Quick tip about Siberians - if they have a wet poo, you’ll need to learn how to clean their long butt hair. This was an issue when ours was young; same with a friend’s Siberian. Choose their food carefully, and if they come bolting out of the litter box and everything smells like crap, they’ve got it alllll over their backside. Buy some unscented baby wipes and good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting a kitten from a breeder is insane. Especially since you seem to have done no research on owning a cat and from the sound of it, are going to lose your designer kitten outside.

Oh come ON. We are getting the cat from a breeder because I have allergies but don’t react to Siberians. This kitten is 8 weeks old. If we don’t take her, someone else will. We are an extremely loving family and will give her a great home. Of COURSE I will research kitten ownership; talk to friends, get a book, talk to our trusted vet. It’s just that we got in off a wait list suddenly and I posted on DCUM because I get a lot of practical advice here from a variety of pet owners that is usually really helpful. I always forget when I post that I’ll inevitably always summon those who lurk here just to post snark.

I’d love practical advice from others about anything and everything kitten. We have a large walk in closet in our finished basement that we use as a kids art room now. We are going to clean it out and use it for the kitten for the beginning stage and will keep it away from our dog.

If you adopt a cat, you save one from being euthanized. In the same time you waited for the breeder, you could have inquired to local rescues about a long haired cat to suit your allergies.

I did. “Long haired cat” is not allergy friendly and no rescues would give a cat to a family with allergies/

As a long-time shelter volunteer, I am not going to shame you for going to a reputable breeder, but you should be able to ask your breeder these questions. Is the breeder registered with TICA? They have to follow certain ethical breeding codes. Does she come with a health guarantee of any time period? What does the breeder want to do if you are allergic to this kitten and cannot keep her or if your dog reacts poorly to the kitten? The breeder should have discussed all of this with you already. If she has not, back out of the deal and start over. Unethical breeders who do not do due diligence are a major source of shelter pets. Ethical breeders will take their cats back if it does not work out with the new family, and their pets never end up in shelters.

How long were you on the waitlist? A long waitlist is a good sign. At least a year and preferably longer.

She’s registered with TICA. In inquired a few months ago about a retired breeder cat she had available but after talking with her it sounded like the adult cat might not be a good fit for our family. I got on her wait list at that time and kept inquiring about her current litter. She’s retiring to home school her kids and this is her last litter. She had one kitten unspoken for out of a litter of 6, and she said I just had uncanny timing when we inquired. Her contract says she will take the kitten back if allergies or other problems and does have a health guarantee. I have to agree to neuter/spay, not surrender to a shelter, not declaw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting a kitten from a breeder is insane. Especially since you seem to have done no research on owning a cat and from the sound of it, are going to lose your designer kitten outside.

Oh come ON. We are getting the cat from a breeder because I have allergies but don’t react to Siberians. This kitten is 8 weeks old. If we don’t take her, someone else will. We are an extremely loving family and will give her a great home. Of COURSE I will research kitten ownership; talk to friends, get a book, talk to our trusted vet. It’s just that we got in off a wait list suddenly and I posted on DCUM because I get a lot of practical advice here from a variety of pet owners that is usually really helpful. I always forget when I post that I’ll inevitably always summon those who lurk here just to post snark.

I’d love practical advice from others about anything and everything kitten. We have a large walk in closet in our finished basement that we use as a kids art room now. We are going to clean it out and use it for the kitten for the beginning stage and will keep it away from our dog.

If you adopt a cat, you save one from being euthanized. In the same time you waited for the breeder, you could have inquired to local rescues about a long haired cat to suit your allergies.

I did. “Long haired cat” is not allergy friendly and no rescues would give a cat to a family with allergies/

As a long-time shelter volunteer, I am not going to shame you for going to a reputable breeder, but you should be able to ask your breeder these questions. Is the breeder registered with TICA? They have to follow certain ethical breeding codes. Does she come with a health guarantee of any time period? What does the breeder want to do if you are allergic to this kitten and cannot keep her or if your dog reacts poorly to the kitten? The breeder should have discussed all of this with you already. If she has not, back out of the deal and start over. Unethical breeders who do not do due diligence are a major source of shelter pets. Ethical breeders will take their cats back if it does not work out with the new family, and their pets never end up in shelters.

How long were you on the waitlist? A long waitlist is a good sign. At least a year and preferably longer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting a kitten from a breeder is insane. Especially since you seem to have done no research on owning a cat and from the sound of it, are going to lose your designer kitten outside.

Oh come ON. We are getting the cat from a breeder because I have allergies but don’t react to Siberians. This kitten is 8 weeks old. If we don’t take her, someone else will. We are an extremely loving family and will give her a great home. Of COURSE I will research kitten ownership; talk to friends, get a book, talk to our trusted vet. It’s just that we got in off a wait list suddenly and I posted on DCUM because I get a lot of practical advice here from a variety of pet owners that is usually really helpful. I always forget when I post that I’ll inevitably always summon those who lurk here just to post snark.

I’d love practical advice from others about anything and everything kitten. We have a large walk in closet in our finished basement that we use as a kids art room now. We are going to clean it out and use it for the kitten for the beginning stage and will keep it away from our dog.

If you adopt a cat, you save one from being euthanized. In the same time you waited for the breeder, you could have inquired to local rescues about a long haired cat to suit your allergies.

I did. “Long haired cat” is not allergy friendly and no rescues would give a cat to a family with allergies/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting a kitten from a breeder is insane. Especially since you seem to have done no research on owning a cat and from the sound of it, are going to lose your designer kitten outside.

Oh come ON. We are getting the cat from a breeder because I have allergies but don’t react to Siberians. This kitten is 8 weeks old. If we don’t take her, someone else will. We are an extremely loving family and will give her a great home. Of COURSE I will research kitten ownership; talk to friends, get a book, talk to our trusted vet. It’s just that we got in off a wait list suddenly and I posted on DCUM because I get a lot of practical advice here from a variety of pet owners that is usually really helpful. I always forget when I post that I’ll inevitably always summon those who lurk here just to post snark.

I’d love practical advice from others about anything and everything kitten. We have a large walk in closet in our finished basement that we use as a kids art room now. We are going to clean it out and use it for the kitten for the beginning stage and will keep it away from our dog.

If you adopt a cat, you save one from being euthanized. In the same time you waited for the breeder, you could have inquired to local rescues about a long haired cat to suit your allergies.

Congrats! I am jealous.

Kittens are wonderfully funny little creatures with little razor blade claws. I love them.

Anonymous wrote:Hard no to outdoors--they are fast, fast, fast and get through tiny gaps. Fenced yard? HA! Are you nuts? I don't care how much your kids want to show off the kitten to friends.

Also +1 to strict separation from dog at first and very, very strict training when the kitten is small. Siberians get pretty big, so at full size the cat should be able to defend itself assuming that your dog is at least well-behaved enough to be trustworthy with your kids (?).

Cat should not need to be litter-trained--mother cats cover that by 4-6 weeks.

THis on the bolded.

RE: litter, they just kind of do there thing. Show the box to her when you get her. Make it somewhere private for her to use it (quiet). And clean it twice a day. Unless something else is going on, cats generally like to use the box. It's instinct.

Anonymous wrote:We’ve been on a wait list for a Siberian kitten for a while and we finally were contacted by the breeder that they have one available (a girl). First time cat owners (we have a 5 year old dog). Tell me what we need to know. Also, obviously this will be an indoor cat but can kittens *play* outside? We have a fenced yard and our kids are going to want to show the kitten to their friends who they only see outdoors due to COVID. I know the kitten will need an adjustment period and we won’t have friends over to meet her too soon - but once she gets used to us and the house can we bring her outdoors?

I would NOT let the cat outside unless you're getting a "catio" besides the disease and obvious dangers (other animals, cars), they can escape. We just trapped and took a cat to the shelter this week and she was chipped and found months later over 5 mi from home. If we had not trapped her, she wouldn't have been found by her owner. Keep it inside. (Sorry, I just feel very strongly about this as I see so many cats go missing.)

Now, on to the fun. Kittens are joyful animals. Fun, in a nutshell. EVERYTHING is a curiosity to them. Get lots of toys. But, pipe cleaners and shoe strings also work. Be prepared for kitten zoomies (the best). Snuggle and handle the kitten a lot so that they get used to it. And definitely lots of love and snuggles. All of my cats I've ever had have been more like dogs doing these things, including the current contingent (sleeping on the cat tree behind me after playing with my feet while working for the last couple of hours).

Enjoy!

Do not let a kitten outdoors. It is safest for you to plan on this being an indoor only cat. Letting your cat go outside sometimes, even as a kitten, is going to invite him or her to seek ways to get outdoors as much as possible. The life expectancy for an outdoor cat is 3 years. Don’t do it.

Anonymous wrote:Getting a kitten from a breeder is insane. Especially since you seem to have done no research on owning a cat and from the sound of it, are going to lose your designer kitten outside.

Oh come ON. We are getting the cat from a breeder because I have allergies but don’t react to Siberians. This kitten is 8 weeks old. If we don’t take her, someone else will. We are an extremely loving family and will give her a great home. Of COURSE I will research kitten ownership; talk to friends, get a book, talk to our trusted vet. It’s just that we got in off a wait list suddenly and I posted on DCUM because I get a lot of practical advice here from a variety of pet owners that is usually really helpful. I always forget when I post that I’ll inevitably always summon those who lurk here just to post snark.

I’d love practical advice from others about anything and everything kitten. We have a large walk in closet in our finished basement that we use as a kids art room now. We are going to clean it out and use it for the kitten for the beginning stage and will keep it away from our dog.

Hard no to outdoors--they are fast, fast, fast and get through tiny gaps. Fenced yard? HA! Are you nuts? I don't care how much your kids want to show off the kitten to friends.

Also +1 to strict separation from dog at first and very, very strict training when the kitten is small. Siberians get pretty big, so at full size the cat should be able to defend itself assuming that your dog is at least well-behaved enough to be trustworthy with your kids (?).

Cat should not need to be litter-trained--mother cats cover that by 4-6 weeks.