We have a new additon to our family............. A kitten

So yesterday whilst visiting the RSPCA I came home with a 9wk old Kitten who we have named Lucy.

For awhile now we have been humming and ahhing getting a pet for the girls.
We thought either a small indoor dog or a kitten would be good.

I brought a kitten.
DD1 (3.5yrs) is loving her, DD2 (18mths) is not too sure.
I am now having doubts on whether i have done the right thing?
But i always do this when we buy something or something big happens. For some reason i can't relax and enjoy the idea of it and all these negative thoughts keep going through my head.

Right now it is the selfish thought that we were just getting to the stage that the girls are old enough that we can just pack up and go away. But now we have someone else to consider. I am even jealous that when the day comes and the girls spend the weekend at the grandparents it won't be just DH and I, there will be still a cat around! is that silly? When DD1 was born i had a case of the baby blues and found it hard to accept the fact that it was no longer DH and I, and i guess i am kinda getting like that again.

But Lucy (kitten) won me over in the RSPCA, and when she snuggles up to me my heart melts.

Cats are really easy to look after arn't they? they won't affect the family "dynamics" too much hey?

Most importantly we can still have a life with a cat? can we not?

We have 2 cats. They're an easy pet to have :)

Cats can be left alone for a weekend as long as they have food, fresh water and clean kitty litter :)

Kittens are very playful especially of a night time so just expect that for a few months at least, she'll want to play when you probably won't feel like it.

They are great animals. We have more issues with sorting the dogs out if we want to go away than the cats.

I don't think a kitten will change things much at all :) eventually it'll sleep most of the day ;)

Not sure I've heard of buyer's remorse over a skitty cat :-)

We have a cat and a dog and TBH the dog has a far greater impact on our life than the cat does. She is extremely self sufficient and while we would never leave her for any longer, we will go away for a night and leave her enough food out to keep her going for that time. Sure, she misses us for company but she would rather be home in her own environment than go to a boarding place like the dog does. If we left the dog home for that long he would have chewed through every piece of reticulation, pulled out every plant, shredded the low branches of every tree etc.

I love watching my girls with the animals. DD2 especially can't go past either cat or dog without stopping to give them a cuddle and a pat, and I think what they learn by having pets far outweighs the small imposition they put on your lifestyle. Oh, and with cold winter nights coming there is no better foot warmer on the planet than a cuddly puddy.

Enjoy your new baby.

Thanks Ladies

I know this will be good for the girls too, which is one of the main reasons i wanted to get a pet (besides our budgie and fish).

I am such a worry wart, and i worry over everything! Lucy slept all night last night and we didn't hear a meow from her, I on the other hand tossed and turned and saw every hour.
I want to do what is best for her, and don't want to be leaving her or anything if they don't do well when left. But looks like it is okay to leave a cat for a night or two :) which is a big relief for me..... Phew

and a member of the family that will sleep most of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow what a shock to the system that will be hahahaha

okay so hear goes some more questions (sorry i think more will come)

Can we feed her just biscuits?

The RSPCA has said it is best for them and she is on some "top" pricey brand. but to me it seems a bit cruel to just be on boring old biscuits :dunno:

but obviously happy to do so if that is what is best (and means less smelly poo's LOL)

Our cats only eat dry food. The one we've had the longest won't eat wet food and the other was used to dry food too :dunno:

There are certain foods in the supermarkets specifically for kittens so perhaps get a little of both and see what she prefers.

congratulations I'm so jealous, kittens are the best, and cats are definately easy to look after, they are very independent once adults.

You can give wet and dry food, also look into an article in the pet section here about raw, meaty bones diet for cats and dogs. You can give a small raw chicken wing for them to eat every now and again, its good for their teeth and my cat goes psycho when she gets one, growls at us when we go near her if she's eating one lol.

I dont' have a problem with leaving cats for a night or two either, as long as there is adequate food and water and litter trays.

Enjoy her, once she starts playing and being cute you will be besotted!

Our cat is mainly a dry food only girl now - mainly because she's an old girl now and rarely moves so she is very prone to putting on weight. She is on age appropriate, diet appropriate biscuits that used to work really well until we got the dog last year - now she just eats his biscuits when she's still hungry!!

The dog started life on a dry only diet but like you thought that seemed a bit mean. He gets lots of raw bones and also gets that loaf meat sort of stuff at night.

The puddy gets chicken wings too - just make sure they're always raw. I also cut the tips off the wings too.

Saffy - i have read about the raw chicken wing bones, so when she is a tad older might try her on that :) she won't choke on the bone though will she?

LuluHB - LOL what a cheeky pudda you have, eating the dog biscuits! that is funny! I am quickly discovering that cats are quite funny little things! i should be studying but she is in a bit of a mood tonight so is distracting me :) has your pudda choked on the chicken wings at all?

No, the cat has been fine with the chicken wings. TBH its more the dog that I need to be concerned about because he just gobbles at them whereas the cat is oh so refined ;-) I had a vet friend years ago tell me to cut the tips off the wings because they tended to be the part most prone to getting stuck in their throats or gut but have never had a problem.

The whole raw diet thing is probably almost as contentious as formula v. breast!!! There are definitely different camps and depending on which side of the fence you ask a raw diet will either be the best thing ever as its how an animal eats in the wild, or its the worst thing possible because there are so many choking risks, not balanced etc. When we were puppy breeder shopping last year I came across a group of breeders who refused to sell you one of their pups unless you signed a contract saying you would only feed a raw diet.

FWIW, I take a bit from both camps - feed top quality dry food together with raw bones, and occasionally raw meat.

I started my cats on the expensive pet store dry and wet food when they were kittens, they are now on supermarket Fancy Feast dry biscuits and very fussy only eating the seafood option! I tried other brands which they like for a week then refuse to eat. One is currently on my lap keeping my belly warm :) we often go away for weekends and leave them ample food and water. They also have a cat door so can go in and out as they please. My sons 2.5 & 1.5 have recently started to pat them (when the cats allow it) and try to help feed them/eat the food themselves. Lucy is lucky you found her, you will grow to love her like a child!!

Just thought i would update and say Miss Lucy has really fitted in with our crazy household!

From day one it felt like she belonged! and the girls love her! DD2 who was a little unsure and got jealous every time Lucy was near me, now can't stay away from her and she keeps giving her kisses and cuddles, and to our surprise Lucy puts up with it :)

She has her crazy playful moments, but most of the time is content to cuddle up and sleep! and too my surprise i think i am her favourite :) she has taught me to sit down a bit too and just do nothing :) which has been much needed.