AIBU to think it's a bad idea to get kittens?

[0nTheEdge]

A friend of mine needs to home kittens and they are so cute and have stolen our hearts a little. We've always wanted pets and are finally able to as we now own and the house even has a cat flap! We're going through a bit of a miserable time as well and I think the idea of kittens is lifting our spirits slightly.
However - we have three kids and the youngest is 10 months. Everything goes in his mouth. Also we are surviving on one salary as I had to give up my job when my second child was ill and then our third baby was a bit of a surprise. I am hoping to go back to work part time and am learning to drive to help enable this, but I would have to do evening shifts and the baby is still breastfed and doesn't sleep well. So that's a way off yet. Basically more money is going out than in and we're relying on savings to bridge the gap and they won't last long.
DH has his heart set on it though, but I look after the finances and do most of the housework as I'm at home.
Sorry for the long post, but I need some perspective on this and your views would be helpful. AIBU to say no to kittens?

Brands like GoCat might be cheap, but they're cheap for a reason. They can cause huge problems (especially in male cats) and result in things like urinary blockages

Agreed.

The majority of the cats in the country eat it perfectly happily and plenty more don't. Supermarket pet food is shite. Check ingredients thoroughly, there are some seriously awful things in them.

Cat fostering sounds like a lovely idea for when the kids are older :)
I've decided that until I'm back at work or unless DH gets a big pay rise, the whole idea is on hold. Plus I think it will be better once the youngest is a bit older.
I am already on Quidco, I always shop around for the best insurance and utilities, I budget to within an inch of our lives and have a spreadsheet with projections for the next two years! I can afford our kids and we live modestly but with everything we need and then some. If shit hit the fan, we could tighten our belts and only spend what was coming in but that would mean cancelling things like dance and swimming lessons. I would do that if needed, but not for the sake of getting kittens, if that makes sense.
So can I afford my kids? Yes. Can I afford kittens? Not without making sacrifices. Plus husband is totally on board, he's actually very reasonable and was the one reassuring me it was the right decision when I was upset after saying no.

Much kinder for the kitten to get it when your children are a little older and can learn not to pick it up all the time etc -- that often leads to a shy/nervous cat constantly alert to stress.
I agree cats can be very expensive -- mine, despite being a pedigree from a reputable breeder, came to me with the feline equivalent of IBS and the prescription food available only through the vet cost an arm and a leg. Once you've bonded you have no choice but to keep paying out.

Here's an idea. ....why not get into cat fostering. That way you don't have the expense of vaccinations or pet bills.

You will temporarily look after them while they are awaiting a permanent home.

There are pros and cons, but I enjoy it. I do have to buy their food and litter, but I think if you were really strapped the charities could assist with that.

We've had lots of cats and kittens over the years and it also means I don't have to pay cattery fees if we go away.

Feel free to PM me if you want to know more.

Aaahhh. Just seen that someone mentioned fostering. I love the freedom of it.

I'm glad you've got your sensible head on!

Some people on here seem to have been lucky, but as a vet I see some very expensive things happening to kittens and cats! It breaks my heart when I see families sobbing over a broken leg that they can't afford to have fixed properly, or out of hours treatment, which can be extortionate. Even insurance doesn't mean there won't be added costs- lots of insurance companies can be very fly at getting out of paying, or have large excesses, so you need to have something in reserve!

Also kittens and very small children can be problematic, and if, as I suspect!, you are very busy it can be easy for kittens to get into scrapes unnoticed (I've seen kittens out through the washing machine, stood on, trapped in doors...)

Kudos to you for taking time to think about it! I see so many kittens and puppies in unsuitable homes just because the were cute and they got them on a whim

Kitten was £200 because a supposedly more hypoallergenic breed - seems to be working so far so worth the extra cost to me! Otherwise would have been happy with any kitten.