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Original poster

DH has finally agreed to let us have a kitten and now I am wavering - pros and cons greatly appreciated!

40 replies

MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 13:40

Main problem is that the said kitten is now 2 1/2 weeks old. Is 8 weeks too young to take from its mother?

Also we are going on holiday for two weeks in the middle of July and although next door love cats and say they will look after it - won't it be a bit too young and would a cattery be better?

I am a complete cat novice (save for some internet research). We can afford to look after it properly and pay insurance etc.

Is there anything unobvious which I haven't thought of?

OP posts:
titchy · 10/03/2008 13:55

8 weeks is when they're weaned so shold be OK to have it from then. When you go away it'll be 4 or 5 months old so I'd have thought be litter trained, so OK to leave at home I guess. How often would your neighbours pop in? Would they play with it, allow it outside etc.

MegaMindy · 10/03/2008 13:58

I would pay for a cattery if you are going away for two weeks. If you were just going away for a weekend, it's fine to ask your neighbours, but two weeks is a long time. Book the cattery up as far in advance as possible.

Would it be an indoor or outdoor cat?

Bramshott · 10/03/2008 14:02

Sounds lovely!

One of the benefits of cats (over dogs for example) is that you can leave them when you go away. If your neighbours are keen, I would leave the cat at home with them coming in, as it might be confusing for it to go to the cattery when home will still be quite new?

mammatulip · 10/03/2008 14:04

Message withdrawn

mammatulip · 10/03/2008 14:10

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Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 14:18

Thanks for the replies.

I guess the cat would be about 5 months old when we go away. I think it would be better in a cattery tbh as I would worry about it being on its own for two weeks (am I being daft?) plus it's one thing asking your neighbours to come in and feed and play with it (which I am sure they would - they are retired and they lost thier cat of 16 years last summer) it is another thing to ask them to empty cat litter etc.

Re being and indoor or outdoor cat - I was hoping it would be both - I would get a cat flap and control when it went out (if that's how it works). I have read that a female is likely to stay closer to the house and garden and not wonder off for days (that would stress me out). Am I correct?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 14:19

Forgot to say, thanks for the link Mamatulip. The kitten would be from my friend who's cat has just had kittens so I will let her know. I was worried that it may not be a good thing for the kitten to be taken away from its mother too early.

OP posts:
MegaMindy · 10/03/2008 14:20

I had an outdoors cat, but let it sleep in the garage at night. If it's neutered, I think they do stay closer to home.

MegaMindy · 10/03/2008 14:21

One of out cats was just 6 weeksold when we were given her. That was too early, she was constipated and clearly was too young to be weaned.

YouKnowNothingOfTheCrunch · 10/03/2008 14:24

Don't forget the damage a kitten can cause. I adore my cat (he's nearly 2 now, so finally a bit adult) but for the first year he laddered every pair of my tights and put holes in all my clothes and peed on everything (despite being done at the right time). He's great now, but be under no illusions, pretty as kittens are, cats are much nicer.

Females should stay close (just like neutered males), but it completely depends on the cat's temperment, breed etc.

Not sure I'm any help

Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 14:40

YKNOTCrunch - it has occured to me since researching cat ownership that it would be much better to go to Cats Protection and get an older kitten or young cat. However, we only started on the whole cat thing because of my friends kittens so we are sort of tied into that scenario. I don't mind really, although having taken a bit of persuasion I don't know how DH would react if it wrecked the furniture etc.

Cats don't chew do they?

OP posts:
titchy · 10/03/2008 15:00

But they have claws! kennet might be better thining about it - you'll come back to everything shredded! (Make sure you buy a scratching post for the kitten to ignore).

Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 15:36

What so if I buy it a scratching post it will ignore it?

What sort of damage could a kitten do in a kitchen for example? I work from home so am here most of the time but may put it in the kitchen while I work (3 mornings - and I would be going in and out all of the time). Am I naive thinkging that by being here I can prevent major damage occuring? I would closely supervise the kitten anyway as my Ds's are young.

OP posts:
Maveta · 10/03/2008 15:42

I have two cats and can't say I've noticed them damaging our house.. except for our rugs. Oh they LOVE to scratch our rugs (the rest is tiled floor). But they've never scratched anything else. We have a big scratching post that one of them uses (aswell as the carpets) but the other one doesn't even register it.

Mine are neutered males and they are lovely. I'm a big fan of cats I do think 8 weeks sounds a wee bit young, I have had 2 cats from that age (one died before he reaches a year ) and they were both very much 'babies' and needed a lot of attention and cuddles, slept with us, and suckled our fingers [awww] but a bit because they obviously still needed their mummies.

I wouldn't have left mine alone in the house at 5 months, better to go stay with someone or in a cattery.

enjoy!

LittleMissNorty · 10/03/2008 15:50

Scratching post essential IMO (mine still uses his 8 years on)....the other thing my cat liked was climbing the curtains and lots of toys.

TBH I would put a cat in a cattery for 2 weeks as I would worry otherwise - you can holiday in peace then

LOL at "control when it went out"...I tried that....your cat will control you....they are very good at that

I've got an 8 year old neutered tom and he's a big soppy boy that doesn't stray far from home and loves his mummy...

I'm very

Platino · 10/03/2008 15:53

I would definitely get a scratch post. you can get nice little houses likethis.

None of mine have every chewed they do scratch leather furniture when playing but then you can also get these now so play with kitten on the floor and NOT the suite!

Enjoy if you do get one. I have never been without a cat. They are quite independent and I am sure yours would be fine with the neighbour if it was used to its home and the area you like first of all.

Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 15:55

Thanks for all the advice. I will definitely book into a cattery for when we go away.

I am looking forward to cat ownership - although will have to check out the cost of a cattery - it will be another expense for DH to moan about.

I hope I get a sociable one and not one of these cats which only come home to be fed and then naff off again. Presumably you can avoid that by encouraging it to stay home?

Do cats completely control you?

OP posts:
LittleMissNorty · 10/03/2008 15:57

mine does ....DH always moans that I spoil him. IMO Toms are more affectionate and want to sit on your lap etc.....

btw my cattery is £6 per night including food.

Platino · 10/03/2008 16:02

IMO boys are nicer. Girls are very nice but more independent, all my boys have been very nice.

Original poster
MrsPuddleduck · 10/03/2008 16:06

I thought a girl would be friendlier - is the consensus that a boy would be better? I would love a cat to sit on my knee (although I realise it is a bit of a personality lottery).

£6 per night isn't too bad....We fly at the crack of dawn and get back mid afternoon so I am thinking 16 nights (£90). Is that a bit cruel?

OP posts:
LittleMissNorty · 10/03/2008 16:21

No not cruel. Always take them in the day before and collect the day after....saves on a lot of hassle (if the cat buggers off just as you catch him , flights are late etc).

My opinion is that females are more independent than toms....mine isn't a "lap-cat" but he does come to me and purrs and dribbles in the evenings but you do need to have Toms neutered...and tbh you do take a chance with their personality to some extent...spoil them rotten so they know what side their bread is buttered on

BigBadMouse · 10/03/2008 16:38

Do you want mine??????

We got her as a older kitten from the CPL, she is lovely and friendly but can be a right PITA.

Has scratch post - always uses furniture
Has litter tray - refuses to use it, prefers the bath, or a certain part of the carpet - cannot get the smell out (she will not go out in the rain)
Sleep in the babys cot - nothing has worked to keep her out so far.
Changes her tastes in food every few days so you buy a pack of one type of food only for her to refuse it for months.
She is very strange tbh, she has strange habits and rituals and that is not uncommon in females IME (have had a lot of cats).

That said, she is fantastic with the children. DD2 is incredibly naughty and pulls her tail but she never retaliates (I wish she would tbh). I find males are much more laid back than females.

Whatever you go for get him or her neutered. CPL help with the costs of that and any outstanding vaccs. I was really pleased to get mine from the CPL, there we a lot of cats there needing homes .

On the cattery front, I prefer to use one than leave the neighbours in charge because I know she is safe there. I'm pretty certain she would wander off looking for us if we went away for a week.

YouKnowNothingOfTheCrunch · 10/03/2008 18:38

I understand that if cats are neutered there isn't much difference in temperment (both friendly and stick around and don't mark as much). I think females can be a bit more highly strung - judging by my cat's family (my parents have his mum and my brother has his sister, and he's by far the friendliest).

My cat has never scratched the furniture, but as a kitten we were covered in scratches (all in play, but OW). He's brilliant with the kids though (never seemed to scratch them and puts up with all torments a 2 year old can dish out).

Ooh and my cattery is £4.50 inc food

mammatulip · 10/03/2008 18:41

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lou33 · 10/03/2008 18:46

we got a kitten by mistake

he was abandoned round hte corner from me, and noone claimed him

the vet said he was about 12 weeks old at the time

i never kept him in, he just decided to hang about

he was castrated a few months ago, and his temperament is still the same, but he was very sweet and friendly anyway

he does however have a tendency to rush my bedroom door to knock it open, in order to attack my feet in the morning, and has taken to trying to open the windows if he does not want to wait to be let out of the back door

but he is very good with my kids