Buying kittens from a stranger

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Just seen a sign for kittens for sale and been to see them. All very cute, Mum looks fine though is young herself (18months) and was very protective of the kittens. Owners son keen to tell me they and mum are all healthy though not innoculated yet/

Lady has 3 legged cat she might have put down and when I said my cat was 14 she said "it might be coming to the end of its life." Is that an age thing, just saying things without thinking it through!?!?!

I have no idea whether this is an okay thing to do. I know you shouldn't buy dogs from ads in the paper but buying kittens from a sign on the wall???

They are now 7 weeks old.

Any advice? Haven't talked to DH yet and I am sure he will say no but...

[bubblagirl]

i know many people who buy off random people as long as you worm and take to vets for check over etc should be no harm done and obviously get spayed or whatever and injections done

my friend sold her kittens all was well

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

I was wondering whether to ring the vet for advice about checks.

I am feeling incredibly guilty now I have come home and seen my cat waiting for me on the drive. She has an illness and now I am wondering if two kittens would cause her too much stress?????

[bubblagirl]

if your too worried then dont do it just yet also find out cost of getting to kittens injections etc

the older cat has more opportunity to just hide away if kittens get too much so i wopuldnt worry too much or just make sure older cat has a special hiding place just for her

[flipflopper]

When i got my kitten he had had no injections or been wormed/ flead and he was riddled with both and constipated. I was really annoyed with the woman that i got him off

He is fine now though

[elliott]

I got mine from an ad in the paper. They were friendly and comfortable with handling, that was the main thing. I don't really see what the problem is - as long as you assume you will be taking responsibility for getting them checked, vaccinated and defleaed and wormed. What's the worst that can happen?

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

What I am worried about is the effect on my current cat. I would take the kittens to the vet asap after I got them for checks and jabs etc.

[ClairePO]

The only thing I would say about getting kittens like this is that some people (and I'm not saying it is the case in this instance at all) get a female moggy and repeatedly breed from her, often starting when the cat is six months old and not herself fully grown. Breeding too frequently doesn't give the female cat time to recover and you can get weak kittens. That's before you consider the welfare of the mum cat.

Sorry to come over as all soapboxy about this it's just I know a lot of people who do rescue and fostering work with cats and the stories are very sad, often with the kittens not making it.

In reality the cost of jabs/neutering plus what you will pay the lady for these kittens often means that it would cost less to go to a shelter, who ask for a donation of £50 - £70 for a kitten that is vaccinated and neutered/can come back for neutering when old enough.

With regard to your old cat accepting a new cat or two I have an 18 year old boy and he was 15 when I got a 4 month cat to be his feline companion, the first he had, and he was fine. And with a pair of kittens they will be so wrapped up in playing with each other they may not bother him too much.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[ClairePO]

'could cost less to go to a shelter' not 'would cost less'

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Mum is 18 months and this is her first litter. She had six kittens.

She is asking £4.50 per kitten.

My cat was calling for a mate at 5 months and we had her neutered but I don't know whether she will love them or hate them and leave home.

I am ringing the vet tomorrow to ask for advice as her illness means she mustn't have any unnecessary stress.

[ClairePO]

With your old cat how does she react to the neighbourhood cats? Is she OK or a bit territorial? That may make a difference. If you do decide to get the kittens then there are ways of introducing them slowly and making sure she has her own space to retreat to etc as well as things like feliway, which is a plug in scent thing that makes them relaxed, that can help.

I understand your dilemma though as I am contemplating getting a fairly young kitten and like I say I have an older cat myself and not sure if it maybe too much for him.

[ClairePO]

18 months for first litter sounds fine and at that price she isn't just breeding to make money from her cat!

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

When we were buying the house we were told there wasn't any cats. There are quite a few and a couple of them have chased mine home. A neighbour told me she had seen my cat fly over the side gate having been chased off by another cat known for its bullying. No one seems to know who it belongs too.

Mine would just run home, she doesn't go far and would run off if scared.

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

Hubby has agreed if the vet agrees it won't be too much stress for my cat. Just waiting for him to ring back.

[rubyloopy]

Message withdrawn

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

The vet never rang back.

I am not sure what to do now.

We weren't getting them specifically to keep her company but hoped it would be a bonus for her.

[rubyloopy]

Message withdrawn

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

The vet said no so we can't have them.

[ClairePO]

The vet said no? As in it would be too much stress for your existing cat? Blimey that has shocked me I have to say they don't normally know individual cats well enough!

[ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe]

She has regular visits since she was dx and he seems to know his stuff. He said she was one of the few cats where he would say no.