<3 Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!!! <3 (Cats in General)

Member Name: rose1986

Product:	Cats in General
Date:	27/11/07 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Playful, Comforting, Gorgeous

Disadvantages: Hyper!

What can I say about "Moggie's?"...

I've always been a dog lover. Ever since I was born, we've had a dog as part of the family. Sadly, after having our much loved dog Pebbles, she died after 13 years. So we decided to get another dog, not as a replacement, but because we love them so much. Two years later, my Cousin's cat had 7 kittens. Obviously, she couldn't look after 7 kitten's as well as her cat so I decided to take one. So in July last year I got a lovely surprise when my Cousin popped round with my new Kitty and I remember how cute she looked then with her big, dark eyes.

Preparation

Before getting Ali (Kitten's name), I obviously needed to prepare for her arrival.

Bed - To ensure she had somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep, I purchased a soft, cushioned bed designed for Kittens and Cats. Apparently beds are not essential as your kitten will find somewhere of comfort for them to sleep, but I wanted something for my kitten anyway. Beds are available in Pet Stores nationwide and vary in price. The price will obviously depend on the size and style of bed you have gone for.

Food / Feeding Dishes - Obviously, my new kitten was going to new a separate dish for her food and water to be kept in. I purchased these from Asda and they had a variety of colours and sizes available. Of course, because Ali was a little girl, it had to be pink! So two separate dishes were purchased and cost no more than £2.00 for both of them.

Food wise, I bought Whiska's meat pouches made for kittens, as well as dry food. This gave Ali a variety to obtain a healthy lifestyle.

Mealtimes - This obviously depended on the Kitten itself and what their routine was. We ensured Ali had sufficient meal times as and when required, according to the Vet's instructions. Also, water had to be in her dish 24 / 7 to ensure she was always hydrated, especially as she is so active. As your kitten gets older, they tend to eat more food but need it less often which is what we found with Ali.

Treats - There are many treats available for kittens and cats. Ali especially loves Felix Lickin's. These are chicken shaped bites which obviously, taste like chicken! They are the ideal size to treat your kitten and should only be given now and again to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Litter Tray - We were lucky enough to get Ali at 6 weeks old and by then she was already litter trained - bonus! We've never had an accident with her which has been great. I know that litter training kitten's can be stressful as my Cousin had 7 on her hands at once! However, if you are experiencing difficulties, you should speak to the local Vet or research on tips.

I purchased a basic litter tray from Asda and filled this with your typical litter. However, you will need to check what litter you purchase as they clay or orange / pink stuff is not suitable for kittens. This is because they can eat the litter and it can get caught in their throat / stomach. The litter tray obviously needs cleaned out every time your kitten does "something" to ensure hygiene. I also bought a sprinkler you mix in with your clean litter which had a pleasant lemon scent. You should also line your litter tray with litter bags which ensures ease when emptying the tray. The prices for these items vary but are not expensive at all and can be bought in Pet Shops and Supermarkets nationwide.

Toys - Kitten's are extremely active which you will find out if you get one. They need stimulated A LOT. You will find if you have something lying around such as a hairband, your kitten will play with it. Ali actually plays fetch, I think she thinks she's a dog! It is so funny and extremely cute. Once I throw a hairband, she will chase it, bring it back to you and wait until you throw it again hehehe. Favourite toys of hers include sticks with feathers dangling from it, soft mice toys, balls etc. Scratch Post's are essential for Kittens and Cats. This will hopefully prevent them from ruining your furniture with their claws. They are fairly cheap to buy and give your Kitten hours of entertainment, as well as keeping them active.

Cleaning - Kittens are extremely clean animals. They are always cleaning their coat and as you will probably know, they hate water! It is a good idea however to brush their coat regularly. Brushes can be bought in Pet Stores for your kitten. This will ensure dead hair is removed and prevent tugs in their coat.

Fleas - Unfortunately, Kittens and Cats are prone to catching fleas just like dogs, especially if they are outside. It is recommended that you treat your kitten / cat regularlary either by tablet or drops which are put on to your cats neck. This will deter fleas from landing on your kitten and hatching eggs - ewww. Luckily we haven't had this problem with Ali... yet! This is probably due to the fact we have a flea collar on her which will prevent fleas nesting on her neck.

Collars - There is a wide variety of collars available for your cat, some basic and some stylish. Collar's come in a variety of designs, collars and with bells included on them. I would also recommend you get a tag attached to your collar with some kind of contact information should your kitten get lost.

Injections - Before allowing your Cat outdoors, the Vet will recommend that you get them vaccinated first. The vet will give your kitten the correct dosage which will prevent your kitten getting diseases and viruses such as Cat Flu which can be fatal and sadly kill your kitten / cat. Your cat will be injected with one dose and then two weeks later, another dose. It is recommended you get these injections done as soon as your cat turns 12 weeks old, however, you should allow 7 days until you allow your cat to go outside. There are also other vaccinations available which will protect your cat from diseases such as Cat Leukaemia.

It is also recommended that your Cats are neutered. This will prevent unwanted pregnancy to your kitten / cat, so you won't be stuck with another 7 kittens yourself!

Worming - All Cats are effectively born with worms - ewww! This can be passed on through milking at birth from their mother. Treatment can be done with tablets which is nice and simple and needs to be done regularly. However, your Vet will also provide you with this information.

Insurance - It is recommended, as with all pet's, that you get your kitten insured. Unfortunately, if your pet is hit with a bad disease or is involved in an accident, Vet bills can be extremely expensive. Paying a small sum of money every month could save you paying out an enormous some at some point in your Cats life, which really, is inevitable.

There are many different types of Cat's around varying from those with short hair and others with extremely long hair. You also get different coloured cat's, no cat is the same.

You can get a cat either from private advertisements you will see in your local newspaper or your local Cats Protection League. The Cats Protection League house kittens and cats who have no home until a suitable place for them to stay is found. Usually, they cost nothing from the Cats Protection League. Private sales obviously vary.

Well I am extremely glad we got Ali. She is the most gorgeous kitten I have seen. She is dark haired with white socks (how cute!), white tummy and a small white polk-a-dot on her note. She also has the biggest, darkest round eyes. She is quite a small cat for being a year and 4 months. Usually, Cat's are fully grown at this stage... btu she is still a little one!

She is extremely active although I am sure this will settle down with age. I would definitely say I have been converted to a kitten lover!

Summary: <3 You'll instantly fall in love with a kitten <3