Kitten viewing today and getting cold feet!

[Rockbird]

Have wanted cats since the dawn of time and now it looks like it's happening. All family members in agreement, kids excited etc. But I'm getting serious wobbles. We're ideally placed for cats, no reason why we shouldn't have them, but have never had a pet before...

Was less nervous about having kids ffs! Tell me lovely things about cats please.

I think as soon as you see the kittens your cold feet will disappear.

Cats are wonderful! I fell asleep with mine curled up next to my feet. The sound of her purring soothed me to sleep.

You'll need to begin training at once. The basic rule is, kitty says jump, you don't even bother to ask how high, you just jump! They have endless patience with their stupid humans (though mine can't quite believe that after 7 years of tuition I STILL can't catch mice!). As has been said, though, they've never forgotten that in Ancient Egypt they were treated as gods.

Have fun with your new family member!

Cats rule.

Mine trills at me in answer when I speak to him, follows me down the garden and let's me bury my face in his fluffy belly. Having a purring cat next to you is beautiful.

You'll see the kittens and want them all.
I have a cat. She's 15, a very lazy blob of fur. She has an automatic kibble dispenser and poops outside.
Not much responsibility, lots of cuteness and fluff. Ideal pet for me.

Be prepared for this

OK you're talking me round. Well done. Definitely want something to stroke and be purr-y. Am scared of vets and insurance and catteries and biting. And being a grown up pet owner.

Not scared of fur and snuggles and cosiness.

Definitely get 2 - they play with each other. I have 2 very different cats. I live by myself and they are wonderful company. The older one chats and chirrups and eventually sits on you or by you and the younger one snuggles in bed, follows me everywhere and loves to play. They enrich my life so much. You won't regret it OP!

Don't be scared of vets and insurance. I have always insured my cats and it shouldn't be too expensive for a kitten.

It will need to be neutered and chipped and have annual innoculations.

You get used to the cattery thing. First time it's a bit but Sparklingcat is used to it now and knows where she is as soon as she gets there.

Re the biting. Cats will tell you when they have had enough, but that's usually before biting!

Another vote for 2!! Saves your soft furnishings ime - and your hands from needle claws and teeth!
Don't forget pics when you get them home!

Be prepared for kittens to wreck your house unless carefully supervised! I’ve always taken adult rescue cats, ever since two kittens stripped all the wallpaper off the room they were in, ran ten feet up the curtains and swung on the top, ripped threads all down the curtains on the way back down and attacked the upholstery on the three piece suite. You have been warned...!

When you get the kitten can ask all your questions on this topic.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray

Cats are really easy pets in my opinion, especially if you get two together. They play together and grow together and it's really lovely to see.

Ours are extremely low maintenance - they're fed twice a day, litter trays poop-scooped when we get up/home from work and if we notice they go in-between. The trays are changed twice a week.

Both cats are insured and go to the vets for annual boosters and check-ups. They're both neutered and were done at six months old (male) and four months old (female). Our boy has been to the vet once outside those times, when the girl smacked him and caught him in the eye! They're both stupidly healthy and robust.

Ours don't go out but play plenty indoors, they have toys, a scratch post and plenty of cardboard boxes. We also have a puppy which they like to take turns in terrorising!

Make sure you get insurance and make sure it's lifetime cover. Ours are healthy now but they're only young and I don't want to risk huge vets bills. My old male got crystals and it cost me £1000 in vets bills - he was there five nights and had to be on a specialist diet for life!

And close up all small openings before you bring them home! We brought our little girl home and she slept in a box in the kitchen - we woke up to squeaking coming from the walls and she'd managed to get behind the washing machine and into the wall cavity!

It costs us less than £15 a month to fully cover three cats with our pet insurance. It started at around £8 for the three, it's crept up slowly though. Comparethemarket is good for finding insurance quotes for cheap, just make sure it covers what you need

If you don’t go for it, you’ll never know the joy of their little twinkle toes.

Ours is 12 and a lovely old girl, now the kids feed her and she poos outside, she let's us know what she wants by running and staring and meowing at it, she is a celebrity among DC's friends. She is naughty and does protest poos in the drawing room everytime we go away and moves in with neighbours. You'll love your kitten(s). She is an excellent mouser too.