Always put the toilet lid down as they can drown in there very quickly. Happened to a friend. Awful.

They like to chew on hard edged items so be sure to unplug any adapters for cell phones, etc.

Not sure where you live but if you have any openings to an inaccessible place like an attic or behind a wall cover them up now. They always find those spots you can't get them out of.

I've had kittens that small - and they won't be running too far from the nest yet. This will be some work in the start. But its all fun cute purry furry work!
Step one is to make good nest. If you have more than one kitten they will keep each other warm, but snuggly blanket is still a must - and they'll miss large mommy-cat body in it. I've stuffed t-shirts with pillows to make "a mom." Slept in by me once, that way my smell became their mommy - but thats not really needed. I've had a towel under the blanket just to make the nest soft. If the nest is under a bed and(or) in a box of some sort (to keep track of where the little'uns are and shield them from ceilininglights) it'll be good.

They need to be drinking lactose free milk more or less constantly around now. If they're too uncoordinated for the whole drink from low plate thing I've had success with dolls baby bottles. Or ask a vet what they might have (it's probably where you'll have to get the milk anyway). After feeding rub tummies to start circulation, like a mother cat does when she "cleans" them. Else they'll get rock hard and you'll have a kitten crying in pain or worse. You'll stop doing this in a week or so, you'll be able to tell.

They'll sleep, eat, get tummies rubbed, sleep, shit and so on for about two weeks before they really start exploring and thus you have ample time to hide cables.

I usually figure that the cat will knock over, chew on, climb on, get stuck behind, or sleep on anything that's not hidden behind a closed door.

So anything that's easily broken needs to be on something high enough she doesn't jump on it, anything that's gonna hurt her if she chews on it needs to be put away, anything she could get stuck in or behind needs to be either covered well or easily movable, and anything I don't want covered in cat hair needs to be put away. (Now that I've had the cat for about eight years, I'm pretty aware of what she'll bother and what she won't, so it's less of an issue.)

With kittens it's a bit easier because they won't be jumping, but they'll probably be climbing soon-ish?

I also find that I automatically make sure things like needles, knives, bits of string, and other potential hazards are put or thrown away much more so than my friends who do not have cats. A carving knife sitting on a cutting board full of chicken bits is not a good thing if you have a cat who'll jump on a counter.

Some good tips here.

Good advice, thanks. I've also found this.

A friend has pointed out that since they haven't been to a vet yet, I should keep them away from Boing, my existing cat. So I'm gonna clean up the bathroom and keep them in there. There aren't any kitten-accessible electric sockets in there.

Thanks for pointing out closing the toilet seat, arse! I totally would not have thought of that.

KITTENS!!!!!

(I'll post pictures of them later.)

Oh, and don't hang any string-toys from stuff. This seems like a great idea at first as it can keep kittens amused for hours - but I know someone who's kitten got strangled by their toy. :(

Also, when they get older, hide the catfood cans. I had to pull my kittens head out of a can once. Took ages to catch him as he frog-jumped like nuts - backwards! - with can on his head. (it was hella funny but the kitty didn't think so).

If you cover every surface in your house in maple syrup, it will slow the kittens down, stop them from jumping and trap shed hair.

Monday June 19th is Capn Gives Bad Advice Day.

Humm, I think I need to make a thread

How old is Boing (and is it a he)? Be wise to keep 'em apart until Boing gets all paternal/maternal rather than kittycidal on them. (some cats freak at kittens.)

Boing is a girl, and she's five years old. She actually acted kinda maternal toward a very annoying little remote-controlled car a couple of months ago, so we're hoping she'll do the same with the kittens.

Just remember that cats can eat anything small. Remeber axel. They swallow something and bam, you're out $3,600. Don't let it happen to you. (Axel is now doing fine btw, back to normal.)

I'm glad to hear that, puke & cry. And I've always been careful not to leave stuff lying around that cats can eat.

Except for pen nibs. But I'll be more careful.

Cuddle them a lot when they're little, and they'll be more likely to be cuddly when they grow up.

Neither of my adult cats are very cuddly and, although I love them, it makes me a little sad.

Step one: Buy Ferret
Step two: Release ferret thereby revealing everything in house that isn't ferret proof in, oh, about 20 minutes.
Step three: remedy ferret non-proofness.
Step four: release kitten secure in the knowledge they are completely safe.

Just a thought, 'bang. Do y'all know how the mama cat died? Is it possible that she had an illness that she could have passed on to the suckling kittens? If so, probably better that they see a vet sooner, rather than later....

Have a full kitty-litter box before you bring the kittens home. When they arrive immediately place them in the box and let them commence their exploration of your home from there. That way they'll know where to head to do their business.

Wow, p&c, that exact same thing happened to my sister's cat. String is much more dangerous than one would assume.

Just a thought, 'bang. Do y'all know how the mama cat died?

I *think* it was attacked by another animal (this is out in the country, after all), but I'll certainly investigate that once we're down there.

Thanks for all the help, everyone! Pictures tomorrow.