FIRST TIME OWNER OF TWO KITTEN SIBLINGS

My friend's cat recently had 6 kittens (3 sets of twins). I decided to take on a boy & girl; so they each have a playmate & that long lasting bond. I will receive them when they are 5-6 weeks old, since the first couple weeks I know they are getting nursed by their mother. I just wanted to know can two kittens sleep in the same bed or eat from the same food bowl during their first year??? Just trying to learn any kind of info as far as preparing for their arrival etc in a couple of weeks....PS. I'm also not sure of their breed, neither does my friend; so would a vet be able to determine that?? Because it's one of the questions that's asked when I acquire medical insurance for the kittens.

Hi, welcome to The Cat Site. You must be so excited about getting your new kittens.

First of all, it's better that they stay with their mother until they are 12 weeks old. Kittens can survive if they are taken from their mother earlier, but they'll be much healthier if they stay with her longer than that. Cats keep nursing their kittens for much longer than 6 weeks and they'll also learn cat social skills from her, such as how to use a litter box, groom themselves, act around other cats and people etc.

They'll probably be quite happy to share a bed together. They'll be fine sharing a water bowl, but it would be better if they had their own food bowls. Even young kittens soon establish which kitten is boss. You need to make sure the top kitten doesn't bully the other one out of their food.

Your vet will be able to tell you if they are similar to any particular breed, but the vast majority of cats are known as either Domestic Short Hair or Domestic Long Hair. Unless you've got papers from a breeder that state your kitten is a pedigree cat either DSH or DLH is all you need to put on the insurance forms.

One final word of advice, kittens brought up in a household with a cat of the opposite sex reach sexual maturity earlier than those brought up on their own. You'll need to get both kittens spayed and neutered before they reach 5 months of age. They're more likely to remain playful and friendly with each other if you get them fixed before the female kitten goes into her first heat cycle or the male kittens starts trying to mate with her.

Good luck with the new kittens, let's see some pictures of them when you can.

Welcome!  My wife adopted Max & Phoebe when they were very small.  They're litter mates and they're now almost 16 years old.  They're the best of friends and they love to snuggle together.  They keep each other company and really love each other.  Sometimes they share one bowl (even though we use two!), but they're very respectful of one another and we couldn't ask for a happier pair.  Good luck with your new babies!

I agree the kittens should stay with Mamma cat longer than 5-6 weeks. My Kitty was found on the side of the road at 4 weeks and was much to young to be separated from Momma. She managed and she is fine now.  She is not social around new people she darts and hides. She is 1 y/o now.  

Thanks. Well i have to see how long my friend is trying to keep the babies because she is moving soon, so they can stay longer then 6 weeks. So what about putting up barriers?? Like during the period mostly when they are a few weeks old, to keep them from getting into anything like when your sleeping or aren't at home?? I live in a 900 sqft apartment, so I already know I will have to "cat proof"

It would be a good idea to keep the kittens confined at first. It will be a lot easier for you if you have a kitten room set up for them. They'll need a couple of litter boxes, their beds, food and water and a few toys. A cat tree or a cat condo is a great idea too. Cats love having their own bits of furniture and it protects your furniture from getting clawed up if they have their own cat tree to scratch.

You'll need to kitten proof the room. Remove anything breakable or dangerous and make sure there are no tiny holes they can squeeze into. When we got a couple of kittens when I was a kid one of them managed to squeeze through a tiny gap at the side of the bath and ended up under the floorboards. My Dad was not happy, he had to take the side of the bath off and take all the floorboards up to get her out again.

Any gap that you can get your hand through a kitten will be able to get into, make sure any air vents are covered.

Once the kittens have settled in and know where their litter box is you'll be able to let them out to explore the rest of the house. Cats like to have a routine, if they know where their food is, what time of day you leave and come home, when they get fed etc they'll be much happier. It's a good idea to keep them in one room while you out or sleeping though. At least until they've grown out of the Crazy Kitten stage.

When I first got our youngest cat I didn't have a spare room so I got one of these pet cages for him to sleep in at night. Best thing I ever bought, all that cats still use it to sleep and play in now.


Can't wait to see some pictures of your new kittens.

Hi thanks for the info, been very busy so I have not been online...But yea throughout our apartment its heaters placed in the living room, dining room and bedroom & they can get pretty hot sometimes when they are turned on, so I know I would have yo put something around those. But yes I will be receiving them in 2 weeks since my friend is moving, they will be 6 weeks. So should I take them to the vet soon as I receive them or wait??

If they're only going to be six weeks old when you get them it would be better to keep them in one room for the first month or so. It will be much easier to kitten proof one room than your whole apartment. At six weeks they'll be able to fit into the tiniest places, so make sure they can't get under any furniture, into any air vents, that kind of thing. Little kittens, like little kids, can't hold on that long when they need to pee so if they're never too far from their litter box you won't have so many accidents.

Yes, take them straight to the vet if you can. They'll be able to check them for worms or fleas, even indoor-only cats pick a few up sometimes. Ask your vet to recommend a good kitten food for you, something that will give them all the nutrients they'd get in their mother's milk. Kittens never grow up to be as big and healthy as they should if they're put straight onto adult cat food. The best time to get them spayed/neutered is around 16 ~ 20 weeks old. They'll also need their first vaccinations. Your vet will be able to make appointments for them to get all of these things done at the best time.

Good luck, let us see some pictures of them when they arrive.