AIBU thinking this is just really irresponsible to get a kitten!

And neutering should be compulsory except for licensed breeders.

If we ever get to the stage where nobody is dumping tiny kittens in bin bags like rubbish, and nobody has a houseful of unneutered cats & kittens riddled with worms & fleas, and kittens aren’t giving birth at six months old when they’re still babies themselves, then we can rethink.

I think people should have to pass some training or get a licence before they are allowed to keep pets

Agreed.
Double the cats double the costs.

When I was fostering cats who went into heat because they were waiting to be spayed, I got into the habit of making sure they were shut in a room before I opened the front door.

But I live on my own in a flat so doing that was far easier than it would be for someone with kids & a house with more than one exit.

Not only this, but it's very easy for an indoor cat to sneak out - especially an intact cat that will want to fulfil its sexual urges. An entire female who gets out when she is on heat might come back with unwelcome additions to the household. An entire male will roam until he finds a female, and he will very likely spray in the house - and the spray of a tom cat makes normal cat wee smell like Chanel No. 5 by comparison!

Unless the new kitten is the opposite sex

How, by sharing baths and splitting the council tax? 😂

How? Do they split bills and rent..?

Correct. Unfettered toms will display antisocial behaviours, spraying around the house, which smells disgusting and very hard to eradicate. Aggression, clawing to get out of the house and howling when scenting females in heat.Not pleasant at all.
Female unneutered in heat will display similar behaviours. Neutering is the kindest thing you can do for your pet cat, and will eradicate the misery of litters of unwanted kittens 🥲

Too expensive to neuter? Cats Protection provide support so that it costs about £20. Then there's the PDSA/Blue Cross for treatment and vaccinations at low cost.

I'm surprised you've met a person who is completely unaware of this. Or is it that you were unaware of this when writing the post?

I’m sure the pdsa spay for free? Or a reduced cost

So you’ve known each other for maybe 8 years, get on well and enjoy each other’s company which for most people would constitute a friend. Yet now you’re asking complete strangers whether you should stop hanging out with ‘this woman’ (this and ‘the mum’ is how you refer to her) all because she’s acquired a kitten after having mentioned to you she was on benefits. Why would you need other people’s opinions on whether to stop ‘hanging out’ with her? This is so blatantly a made up benefits bashing thread.

Me too. And indoor cats, as a couple of us or more have explained upthread, also need neutering because not to do it is cruel, whether intentionally or not.

Indoor cats do still need fleaing and worming, you can bring all sorts from outside in on your body. I have an indoor cat and like to keep him up to date with everything just incase he ever does get out.

Fab cats

Indoor cats do still need to get medications for fleas and worms and have vaccinations especially if you need to put them in a cattery while you go away at all. Also as my cat is an indoor cat the cost of his indoor toys are fairly expensive but this is what I do to keep him healthy and happy. Insurance is a must as they can get ill without going outdoors. Arguably my dog is possibly more expensive to 'run' as he needs a licence along with everything the cat needs and you cannot have a fully indoor dog, thats just mean I think.

Thought the thread needed some rather fab cats added!

Totally agree OP. I have 5 cats, only had one then started fostering for a local rescue, adopted 2 of the many we have had and have 2 long term fosters who seem to be going no where. For a start, the cost of cat food has more than doubled in recent years. Insurance for our two young healthy adopted moggys is now nearly 40 each a month- add in vaccinations and flea treatments etc. Without insurance can be invalid.

Our OG is very elderly and turned up in our garden as an at least 6 year old when I was recently widowed and could not afford to insure. I would never put any of my cats through long-term treatment for cancer etc, but I have paid out for dental (over £1000) and a skin condition which has cost £100s. She is looking pretty ropey these days but is happy and still has quality of life. When the time comes 13 years after she first arrived, this is still a few hundred pounds.

As a fosterer of many feral cats and kittens, and someone who has been out to help trap colonies due to owners not bloody neutering their cats, I hold owners who do not get this done in total contempt. The poor health, injury and interbreeding is heart breaking. In the overall cost of cat ownership it is not that expensive and many charities will fund it if approached for those on benefits. This is where cats differ from dogs, it is an essential and the reason rescues are over run is because it is not happening

Yanbu. It was very irresponsible to get the first one that she couldn't afford to take care of properly let alone a second one.

If your are on benefits I think you can get a voucher towards neutering. A female cat will potentially escape when in heat, the Toms will have the scent and will be circling.
A few weeks later one cat will become 5 or 6. 😬

PDSA provide veterinary services for those on benefits.

I went from one cat to two (the 2 after the first died). I spoilt the first with fancy food as I was childfree then but had two kids with the next 2, so they shared big cans of inexpensive food- costs similar to that I'd spent on my solo cat.

Indoor cats don't really need flea treatments as they catch them off other cats - our vet recently told us not to bother re our remaining cat when she went through a period of never going out.

However I take your point about your friend being somewhat irresponsible but as long as she isnt deliberately abusive to the cats, I can't see why it should affect your friendship. There are far worse things she could do.

I wonder if that is her plan to make some extra money. A family friend charges £1,100 per kitten, but they are pedigree tbf

It’s really none of your business

I do comms for my local rescue & while I’m not directly involved with the cats much, I could tell loads of horror stories about what happens when people don’t care for their cats properly - which includes not bothering to neuter them, even if they are indoor cats.

You want to end your friendship with this woman because she has chosen to spend her money on a new kitten? Really?

I am struggling to understand how this affects you. Aside from the jealousy you have described.

Talking about how expensive litter and cat food has become is just passing the time of day with another cat owner.