A few questions to ask (I'm new to the cat stuff)

Hi

As this is my first cat i dont have a clue about all the stuff i need to do for her. shes still getting used to us and i dont know if she was well treated at her last place if i go by the cat food they brought with her then no.

I would like your opinions on the questions i feel some are stupid but thanks in advance

As she is new here i thought it would be good to give her a bath just to make her clean.

I would like to get her a harness as she will be solely a house cat (i live in a flat 3 floors up) but she could come out on the balcony with me and i dont want her jumping off.

She has no vaccinations as yet and they will all happen this month and im going to get her chipped, but at what age should i get her spayed at or should i wait and maybe have some babies first im not sure?

i still have to tell my husband we have a cat so will wait and see what he says before i ask for another possibly a male

Silly question last, how often should i change her litter box i have one of those with the filter to stop the odours.

i had all these questions to ask and my mind has went blank now oh well thats it for now

thanks
angela

How old is your new kitty? A cat or a kitten?

Bath: Is she dirty? Smell weird or could have possibly got into anything? Bathing can be a bit difficult if you've never washed a cat before, search in this section for some great tips on bathing a cat.

Harness: Better to start a cat young, some take to it some don't.

Spaying: Please don't wait till she has a litter first, you wouldn't be doing her or the cat population any favors. Generally if you're getting the cat vaccinated the vet will want to schedule the spay/neuter after the first rounds are finished but not the same day since it can be a bit much on a cat's system all at once. Here they spay and neuter early, 3 lbs (1.3-1.4 kg?) but other countries require people to wait till the cats are 6 months old.

Litter box: What kind of litter are you using? Cheaper litters or none clumping will require more box changings. Better hard clumping clay litters will allow you to go a few weeks between complete changes, however you must scoop daily.
Someone else can suggest changing frequency for the alternative litter types. I've only used the pine pellets and hated it.

great answers from Strangewings, just want to chip in

baths - i´ve only had to bathe a cat once, when he fell into a muddy, mucky dyke and he was covered in icky mud. The cat was all nervous from the fall, so he wasnt bothered when I bathed him. But as stangewings mentions, it can be difficult. If your cat doesnt smell then it should be fine with its own cleaning routine

Harness training is best started at an early age. What are you doing to cat-proof your balcony ?

With cat-litter, I always scoop after they have had a poop - I just flush it down the loo - then I totally clean about 2- 3 times a week. But it does all depend on the type & quality of the litter you use. You can get some that are fragranced but I find them a bit sickly

Anyway dont think these are silly questions..........and of course, this is just the right place to ask them

Hope your husband likes the idea of a new kitty

thank u so much for all the help and just to add she is 6 months old.

im just using a cheap cat litter just now as i didnt know there were so many different kinds clumping and non-clumping.

i am on the lookout for a net for the balcony just now so she isnt allowed out there at the moment.

i think i was just dreaming about the litter i think as round here (army families) tend to give there cats n dogs away when they are posted to different countries which i am not doing i have made a decision to have her and to keep her til she leaves us. so after she is vaccinated and had her passport requirements all done i will get her spayed as i want to take her home with me to scotland when i go on holiday.

thanks again for all your help

angela

Make sure you get a good harness! I just started training an older cat i just got and she started being a rebel the other day. Walk your cat around inside first, before trying to take her outside, becuase my cat was doing really well and then she started pulling out of the harness. When i looked down to take the leash off, she was already half way out of the harness.... that wouldn't be good outside.

For litter i use clumping litter and scoop it every other day usually. I don't know much about anyother types of litter either... I use Fresh Step with crystals. It works really well, no smell, and i also have a filter in the top of my litter box which is also amazing. =)

good luck!

Originally Posted by afraser1

just to add she is 6 months

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6 months is old enough for her to breed, please consider getting her spayed very soon.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

6 months is old enough for her to breed, please consider getting her spayed very soon.

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i will she is indoors and too high up for any cats to get to her but as soon as i can get an appointment i will get her sorted out


thanks again for all the replys

Originally Posted by strange_wings

6 months is old enough for her to breed, please consider getting her spayed very soon.

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I'm confused as to how the OP's husband is unaware that you now have a cat

Originally Posted by silentNate

I'm confused as to how the OP's husband is unaware that you now have a cat

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Ah but you're still unaware of the 3 extra kitties I have had stashed away in various hiding places around the flat for the last month I don't think I've mentioned the Rottweiler yet either, that will come as a shock when you finally decide to tidy up the spare room

Originally Posted by Epona

Ah but you're still unaware of the 3 extra kitties I have had stashed away in various hiding places around the flat for the last month

I don't think I've mentioned the Rottweiler yet either, that will come as a shock when you finally decide to tidy up the spare room

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Hmmm... The terrifying thing is that Epona might not be joking

Originally Posted by silentNate

I'm confused as to how the OP's husband is unaware that you now have a cat

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hes in the army and has been away on course for 4 weeks he comes home tonight so i will let you all know what he says tomorrow