Expert: Karen Craft - 9/11/2009

Question
So I am planning on getting a kitten, some time in the next couple of weeks.

We live in a bachelor suite, so it is pretty small. The kitten will definitely be an indoor cat.
I am hoping to get a female, if that makes any difference.

Basically I have never had a cat (or any pet for that matter) before. Any help would be appreciated.

Another thing.
We aren't that well off, I have budgeted for basic needs such as litter and food, but I am considering putting off any medical visits for a while. When is the latest you can get a pet spayed/neutered? Is it dangerous for a cat that is not going to be near any other cats to skip the shots for a while? (Basically, what are the shots against, how do they get the diseases it protects against?)

Our kitchen counter is about waist level. Can a kitten normally jump that high? I am pretty sure I have seen full grown cats do it, but for the kitten while we are training it I don't want it accidentally getting on the stove or something, or smashing our dishes to the ground.

Thanks so much for your help!

Answer
Hi Justine,

You are doing the right thing by getting your info first. I will help you the best I can. Male or female is a personal preference. I find that fixed males are big loves but others swear by fixed females.


The age of your kitten will affect her behavior. The older they are the more athletic they are. Young kittens won't be able to get on the counter. But as they mature they will be able to jump up there with no problem. There are steps you can do to prevent this. You might want to look into putting this stuff on the counter. This is an example of what I am talking about. http://www.esrchairmats.com/carpet-runners/vinyl.html
Place this with the plastic nubs facing up. She will jump up and right down again when she lands on that. It won't hurt her, just startle her. A few times of this and she won't e going up there anymore and you can remove it.

Spaying a cat should be done early not later. This prevents a lot of problems later. Cats can be spayed from 4 months on. Check your local shelter for low cost spay programs in your area.

Here's a link about why you vaccinate your cat. http://www.petplace.com/cats/why-should-i-vaccinate-my-cat-2/page1.aspx

And one for why you don't have to. http://www.pawfun.com/2009/01/ask-dr-jill-elliot-should-i-vaccinate-my-indoor-ca...

And this is what I do. I go to Tractor Supply Company and get this.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/pet-care/pet-health-grooming/
pet-medicine-healthcare/peak-marketing-feline-focus-3-vaccine-drops-single-dose-with-dropper-2439247

I use this on my cats just in case. You never know if your cat will ever get out,(doubtful in your case but better safe than sorry). And it is inexpensive.

Here's a link about cat nutrition that has some very good info. http://catinfo.org/index.htm
Scoopable litter is the way to go for the litter box. I scoop everyday and then sprinkle this stuff on the top.
http://www.armhammerpets.com/deodorizer.aspx  
I use the powder. I have 13 cats indoor and you can't even tell I have one. Add a little litter when you scoop. Change the litter once a week.
I also use this. http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750668&keepsr=0&clickid=pro...

It may be a bit more than other scoops but trust me, this is one of the best products out there and makes a lousy job easy.

If you go out for the day I would suggest leaving a radio on low for the cat. Cats do better with quiet music on in the background. And if you can, two cats always do better than one. :) Not much more work or expense.

One thing I strongly suggest is to start a kitty savings account. Try to put $1-2 dollars a week away for a emergency "just in case" fund. You may not need it right now but you will wish you had it in the future. Even if it just change it adds up after a couple of years. And you never know what can happen in the future. It is always better to be prepared. Good luck with your new addition to your family. You will have many years of joy.

I hope this helped you a little. Good luck with your new kitten.

Ciao, Karen