Getting a new Kitten?

[Tunic]

I have a 13 year old cat, I had two but one was sadly pts last year. I got both of the cats as adults and they were already spayed/socialised/innoculated. For the past few months I have been looking at rescue profiles online in the hope of getting a new cat and not one suitable cat has come up (or should I say that we are unsuitable for any cat!). Problem is that these cats should be only pets or cannot he homed with young children (I have 4 children now). So now I am thinking of getting a kitten from a breeder or a moggy via an online site. Never having had a ‘kitten’ I would like to know the initial costs of injections, neutering and any breeds that are suitable to be homed with an existing cat and children.

[Want2beme]

Don't get a kitten from an online site. There are some very unscrupulous people online. I'm not familiar with the breeder situation, but I know you'd be best to have a recommendation from someone for a good and caring breeder. Does your vet know of anyone who's currently trying to home kittens?

[retirednow]

Please do not get a kitty online, go to your nearest cat protection, blue cross or rspca to look. There are always loads of kittens, they are all vet checked before being rehomed. Why do you want a kitten.

[Tunic]

Thanks for your replies. There are 100s of cats online, they can’t all be unscrupulous advertisers? As I mentioned in the OP there don’t seem to be any cats at Cats Protection/RSPCA for people in my situation (already have a cat/young children). I am in no particular rush so would it be worth waiting a couple more months? My youngest is 2 and is fine with our existing cat.

[metalmum15]

Give it a month or two and rescue places will be overrun with kittens, Spring is the busiest time for cats giving birth.

[Snowydaysarehere]

Yabu not to get 2 kittens.

[metalmum15]

Yes, you definitely need 2! They will keep each other company, kittens need playmates!

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I got one of mine through a friend of a friend with an accidental litter, she's just a tiny plain black mog but she's gorgeous and has the biggest personality of all my four.

[mimibunz]

May I ask why you want another cat, especially a kitten?

[Snowydaysarehere]

Imo /e getting 2 preserves your curtains and furnishings as well as company. Your original dcat likely won't be impressed with 1or 2 at all.

[Tunic]

Mimi, just the usual reasons -companionship and also I am not having anymore children so it would be nice to have a new ‘baby’ but I am definitely not getting two kittens! I think I will think on it a while longer. My original cat was ex-breeding and lived with a lot of cats so she WAS fine with other cats, now she is an only and spoilt so it may upset her if a new one arrives, or possibly she would love it......

[IHaveBrilloHair]

My eldest, only at the time wasn't particularly keen on the new kitten, but she just ignored her.
We've had two more kittens since, which my eldest gave birth to so now I have four and they get on well enough.
My littles are 5 this year and all are in one piece.

[mimibunz]

My only concern is that kittens are insanely energetic. My DB and SIL had a kitten that tried to climb my niece’s legs—he then became my kitten! Best of luck!

[Tunic]

Just an update, ended up finding a 1 year old rescue, so far so good. My older cat is not impressed so have ordered delivery feliway friends! New cat is super affectionate and we are all really pleased.

[DixieFlatline]

What was your approach when introducing them to each other?

[Tunic]

I have kept the new cat in a bedroom with food/litter and have swapped them over a few times. Unfortunately they have accidentally met a couple of times and had a spat (hissing/growling but nothing physical). It is really hard to maintain separate quarters with the footfall through our house. I know it is early days but they are both so nice to humans that it is shocking to see them hissing at each other.....