If you follow me on social media, you're probably well aware that we welcomed a little bundle of joy in to our lives. Half blue Persian Kitten, half gremlin, this little ball of fluff is our new kitten - Ripley.
Yes, much to mother's distaste, this little creature is named after Ellen Ripley from Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979). We've had Ripley for just over a month and she's getting bigger all the time; currently weighing in at just 2.4lbs. Her favourite things include sleeping on my chest, climbing in the plant pots, biting daddy's feet, Youtube and chasing her squeaky toy. She's pretty nutty and I'm still pretty sure she's actually a mogwai but it's safe to say we cannot imagine life without her now.
A few people have asked me why we got a pedigree breed. And, weirdly, the question we've been getting a lot is "how much did she cost?". Ripley's mother was a Blue Point Persian and her dad was a Russian blue so she's super fluffy and a gorgeous grey colour. But hand on heart, we never set out to get a pedigree cat at all. I always assumed we would get a moggy kitten because all kitties are beautiful. I had been looking out for kittens for a while and, it just so happened, that this little ball of grey fluff stole my unexpectedly. So, to those who have messaged asking why we didn't get a rescue - I'm very sorry but she was just too beautiful to not take home and it wasn't a premeditated thing.
Since getting Ripley, I've had quite few people message me on Instagram; asking me about how to care for a kitten as they too were considering getting one but didn't know where to start. Now, whilst I don't claim to be an expert by any means, I have grown up with cats and have always taken looking after them very seriously. So, I thought I'd share somethings to be aware of...
- Rescue homes or the RSPCA can always help you pick the best for you and your living situation.When getting a cat, there are so many breeds to consider and not all of them will be right for you. It's always a good idea to do your research before you hand over any cash. Varying breeds have different personalities so this needs careful consideration. For example, some cats are bred to be house-cats and some have different hair types which can affect skin conditions in humans. It would also be worth contacting cat breed societies for advice.
- Always approach a reputable breeder (even if it means travelling) or, if you use a website, make sure the user is verified.
- It may seem like a silly point to make but it's important to make sure you're prepared to pay the costs of a cat. Cats can live in to their 20's and, whilst it's not expensive to feed them, there may be unexpected vet bills or costs along the way.
- Some vets do offer deals for the initial injections and flea/worming treatments. We set Ripley up on a Best Start in Life package which covers her first batch of injections, her flea and worming for 3 months, microchip and her neutering for when she's old enough
Well, I just thought I'd keep you updated. There's going to be lots of changes soon and I'm excited to share that with you in due course. But tell me, do you have a pet? What are your tips for looking after them? As always, I love reading your comments so please do leave me lots of lovely ones below.
Until next time,