10 things I wish I knew before adopting kittens

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About two months ago I adopted kittens on a whim. I went to go look at them— the key word here is “look.” I swore I wasn’t going to adopt them then and there.

Twenty minutes later I left with a few cans of 9Lives and two kittens in a cardboard box. I’ve introduced Luca and Bub on the blog but I’ve never actually been honest about just how overwhelming, but wonderful adopting two kittens has been. It’s been a journey and here are the things I wish I’d known before adopting kittens.

1. How much attention they really need.

I had never owned kittens before. I knew plenty of cats that slept all day and I sort of dumbly assumed these guys would spend most of their days sleeping.

Not at all. They spend a lot of time zooming, cuddling, eating and just generally enjoying human company. I’m lucky that my mom and brother have been able to look after these little guys while I’m at work and that my dad’s warmed up to them (and even feeds them on weekend mornings so I can sleep in).

2. How much they love food.

I knew kittens liked to eat, but I didn’t realize just how much until I got these little guys. When they so much as suspect you have food or are feeding them, they SCREAM. It’s like an octave above a meow— it’s a full scream. They get so excited and then they scoff down their food in two seconds.

I’ve been feeding them a variety of 9LIVES® from Dollar General, including 9Lives® Meaty Paté with Chicken and Tuna, 9Lives® Hearty Cuts Beef & Chicken in Gravy and 9Lives® Super Supper (you can save when you buy four if you use the linked Ibotta coupon!), since I brought them home and they’ve loved every single flavor they’ve tried. I also trust the brand and know it’s giving my kitties the nutrition they need.

3. Not all kittens are the same.

My cats don’t mind getting wet and they like eating pickles… or trying to eat pickles. They’re not like any other cats I’ve met. Just today Luca climbed into the bathtub after I showered, got drenched, and then purred and didn’t want me to put him down.

Plus, even these two guys have very different personalities.

Bub is very vocal — he cries when he wants attention and he squeaks when he jumps or plays. He loves attention. He tries to eat everything including pieces of dust and, one time, a pebble. He’s a cuddly sweetheart…and he likes trying to steal his brother’s food.

Luca is a wild child but also a momma’s boy. He loves running and jumping and climbing. He’s happiest when he’s playing but he loves being held. He also loves cuddles and just being held, which melts my heart. He is incredibly fast and he loves attacking necklaces and drawstrings, which means…

4. You’ll adapt your wardrobe.

I no longer wear maxi dresses because my kitties like to go in the skirt and then they freak out. This is fine considering I only own one maxi dress.

I also have to tuck in the drawstrings of my sweatpants and pajamas or my kitties have a field day playing with them. I also have to tuck in my necklaces, which I learned the hard way.

5. Your house needs to be kitten-proofed.

We brought the babies home on June 1st and I’ll never forget their Adopt-i-versary. We adopted them from a local woman who rescues cats, I’d seen her son’s Facebook post and reached out to her son. Someone had been trying to adopt only one of the duo (how could you separate them?) so they were excited I’d planned to adopt them both.

I remember bringing these little guys home and sitting downstairs in the basement. I didn’t eat, drink or think about anything for hours. They both fell asleep on me and I just remember thinking “Holy crap, how am I supposed to be responsible for two kittens?” and also “What the heck should I name then? What gender are they? (It’s harder to tell than you think and “I love them SO much already!”

This year is also Morris the 9Lives Cat’s Adopt-i-versary. It’s his 50th (you can learn more here). Just like my kitties, he was rescued. In 2007, he launched Morris’ Million Cat Rescue® to save those animals in need of a forever home. Plus, he has a cat pack that carries on the adorable branding.

It’s truly a cause close to my heart, especially now that I have two little adopted buddies of my own.

6. If it can be climbed, it will be climbed.

We bought them a cat tree ASAP, but we’ve still had to constantly keep them off of the counters, table and every surface. They’ve even managed to get stuck inside the couch. They’re so curious and I can’t wait until we can leave them home alone without worrying about what they’ll get into…although that might never be the case.

7. Taking them to the vet is heartbreaking.

Luckily, my little guys are so well-behaved. The first vet visit was incredibly stressful, but they were so well-behaved. I hated seeing them get shots, but they didn’t even cry. I know it’s for the best, but it’s still not easy to watch!

8. Sometimes the best toys aren’t toys at all.

We’ve already bought them tons of toys but they have other plans. Some of their favorite toys are ice chips, backpack straps and my purse. Bub loves pulling items out of my purse, we call it his “haul video.” He pulls out hand sanitizer, my wallet, my earbuds… They also love chewing on books, which kind of breaks my heart because I love books, but I also don’t mind all that much.

9. The first few weeks aren’t cheap. 

Vet checkups, neutering costs, bowls, cages toys, kitty litter and food can quickly add up. I’m really glad I had money tucked away in savings that I was prepared to spend for the first few months of owning these babies.

When adopting kittens, it’s important to have some money saved up and to prepare for hidden costs, which brings me to…

10. Buying in bulk will save time and money.

Food is the biggest place I was able to save money without sacrificing any quality. Using a coupon on Ibotta, I recently purchased >9Lives Daily Essentials® 20 lb bag from Dollar General that’s sure to last my little guys a long time. Shout out to my boyfriend who carried it to the car and to my house — I truly couldn’t have done it without you. This bag of food will last my boys for such a long time and it only cost $13.

When it comes to kitty litter and cat food, buying in bulk has been such a smart mood. I don’t need to worry about picking up food every week. I also always shop the sales and keep track of which foods my kitties like and don’t.. so far they love all of the 9Lives flavors they’ve tried!

It’s been a whirlwind but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

There’s a lot I wish I’d known before adopting kittens, but I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for how much I’d love these little guys. Be sure to check out 9Lives at Dollar General, it’s a great place for bonus savings especially when you’ve adopted not one, but two, cats!

Do you have any pets?