Buying a kitten

[lizziewiz]

Hi ladies
I'm right at the beginning of thinking of getting a couple of kittens. I have three boys (5,7 and 9) and we live near to a main road. I think these two factors will prevent us from getting a rescue adoption unfortunately.

I'd appreciate advice on:

• how to source kittens and how to make sure they're from a reputable place (I live in Surrey if that helps).

• what to do about our road. We have a big back garden that backs on to lots of other big back gardens. Should we aim for a house cat? Is it fair to have a house cat? I'm normally one for saying that's a bit unnatural as cats should be able to roam. Can cats understand / be taught to live and roam via the garden and not near the road though?

Thanks ever so much! Very much in the learning stages and don't want to make a rookie mistake!

Ultimately if adoption agencies don’t seem your house suitable, while sad, there are reasons for that. Purchasing kittens contributes to awful conditions for cats: you may find a commitment to an indoor cat (the norm in most of the world) and the right temperament kitten will help you with the adoption process.

Please approach rescues and see whether you can adopt a house cat. Cats have no road sense and unless you have a cat proofed garden, or indoor only cat, they will most likely end up getting run over. Also you would need to make sure there's no way it could accidentally get let out especially as children tend not to think about making sure the cat is contained before opening doors.

Cat proofing your garden, or doing a catio, is a good compromise and if you can show you have a safe area a rescue is more likely to consider you.

Buying kittens is such a bad idea - it encourages people to breed more and so many end up being dumped or in unsuitable homes.

Sorry to be so negative, I have worked with rescues and seen so many unwanted litters, and picked up so many cats that have been killed on busy roads. Each and every one breaks my heart to deal with.

What makes you think that having children will put off animal rescue agencies?

Maybe a 5 yo is little young but have you checked it with them?

Also maybe speak to your local vet as they often end up having to rehome kittens and may bear you in mind if they have any over the summer - this is the time they struggle.

I agree that is a strange world where animal charities have such exacting standards of rehomers yet people are flogging kittens for hundreds on Gumtree with no animal welfare checks! Boils my blood; I know a woman who has been flogging kittens for years with little thought for their welfare. Unfortunately it's legal and nothing can be done about it

Also when you say you live near a main road, do you mean your house is directly open to it, or down a side street? Most people live in urban areas and all roads are pretty busy nowadays so surely animal charities have to bear that in mind. I used to live down a cul de sac about 50 yards from the main road and kept my cats there quite safely for eight years! They carve out their own wee bit of territory though you do have to watch kittens.

Ask the rescue for indoor only cats, they exist for many different reasons and will be quite happy staying indoors or having access to a catio/cat proof garden