Adopting a kitten - advice needed

When we moved house, we kept our two cats indoors for 6 weeks ro be absolutely sure they knew where home was before letting them out. That’s key.

I took on a retired Queen about 18 months ago. It took quite a while for her to settle in with me and she was constantly hiding in wardrobes. She absolutely loves me now and much as I’d like her to be more sociable when people call she always vanishes and reappears the instant they’ve gone. She chooses to rarely go into my garden and so far has never jumped the walls which is good. Unfortunately she never toilets outside and I keep her hooded litter tray in my bathroom. She seems to eat her food at night when it’s quiet and dark and I think that was because she used to be with many other cats who were far more alpha than her. However lately she’s become braver and follows me around the house and eats in front of me sometimes. I changed her name which she responds to and she knows when treats are on offer. I wouldn’t introduce another cat to her as I know in her case it wouldn’t work (I’m too old anyway!). Patience has been the name of the game with her and I love her to bits.

You sound a wonderful cat-mum Nansypansy .

I would love another cat but my boy gets so upset when I catsit that I think he would leave home.

We took on two unrelated female kittens who never really got on though in very cold weather would share a cat bed in front of the Aga, so introducing another cat may not be easy. We were told that had they been litter mates there wouldn’t have been a problem, but for nineteen years they lived semi-detached lives.

Nansypansy

I took on a retired Queen about 18 months ago. It took quite a while for her to settle in with me and she was constantly hiding in wardrobes. She absolutely loves me now and much as I’d like her to be more sociable when people call she always vanishes and reappears the instant they’ve gone. She chooses to rarely go into my garden and so far has never jumped the walls which is good. Unfortunately she never toilets outside and I keep her hooded litter tray in my bathroom. She seems to eat her food at night when it’s quiet and dark and I think that was because she used to be with many other cats who were far more alpha than her. However lately she’s become braver and follows me around the house and eats in front of me sometimes. I changed her name which she responds to and she knows when treats are on offer. I wouldn’t introduce another cat to her as I know in her case it wouldn’t work (I’m too old anyway!). Patience has been the name of the game with her and I love her to bits.

What breed is she?

I got a kitten when I was still single which moved with us to a new house when I got married. A few years down the line my ex fell in love with a kitten that a friend's cat had given birth to. My (female) cat was 5 by then and took the introduction of a new cat (male)very badly. She essentially sent me to Coventry for about a year as I was the one who carried the new kitten into the house! She eventually forgave me and jumped up on my lap one day without encouragement. I was pregnant with my first child at the time and felt the baby move for the first time during the time the cat was on my lap. I'm sure she sensed the baby. Interestingly the two cats became best friends and the young male mourned her loss when the older cat got run over when the two were out together scavenging on bin night! Introducing the younger cat was traumatic despite them getting on well eventually. I was told it may have been easier to introduce a young female as a new cat but I'm not an expert. When the male died many years later at the age of 19 we were going through divorce and I was expecting to have to sell up and move so I decided not to replace him. Otherwise I'd have tried to get a sibling pair.
I never did sell up and move and have been catless for about 17 years. I'd love another cat but since retiring I like the freedom to go away spontaneously and a pet might be a tie. I may yet consider another cat, but probably not a kitten at my age.

Thanks for all the tips - very helpful.

I was in a bit of a panic but now I've calmed down. I've gathered several cardboard boxes, blankets etc. A litter tray, dishes and toys are on their way. Now I need to buy litter, food (rescue said she'll eat any brand), Dreamies as a treat or bribe. We're collecting the kitten on Saturday and still haven't settled on a name. But we're getting there.

The rescue people said because she's so tiny and only four months old (though they originally said seven months) it would be safer to keep her in all winter, before I let her outside. I'll find it hard to keep doors and windows closed, but it has to be done. I'll survive.

I'll message again once she's arrived on Saturday.

Thanks for all the helpful messages.

When I had house cats I soon got into a mindset of thinking twice before I opened any doors etc. Don’t forget to not fill a bath full of hot water in case she jumps in.

Well we collected her on Saturday and it was all a bit chaotic. If I said once 'leave her alone' I must have said it a hundred times. But having two young teenagers with us, of course the excitement got the better of them, with one of them wanting to give the kitten a chip. Honestly!

She slept the first night in my little bedroom and I didn't get much sleep, since she kept prowling around and waking me up. At one stage, her face was two inches from mine as she sniffed at my face while I slept. That woke me up!

Now, she's had the run of downstairs and has spent the morning charging around like a whizzbang. She has a good appetite and is using the litter tray, and things are calming down a bit now. I've been trying to get some photos, but she moves too fast.

One thing that surprised me is that I have to pay to have her microchip registered. I never had to pay for a microchip before.

At the moment, she's resting on my bed. Obviously needs a rest after all the galloping around.

So it's so far so good at this stage. I am finding it difficult not to be able to leave windows and doors open, though I suppose that's a small price to pay for the fun of having her here.

Have any posters got recommendations about pet insurance? She's covered free of charge for four weeks with PetPlan, but we will have to pay for cover after that. I know my daughter had a tricky time getting her insurers to pay for her dog's cancer operation, and I'd be grateful for any recommendations.

Thanks.

Enjoy building a relationship with your new kitten. She will need lots of naps, just like babies. I envy you - our kittens have grown up so fast, although they are beautiful cats now.

Has she been spayed? Rescues do it horribly early. I’d keep her in until spring and have her spayed before she goes outside. Teach her to come to a shaken Dreamies box and always get her in before bedtime.

Re insurance: as she's so young, it could be worth your while to insure her for a few years as young cats can and sometimes do have expensive accidents and illnesses. However, be aware that the insurance won't cover many of the routine ailments which afflict cats so you're on your own with pregnancy and birth problems, spaying and neutering, any dental work that may be required and a few other things besides.
In my experience, the insurance ceases to be cost effective when the cat reaches around 8 or 9 years old, especially if you've ever had to make a claim because the premium cost rises to astronomic heights and you may well not be covered for any recurrence of the problem that caused the claim!
These days, I just make sure there is sufficient in the kitty (sorry!) to cover any likely eventuality and don't bother with insurance but that's a very individual decision for every pet owner.

Oh and do watch out if your new kitten grows up into a big broad-shouldered adult cat. I took on a big (6.5kg) rescue cat some years ago who used a covered litter tray - until the day he got stuck in the flap on the way out! I don't think he or I ever quite recovered from the trauma😅.

I hope you and your new companion have many happy years together.

I made sure with my puppies that I insured them right away. The 4 weeks insurance they come with won’t cover them after that and if something happens to them during those four weeks you won’t be able to include that in any future policies. I’ve always used PetPlan even though they’re expensive and have life cover not year cover. When it comes to accidents when they’re allowed outside I think it’s more likely to happen when they’re at the ‘catten’ stage.