Hi everyone,

I am pretty new here and I am new to the world of cat ownership. I found this stray kitten and thought about taking her to the shelter but when I found out they had 90+ cats already I decided to keep her instead. Her name is Kaya and the vet told me she is about 10 weeks old and I am open to any kitten advice, I have done a little research but I do not know much about raising a kitten at all... Before I get advice, here is what I know I am doing right: She gets fed Nutro dry catfood all day but I give her their wet food once a day. She knows how to use her litterbox. I got her a ton of toys, including a scratching post but she loses interest in all of them after a day or two so I have to buy more so if anyone knows of any good toys please tell me.

Thanks,

Jessica

HI Jess and welcome!!!

I am so glad you're giving your kitten a  chance!  I have lived with many kittems and cats and found that there is no perfect toy for every animal - there is a lot of individual variation,  Give Kaya some different alternatives and figure our what she likes.  One thing I have founds is that may cats / kittens like a ver simply toy,,,,you take a piche of paoer , fold it in half, and twist it in the middle.,  At this point it looks a bit like a butterfly,  Then tie a bit of string or shoelace in the middle and drag it along for her to chase.

Some of my kittens haeve really loved the toys that are balls attached to a base by a spring.  Others have not cared for these,  Some have really likeed the plastixc circles wit ha ball in them where the ball runs in a circle around a track.  Both opf these are great ttraditional things to try.

In the end, every cat is differnt.  watch what itnerests her and the toys will come naturally after that.  The two cats I have now, for example, don't like (for want of a better term) big tpys, they ahve to be smaller than a rat.  Wind up toys scare them.  But ncie help mousies and a tsmall toy that dangles off a doorknow are great.  Just watch and Kaya will let you know!!

Anotehr thing you may consider while she is still young is gettign another kitten.  IT becomes harder and harger to introduce a new cat the older thye get, but if you can find a comptabile playmate they will ehlp entertain each other, Of course there is additional expense with an addtional kitten so this isn't always an option, btu as far as additional responsiblilty from an attentiona perspective sometimes two ar eeasier than one.

Let us know hoe things works out!

Michele

Hi Jess,

Congratulations!!  aren't they just the sweetest things???

and although we all have some cat experience, if I had a question or needed advice I would e-mail cathyam76 on this site- kitten/cat expert extraordinaire!

as far as the toys? A hair scrunchie shot down the hall is Sampson's favorite thing to play with over all his multitudes of toys.

Best of Luck!!

Katie

Gus my boy, likes paper grocery bags, get him running with a laser light, and run him into the bag.

He loves it.

Just a rolled up piece of standard printer paper, rolled into a ball, keeps him busy for hours.

So you don't have to buy expensive toys.

He also likes a lopsided ball, one with a bump in it, never goes the same way.

Also Gus will leave a toy alone for a week or so, then start playing with it again.

J: Prepare to fall in love....if you haven't already. What Dram didn't mention in his reply is that he was an avowed dog person until his neighbor convinced him to take in Gus the kitten. That was that and now he knows the joys of having a cat!                                                                                                                

I would suggest that you don't let your kitten have all her toys at once. Leave one or two out for a few days and hide the others. When she gets bored, take out some others and hide the ones she's bored with.                      

I had a cat who loved the wrappers from the small York peppermint patties. I think catnip is in the mint family. I just balled them up and he batted them around. I don't remember if you mentioned if any of the toys have catnip in them. Some cats respond to catnip and some don't.   As far as the scratching posts go, some cats like vertical ones and others like slanted or horizontal ones.

It sounds like you've got a good start. Feel free to share you New Cat Guardian stories with us!

Imaud

DRam is absolutely right about not needing anything expensive.  As he mentions paper bags and boxes are always fun.  Also the plastic rings off of milk jogs (unless you have one of those cats that eats plastic).  Anything crunchy seems to go over well.

Congrats on your kitty...

Most of these lovely people said all the same things I would...

Plastic bags

Paper Bags (they love the sound)

The plastic circle from the milk jug

Putting pennies in a can

The card baord toilet paper

Roll up some extra yarn

Tie ribbon to the end of a stick

My cat has the most expensive toys...but she loves the ones that are made or free the best!

How is she doing on the scratching post? If you don't want your furniture scratched to pieces then I would suggest Soft Paws. (www.softpaws.com)

They are plastic nails that you super glue to their real nails and protects the furniture without taking away from the cat stretching it's muscles or anything like that. My kitty loves them and they come in cute colors. (probably more for the owner than it is for the cat!)

Enjoy your new furbaby!

Good for you for wanting the best for your little one.  Sounds like you know that play is very important for a kitty's well-being and health.  I absolutely love three items from this company--The cats go absolutely nuts for them: "Cat Fish", "Kitty Cal", and "Kitty Chianti".  They're fun for pet parents too.  Lots of people also find that refreshing their "old" toys with catnip spray does the trick too. 

Well, how bout a update on the kitty.

Sorry guys,

My boyfriends dad has been in the hospital so I have not been able to get to a computer. Thanks for all the advice, she loves bags! I am going to order the soft paws for her because her scratching has become a problem... not so much on our furniture but on us. She goes back to the vet on the 12th and I am gonna post some more pix soon...

New pix are up!

She is a cutie!!  Thanks for all the pics!!  She seems to be enjoying herself just fine!!

One thing with bags which I'm sure you have already been told but I feel compelled to say anyway....you can leave her along with paper bags but be sure she isn't left aloe with plastic bags.  She can play with them all she like when you're there but when you go put them away.

Glad you're still enjoying her!