Feeding a new kitten?

We are just about to get a kitten and I have been told you are supposed to feed them three times a day.. we are out working all day, so how do I combat this problem to make sure my little boy is going to be alright?

How old is this kitten? You can get an automatic feeder, but it only works for dry food not wet, so be sure you give wet food in the morning and when you get home at night. If this is just a young kitten, you best not give the kitten the run of the house while you are gone- they tend to trash a room in 60 seconds!

I have got two six month old kittens. When I got them at 3 months and took them to the vet for vaccinations I was told that they should be fed 4 times a day, though I think opinions on this vary. I'm still doing this at the moment, but I will reduce it soon. I prefer to feed wet food, but if I'm going to be out I put plenty of dried down so that they can eat that in place of their next meal while I'm gone. I used to leave some down at night for them as well in case they got hungry, but I've stopped doing that now they're older. At the moment, I'm not working, so it's easier for me.

Just a thought - if you're all out working all day wouldn't it be better to get two kittens instead of one so they aren't lonely?

He will be about eight weeks when I bring him home (not for about another three weeks, I am ultra organised with this stuff )

I am going to be keeping him in the bathroom with his bed and litter, and a few toys etc for the first week or two until he gets used to the house.. I have thought about getting two but it's taken me this long to convince Hubby to get ONE cat let alone TWO!! So we'll see how we go! He'll only be alone four days a week, we're home the rest of the time, so I think he'll be ok.. specially since he'll be the surrogate child - spoiled rotten!!!

G'day mate, welcome to TCS.

I agree with hissy - Canned food for breakfast and just before bed with free-feeding dry during the day. The canned just before bed will fill his tummy and help him sleep more soundly through the night.

You know, we LOVE pics here, so be sure to post some pictures in the Fur Pictures forum once he arrives. Burmilla's are so beautiful! Is he named Zazu?

Originally Posted by Zazu

He will be about eight weeks when I bring him home (not for about another three weeks, I am ultra organised with this stuff

)

I am going to be keeping him in the bathroom with his bed and litter, and a few toys etc for the first week or two until he gets used to the house.. I have thought about getting two but it's taken me this long to convince Hubby to get ONE cat let alone TWO!! So we'll see how we go! He'll only be alone four days a week, we're home the rest of the time, so I think he'll be ok.. specially since he'll be the surrogate child - spoiled rotten!!!

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Zazu,

PLEASE try to get your husband to reconsider the two cat issue. A kitten alone is more likely to get bored and wreak havoc in your house than one that has a companion. Trust me on this one. When two kittens have each other they wrestle and chase each other and play with each other's tails, instead of trying to wrestle down your flower vases and playing with your drapes. A lot of the behavior problems we associate with young cats are generated by boredom and loneliness. You will not regret getting two, especially if you can score a pair of littermates.

Originally Posted by Zazu

.. specially since he'll be the surrogate child - spoiled rotten!!!

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Sounds like our brats!!!

Just a thought on the two cat issue, I hear you on hubby's attitude - mine was the same, particularly when you're talking pure breds and $$$$$$! Our breeder gave us a reduced price as we bought two - worth a try if there's any available!!!!

And yeh, with the feeding initially we gave them wet food (we use whiskas kitten pouches) mornings and nights right before bed, and free feed dry - eukanuba and iam (actually we pretty much do that now still, they're 8 months)

Believe me, I would love to get two but we simply cannot afford it.. The breeder is already giving me $100 off her usual price...

Oh, I can't begin to describe how happy I am that I got two kitties at the same time. They spend the entire day being total goofballs, chasing each other, grooming each other, waiting for their new friend the squirrel to show up (I need to post that pic.)

Yet they will each come to me for cuddle time.

I feed them wet food 3x a day, and keep out dry. If I'm not home at lunch time, oh well....not like they'll starve or anything.