Re clumping litter: perhaps it’s true that no cat has been proven to die from eating it, but the fact is, kittens DO eat it. Maybe adult cats don’t but kittens DO. So if you don’t mind having your kitten eat used, pissed-on, defecated-on litter, then by all means get clumping. And enjoy it all the more when he climbs on your head and starts licking your face with remnants of litter on his tongue. If you’re not so hot about that scenario, wait until he’s a year old to get clumping.
I recommend Feline Pine anyway. Much easier to handle than any clay litter. You can pick up a full litter box with one hand and empty it out - it’s made from wood somehow and the little pellets turn to sawdust as it gets used. One tray lasts a lot longer than a tray of clay. (You do have to scoop regularly, just like with clay.)
Actually, I never had any problems with our kittens eating the clumping litter. We used the crystals for a week or two, but Cobalt (our compulsive digger) didn’t like them and they didn’t do a good job on odor.
I thought of one more thing - if they’ll accept it, I think it’s a good idea to get a covered litter box. Cobalt, at least, buries his waste by the stochastic method - he gets in the litterbox and flings sand every which way, then checks to see if it’s buried yet. If not, he flings some more. He frequently goes into the litter box just to dig around, too. Rhodium is much more restrained, but I think even she would toss a significant amount of sand over the side if the box were not covered.
I agree with bojon that good food is worth the cost, although I’m not convinced that the nonprescription Science Diet is all that good a food. Ours are currently eating Natural Balance, which they thrive on. They ate Nutro as kittens, which is also a very good food, high quality for its price. Remember that you can’t just compare prices pound for pound, because they often eat less of the nutrient-dense premium foods. And if you stave off one vet visit through good nutrition, you’ve paid for a heckuva lot of cat food.
ONE kitten, newly removed from mama cat and his/her littermates, will take some serious time to adjust, and may well drive you crazy, mewing for mama. TWO kittens, on the other hand, will generally get over it in a few hours, and will feel considerably safer and more secure.
THREE is pushing it. FOUR, I’d only recommend for serious cat freaks with large houses and no sense of smell…
I have read that indoor cats iive a couple of years longer, but also that they have more behavioural problems. Does anyone have experience of this?
It makes sense to me - our guys can scratch our trees all they like, so barring them from the couch is no big deal. And they’re not confined anywhere, they can dig and chase leaves and climb trees and generally enjoy life.
What do people mean exactly by “outdoor” cats? Ours come and go freely, but still choose to spend most of their time indoors, where it’s nice and warm and where their favourite cushions and baskets are. They seem to prefer being outdoors if we are there with them, like sunny afternoons on the deck, or doing the gardening. They’re suburban housecats who have a garden to play in, not farm cats who are never allowed in.