Bonjour a tous!
I finally got my hubby to agree to get a cat now that we are in France.
I was going to go to a shelter and get one there, but my neighbour in the hamlet next to me has 3 kittens and we agreed to take one.
He is a beautiful blue grey “mutt” and will be 10 weeks at end of may when we should take him.
I’ve been reading up on kitten care as I haven’t a clue and want to do The right thing for his wellbeing. Owner owns lots of cats, and there are more with other neighbours in the hameau.
I asked him about vet and shots etc. he does absolutely nothing for the cats as is his business, but I am concerned as to what the basic care should be to protect this little chap in his early months. And to get him neutered of course!
Should I be concerned? He should be about 10 weeks old, and I’m worried he will be half wild, as there is little human contact with the cats in general. Would visiting him regularly in the few weeks up to transfer help?
Also, what shots should he get, and any idea of costs of these would be helpful.
Lastly (sorry, but I’m clueless) brands of kitten food and what should we have ready for him?
Thank you so much, we are (I am) very excited, and are now talking of maybe getting the hens before the cat so they are here before him… Lol
Happy Easter, joyeuse Pâques!
Elaine
Hi all,
Thank you all kindly for the info and experiences.
I will certainly ask this person what happens with kittens and the cats. I do know that of the 3 females there, they are daughter, mother and grandmother and apparently are all "mothering" the 3 kittens. I am tempted with a second, but hubby won't have it. So, I am visiting him now every couple of days, and will go every day from Monday onwards, he should be 4 weeks by then. I will see about getting him a tad earlier than 9/10 weeks. I have done some research on feed and litter, and have found a vet who at least speaks some english, and his receptionist apparently speaks english well. Will be helpful for those essential early visits. I'll broach the microchip subject in a couple of weeks.
Any idea on costs please? Shots he will need and neutering? And general costs per month for an adult cat in food, litter and worming etc. Any more necessary visits to vet once he's neutered and has his shots?
Thank you all so much - very helpful.
Elaine
6 weeks is a little early as they need mum's milk and education, they should not be taken (ideally) before 8 weeks of age, but have to re-iterate the need to get mum sterilsied or her misery continues.
Microchipping cats can and should be done before they leave for their new homes, the onus is on the people giving or selling to do this, it is illegal to rehome them otherwise, and is not a problem at 7/8 weeks of age.
Just to chip in on chickens. I had hens and cats in close proximity and they respected each other. Too near and the hen got a swipe, or the cat got a peck. The surprising thing was that the cats left the chicks alone, even free ranging in the garden. A mother hen makes a fuss if you threaten her chicks but I was still surprised. Warning: not all cats are the same, so I would keep an eye on your cat(s) before allowing them free access to tiny chicks
I agree with Victoria, get him ( or them if you go for 2, good idea) as early as 6 weeks. If the owner does nothing for them anyway there shouldn't be any objection. You shouldn't let them out until they've had their 2 vaccins, 1st at 8 weeks, 2nd at 12 weeks. Plenty of time to get the chickens in. They can't be micro-chipped (puced) until 12 weeks or so anyway as the chips are quite large and they are so small.
Feed them kitten croquettes, Royal Canin is best but expensive, mine like Purina "One" (most supermarkets stock it), until they're 12 months old, and if you acquire them very young then try Baby Cat, it contains all the nutrients they need to develop healthy bones etc. Have the food available at all times, as well as fresh water.
I get Carrefour's own brand cat litter "Agglomerante" which means it forms clumps (of pee) which can be removed with a litter scoop. This lasts much longer than the grey kind, and doesn't smell much either. In theory the clumps of pee and poop can be flushed down the toilet.
A must is a scratch post or cat tree, they do like to climb! And they love scrunched up paper balls, no need to buy expensive toys!
Hi Elaine,
great news - most has already been said…
But please consider adopting 2 kittens, it’s not that much more expensive to have a second one… They have each other for company and it’s just so much better!
Keep us updated!
Can only reiterate Melissa's comments. First and foremost never take a kitten where the mother will continue the misery of reproduction, continually having kittens places her health at great risk (and hence the kitens too), many of these fathers of these kittens carry fatal cat viruses and taking the kittens from such familes takes away the responsibility from the cat owners.
It is a legal requirement for all cats to be microchipped and the onus is on the family giving the kitten. Kittens can and should be sterilised from 8 weeks of age or 1kg in weight, this is best for them and their future health.
As far as the kittens behaviour is concerned, you should be worried if they have little or no human contact between the ages of 2 and 7 weeks, by the age of 10 weeks it could be too late for the kitten to be really socialised, and he may stay forever semi-wild.
Buy the best food you can, Royal Canin or another good quality mark, recent studies have shown that becase of the amount of salt, fat and cereals in cheaper brands of cat food, cats are developing cancers in early age.
Please feel free to give us a call at Cat Rescue and Adoption Centre Chats du Quercy - 05 63 94 73 97
Hi Elaine,
Congratulations on your first cat! They are fantastic creatures and it's a real honour to care for them. Lynn will have the best adivce on kitten-ness. I would just respectfully ask if you can convince your neighbor to get the mamma car sterilized? I'll chip in (anyone else?) if she cites money as a problem.
There is a real and tragic cat overpopulation problem in this country, and unfortunately many people deal with it by either giving the little ones to unscrupulous owners or abandonning them. Then a few years down the road, there's a big problem and the less evolved want to kill the colony and/or a cat charity is called in to take responsiblity for a complicated situation that could have been avoided with some good sense, a good heart, and much less energy.
I sound like a fanatic. That's what three years of fostering will do. I don't mean to take the attention off the great fun and love that's about to arrive in your home.
Let us know how it goes when your little one shows up!
Best from Limoges,
Melissa
You've got to have a microchip put in (the law) before he's six months old, he needs to go to the vet for his shots as soon as you get him and you 'll need to worm him once a week until he's about five months old (the vet will tell you or the internet) - that's really important. He'll probably have fleas too, you can find special kitten flea stuff - don't use anything for dogs as it might kill him. Otherwise he'll need castrating once he's developed a little, many vet like waiting until kittens are seven months or so but honestly by that age they may have learnt to spray around the house which you really don't want! We had ours done at five and six months old.
Do go and see him him for socialising sessions, the younger they get used to humans the better. Do you have to wait until he's ten weeks old, it might be better if you could have him at eight weeks?
I don't know anything about kitten/hen dynamics so can't offer advice! Can't see that it would matter with a very young kitten though.
Good luck! we've got a grey cat rescued from a woodpile when he was four weeks old, he's bonkers but lovely!