Hello everyone, I am new to this site.
I am Holly, and our 9 week old kitten is Malcolm, aka Malley Cat. We also have two sons, aged 3.5 and 9 months.
We got Malcolm a week ago. He is a wonderful guy - alternating between fits of truly awe-inspiring energy and snuggle time. He sleeps with us (all of us, as we are a cosleeping family), and we are enjoying him very much.
My husband was reluctant to get a cat. I was the pusher on the issue. But while he is not a cat enthusiast, he has accepted Malcolm into our home and enjoys watching Malcolm and our elder son run each other's crazies out.
I do have a few questions, and I am hoping I am posting this in the right place. If I am not, it's just cuz I'm a noob.
1. Food recommendations! I am currently transitioning from the Iams Kitten he was on at his birth home to Solid Gold dry foods. Is this best? Wet vs. dry? I'd like to offer him a food that is very good for him.
2. Scratching! He's enjoying his claws on our carpet, and launching himself at our wooden furniture and trying to grab hold. I do like our furniture, and I'd like to keep it looking nice. I bought him a sisal-rope scratching post and sprayed it with some kind of catnip spray (as Petco recommended), but no love for the post. What should I do to help him learn to scratch on it? Maybe he'd prefer something wooden? I've read up on declawing and I'm not in favor.
3. One kitten or two? As I said, Malley Cat's Daddy was a reluctant cat owner. I've mentioned two and he's NOT enthused. However, I'd like to get some stats if they exist, and educate him on the benefits of one vs. two. (A possible negative: Do you REALLY need two boxes?)
Thanks in advance - I can't wait to see what the kitty pros have to say.
ETA - A photo of our little guy.
I am Holly, and our 9 week old kitten is Malcolm, aka Malley Cat. We also have two sons, aged 3.5 and 9 months.
We got Malcolm a week ago. He is a wonderful guy - alternating between fits of truly awe-inspiring energy and snuggle time. He sleeps with us (all of us, as we are a cosleeping family), and we are enjoying him very much.
My husband was reluctant to get a cat. I was the pusher on the issue. But while he is not a cat enthusiast, he has accepted Malcolm into our home and enjoys watching Malcolm and our elder son run each other's crazies out.
I do have a few questions, and I am hoping I am posting this in the right place. If I am not, it's just cuz I'm a noob.
1. Food recommendations! I am currently transitioning from the Iams Kitten he was on at his birth home to Solid Gold dry foods. Is this best? Wet vs. dry? I'd like to offer him a food that is very good for him.
2. Scratching! He's enjoying his claws on our carpet, and launching himself at our wooden furniture and trying to grab hold. I do like our furniture, and I'd like to keep it looking nice. I bought him a sisal-rope scratching post and sprayed it with some kind of catnip spray (as Petco recommended), but no love for the post. What should I do to help him learn to scratch on it? Maybe he'd prefer something wooden? I've read up on declawing and I'm not in favor.
3. One kitten or two? As I said, Malley Cat's Daddy was a reluctant cat owner. I've mentioned two and he's NOT enthused. However, I'd like to get some stats if they exist, and educate him on the benefits of one vs. two. (A possible negative: Do you REALLY need two boxes?)
Thanks in advance - I can't wait to see what the kitty pros have to say.
ETA - A photo of our little guy.