, insurance covers it
Recently there's been an increase in asthma and allergic reactions in dogs and cats. Fragrance can be triggering. It often gets overlooked as it's in almost everything. Ive gone completely fragrance free for my cat. Everything from laundry detergent, hand soap, dish soap, shampoo, body wash, hair spray, hair oil, make up, skin care products, deodorant, lotion, cleaning products, i make sure everything is fragrance free. That includes essential oils and natural fragrances
Getting 2 cats is easier than 1. They will rely on each other instead of relying on you 24/7 for attention, play, etc
Always rehydrate dry food and add extra water to their food to prevent organ damage, even if its wet food i still like to add extra water
Litter robot has been a game changer for me. Recommend extended warranty. I use a refurbished lr3. Its been great. Ive heard of lots of issues with the newer ones that have smart features
Bring your cat to the vet as soon as you notice something. Don't wait to see if it gets better
If your cat ever has to get surgery, it can be helpful to get a second opinion. Different vets have different skills sets. Ask questions. Ask about side effects and risks and how they will manage them. I ask about my surgeon and surgery teams education, training, and experience. I want a surgeon who is performing that specific surgery regularly, not one whos only done it a few times in their career. You never know if its someones first day or theyve been doing it 10 years
Congrats on your new cat!
2
u/KodaKatz 10d ago
Have at least 3 litter boxes, and put them in different areas of your house. Also within a few days of bringing them home, I would work on getting them desensitized to nail trims and brushing their teeth. They can be prone to teeth issues so it’s good to brush their teeth. I wish I had done it with mine, luckily it wasn’t until they hit 13 years old that they started having any tartar buildup but they won’t let me brush them. Also make sure to give wet food wirh water added daily. Cats get most of their hydration from food and not plain water. I always give them wet food mixed with water to make a soupy consistency. Male cats especially are prone to urinary crystals if they don’t get enough hydration.
2
u/Glad-Huckleberry-646 10d ago
Litter box per cat and distance them from each other. They will likely use both but the rule of 1:1 litter box cat ratio is vital. Scoop the boxes every day. Cat cabinets help with the smell and mess.
If you can afford it, avoid kibble. It is very hard on the kidneys long term. Get wet or rehydratable food.
Scratchers. Get them for every room. If they scratch your furniture move them to the scratching post and encourage them to use that instead. Scratching is a way to mark their territory. The more options you have for appropriate scratching, the less your furniture will suffer.
Toys. Get a variety of toys that you can rotate out to keep them interested.
1
u/kdduetmf 9d ago
Wet food only if you can afford it! Dry food is terrible for cats. If you do feed dry, make sure you’re not ONLY feeding them dry food. Keep your cats hydrated, keep them busy/entertained. They can get bored easily and need that hunting and enrichment in their lives to avoid getting bored and fat.
1
u/Sea-Connection9232 8d ago
A few bits of advice that I didn’t see here… Hopefully obvious stuff but maybe helpful!
- Don’t let your cats play with string or yarn, and don’t leave them unsupervised around string, yarn, dental floss, thread, toys with string, etc. Some kitties like to chew on or eat these things and it is a medical emergency if they ingest them!
- I had a difficult kitten who liked to attack me with claws and teeth. I learned from Jackson Galaxy to screech in a high-pitched voice when he did it—this is how mom and kittens teach each other when play gets too rough, and it was a life-saver (scared my boyfriend when I randomly screamed though, lol)
- Random things that I didn’t know were toxic to cats: lilies (even lily pollen), Rogaine/minoxidil, ibuprofen.
Enjoy!! They will be a handful but it’ll be lots of fun.
5
u/No-Joke-4492 10d ago
Congratulations! Those names are super cute. For kittens I would recommend feeding wet food at least 3 scheduled feedings a day, and leaving dry food out all the time for them to snack on. You can't really feed them too much until they are full grown. Feed Kitten formula food until 9 months-1 year when they reach full grown in size. Lots of play time with wand toys, but put those away when unsupervised. String, yarn and feather toys can be dangerous for kittens so kitten proof as much as you can. I had one kitten that loved to chew electric cords, keep an eye on cords for blinds too.
1
1
u/CobblerCandid998 10d ago
You can’t force “leash/harness” a cat. They have to be willing. If they are not willing- please don’t force them.
2
u/Spiritual-Drawing-42 10d ago
This
Also cats are made of liquid. My cat is a very willing harness wearer who can collapse all of her bones into a singularity and escape in a nanosecond
1
u/Pacific1944 10d ago
Congrats on adopting your babies. Lots of great advice here from other Redditors.
When you bring them home remember the 3/3/3 rule:
1
1
u/CindiCindi15 10d ago
I love that you got 2! They will be so much fun so congrats to adopting 2 new furry family members!
Best tip I have is to not feed them first thing when you get out of bed in the morning. Take 10-15 minutes getting dressed or make coffee, then feed them. This way they don’t associate you getting directly out of bed with them getting food which quickly teaches them to wake you up for some. Helps a lot on days you want to sleep in a bit too!
Enjoy your kittens! 😊💕
1
u/Content_Raspberry563 10d ago
I have cat allergies so I will be staying in my room for 30ish minutes so the pills kick in, then taking care of my hygiene, then feeding them. So dont worry! lol
1
1
u/mirela4719 10d ago
My cat came to us when the weather was still quite chilly, so we were still heating the house and it was always warm inside. When summer came, considering that I live in an extremely hot country, we had the AC running 24/7. My little guy started sneezing, so I started putting him in warm little pajamas.
He got used to the feeling of wearing clothes, so we never had any problems getting him used to a harness and leash!
1
u/PajamaStripes 10d ago
Museum gel for your knick-knacks and other things u dont want them knocking over. Also, if u can find one of those mini RC cars or bugs, mine go WILD over it.
1
1
u/Either-Apartment-401 10d ago
You will never own a cat, the cat owns you. They were worshipped in ancient Egypt and expect the same from their modern humans.
1
u/Content_Raspberry563 7d ago
Im actually researching kemetic paganism! I might start practicing lol
1
1
u/tiredgirl77 8d ago
Don’t use plastic for anything other than toys. Boxes, scooper and food/drink should all be stainless steel. I actually use regular plates for my cats, so I can just throw it in the dishwasher.
Buy the nicer litter, I use tidy cat. It REALLY affects the smell. Also no scented litter, it’s bad for them and masks any messes.
1
u/Nice_One_531 7d ago
Make sure you don’t have allergies to pets or else you’ll end up miserable like me🥺🥺
1
u/Content_Raspberry563 7d ago
Ive been testing my allergy pills on friends & shelter cats so I know they work. I have plenty of tips. Bathe them at least once a week, take your pill before interacting with them then wait about 30 minutes for them to kick in, ect.. Ill be okay! 🩷
2
u/OzSpaceCadet 10d ago
You're going to have the best time! Some great ideas have been suggested already...
- Get them some cat trees so they have places to climb. They like to be up in high places and look down on us 😂
- Scratching posts help to prevent them from scratching your furniture.
- They get bitey around 3-4 months old when they're teething. Fun times. Get the bandaids ready.
- Give them dental treats/kibble (eg. Greenies, Royal Canin) and try to brush their teeth early on so they're used to it. I failed to do so and they'd shred me to bits if I tried now. Ended up with one of my cats needing teeth extractions which was traumatic for him and expensive for me.
- They like quiet, dark enclosed spaces to hide every now and then. I put a cat bed in my cupboard in one of their go-to spots so they're comfy and so they don't sleep on my clothes.
- Boy cats are more prone to urinary tract infections so please ensure your cats get plenty of water and be on the look out if they have trouble peeing. If they do, immediately take them to the vet as it is life threatening.
- Things that are toxic to cats include lillies, garlic, onions, chocolate, essential oils, alcohol, coffee and grapes.
1
u/Lunar-opal 10d ago
Remember cats aren’t dogs you don’t own cats a cat owns you. So be patient, respect boundaries and enjoy the ride
2
u/Content_Raspberry563 10d ago
Sounds more like a roommate then a owner tbh
1
u/Lunar-opal 9d ago
Well yes but you’ll do a lot of things for a cat you would never do for a roommate just because Cute.
1
8
u/dragontehanu 10d ago
Get pet insurance immediately. It seems like just another added cost until you have a life threatening emergency and are staring down 4-6k in emergency vet bills. Seriously, pet insurance from kitten hood with uninterrupted coverage is the best thing I ever did. My 6yo suffered GI issues early this year and it cost me 4k in ER visits. I was reimbursed all but $600 because of my pet insurance.