Hello fellow cat fans. I'm new to the forum and as i've just taken on 3 new cats, I thought I'd better get in touch and see what tips you might have for me.

I had a cat for 16 years until very recently. Sadly I had to have her put down last week as she'd been suffering from cancer for a long time and was very poorly. My heart was and still is broken and I miss her every day. I'd had her since 1995, since I was 16 and she was 1! But a home just isn't a home to me without some living creatures in it so despite me still grieving, I've got myself 3 new little ones. They sort of fell in my lap really and they seemed just right.

There's 2 kittens, m and f, and the mother. I think they're around 8 weeks old and they are weaned though I did find them suckling this morning which was very sweet. They're all quite shy so I'm keeping them restricted to the lounge for now. They've got food + water in 2 locations and now 2 litter trays. And a big circular scratching post / climbing thing which I've just discovered that they've unfortunately pood in!

They've used the first litter tray I put down for wee wees and one of them has done a poo in there. but i just caught girl kitten doing a poo on the carpet and i tried to pick her up and put her in the tray but she ran away. so i picked up the poo and put it in the tray. then i discovered that they've done a couple of poos in the bottom layer of the 3 layer scratching / climbing post thing. so i've taken them out, cleaned the area with urine off then sprayed it with feliway. and put some foil down. and put the 2nd litter tray where the scratching post was.

so am i doing the right thing when it comes to litter training?

also with regards to getting them to come out of their shell and be a bit friendlier and cuddlier, what's the best way? on the whole, i've left them to do their own thing though i have played with the kits a bit and also stroked the mum a few times. she seems ok with this, not scared or anything but also not purring or anything. i think she was enjoying it a bit but i'd obviously like them to be real cuddle bunnies eventually like my old lady was. i know this will take time, months potentially but i want to start off on the right foot. i've read about handling them from an early age but i'm not sure if doing this so early on will teach them to fear me and the experience or will get them used to the fact that nothing bad happens when i pick them up.

my old lady was 1 year old when i got her, was totally toilet trained from day 1 but was virtually feral and i seem to remember it taking several months before i could stroke her or pick her up without almost losing an eye! bless her, she certainly had spirit! anyway, i know i have to be patient and that's fine but i want to be double sure i'm doing everything right, as far as possible anyway! thanks

also, how long can mummy go without eating and drinking and using the toilet properly? she seems the shyest of the 3 about coming out to explore and eat. i've put some food and water near her hiding place (bottom shelf of bookshelf which i've now cleared) but doesn't seem to want to explore. i'm just a bit worried because the 2 kittens are suckling from her so she obviously needs to eat lots but is eating very little or not at all. do they ever suckle for security rather than just food like babies or not?

just watched boy kitten do a poo in the litter tray. v pleased that he did but have to say i am staggered at how much came out of such a small body! sorry if that too much info but wow!

hi,

it sounds like you're off to a good start

i'm not an expert, but have cats my whole life. i would say don't be scared of handling the kittens - they're old enough to play with and they need the socialising with humans. they are old enough to be given more meat now too as far as i'm aware, to encourage the weaning process.

as far as mum goes - i would take the food and water to her for now, let her settle in and if she only eats where she's hiding, go with it. just gradually move the bowl out into the open a bit more when you think she can handle it.

with my kittens i always fed them in the kitchen, and put them on the tray once they'd finish. if they didn't go i'd give them 10 minutes then let them off to explore the rest of downstairs. with both my kittens i have only had 1 accident altogether - and that was when she was only 5 weeks old so i think we'll let her off that one lol.

again, i'm not an expert - there are lots of breeders on PF who are fantastic and really helpful

good luck and welcome to PF! x

keep with it, they'll soon settle in

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thanks, it's good to get some advice, i want to get it right. hopefully these little ones will be with me for at least the next 15 years so i want to do the best i possibly can for them. i want to handle them but don't want to do it too much to put them off it. maybe twice a day for a couple of minutes? also, should i be putting food down twice a day or just leaving it out? i've watched them since they last ate and suckled a couple of hours ago. boy kitten went for a MASSIVE poo but girl kitten didn't. i'm keeping an eye in case she goes in the post or floor again but then again she did a big poo this afternoon so maybe she's not due one for a while. how often do they poo? i'm hoping once a day going on the size of that last one!

i got Freddy at 8 weeks, fed him 4-5 times a day and he usually did about 3-4 poos a day too. me and the kids would always play with him, but after a while we'd leave him to have a rest for a bit. when they went to bed i would settle him down on my lap for a snuggle.

i think if you were to handle them 'too much', mum would let you know as she would get stressed out. but by 8 weeks mum is aiming to feed much less anyway, so i doubt she'll mind tbh.

basically - if they're asleep, leave them. if they're awake, offer them a toy on a string and see if they want to play - they won't if they don't want to it teaching them hunting skills too, although you may be keeping them as house cats.

enjoy them - don't be scared x

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big moves forward already! big news is that we've named the boy, hunter. cool name and a tribute to my oh's cousin who died a few years back. and we've both had some lovely strokes and cuddles with mummy cat, she's going to be a real cuddle bunny i think. she looooves having her chin stroked and even let me rub her belly for a minute, big progress!

hunter has let us stroke him briefly and even girl kitten let my oh stroke her very briefly. they've been playing loads, they're sooooo cute, i'm in love! i think they'll be sitting on our laps and demanding cuddles within a week (maybe 2) !

brilliant result!! have fun with them and get some pics on here ASAP! lol x

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Awwww!!!

so lovely - congrats on your new arrivals

night night xx

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Fantastic progress if Mum is being affectionate I can't offer advice because like you, I was adopted by a semi-feral/barn cat who was litter trained in a day. But best of luck with your new brood. Hunter is a lovely name and can't wait to hear the others