Kitten dilema - need some urgent advice from 'catty' people

[backintheUK]

We have been searching for a kitten for ages and finally through an acquaintance she has managed to find us 1 or 2 kittens from a litter. they are 7/8 weeks old now, and are ready to come to us this week if we want them.

I have a major prob though...

I want younger kittens (ie 8 weeks) around for my son who is a bit anxious about pets ( he is desperate for kittne however) rather than a 12/13week old which I am guessing will be bigger a bit more boisterous and may put my son off or be scary for him.

So if we get them now at 8 weeks great - except we are going on hols for 2 weeks mid-july when I think most catteries won't take them in ( age wise) and to get a 2 x daily cat sitter will be nearly £200 for the 2 weeks.

So... do we wait until we get back from holiday to take them when they will be 13/14 weeks and risk them being a bit scary for him or do we not get these ones and wait until we get back fro hols and get one then....(which I am worried about as it has taken me nearly 3 months to find these ones which are reasonably prices (£15) and are not from someone offering a million kittens at £200 each which seems really common)

Any advice greatfully received - sorry for lengthy post and appalling spelling today!

we got brother ans sister and they were the best of friend for about 6 months and now they are the worst of enemies

I love them both though and it was lovely when they slept together in a shoe box in the early days.

Message withdrawn

We had brother and sister too and I highly recommend it.

they are still very small at 12 weeks. i have 6 week old kittens (4 of them) and they are very boisterous already.

Get two and make sure you pick the natural pair. By this, I mean two who have already paired off together.

Two kittens settle in better and are lovely to watch playing and cuddling together.

And do leave it until they are a bit older.

Don't know if this has been said already, have only scanned thread, but all the catteries I know will only take cats/junior cats when they are fully vaccinated.

Your kittens should receive one set of injections at 9 weeks and a second set 3 weeks later.

TBH I doubt a reputable cattery would take such youngsters as they really do require a lot of care and attention at that age.

If you really want to do the right thing, leave them with their mum until after the hols. They will still be small and cute, I assure you.

I agree- at 13/14 weeks they will still be hugely kittenish, but a bit less trample-able, so possibly better suited for a small child! It will also be far less stressful for the kitten(s) to go to a new home, rathyer than new home, then kennels/ cat-sitter, then back again. Please post pics when they come!

At 13/14 weeks, they'll still be kittens and lovely. I got my cat when he was 8 weeks old, but I think it was too soon for him to leave his mum. He was very nervous for a couple of days, then settled down. He is now 6 and still acts like a kitten. He has a cat bed and toys everywhere. I wish I had the energy he has.

we met the kittens today and they are lovely and still so tiny. Their owner has agreed to hand onto them until we get back from our hols so they will be about 13 weeks by then - We have chosen a brother and sister called Gilbert and Twinkle god help me ( I didn't choose names DS did!)

Thanks for all your help and advice I'll post piccies as soon as I get thm downloaded

Excited for you...

Gilbert and Twinkle are lovely names.

I'm so pleased backintheUK. Your kittens will benefit all the more for staying with their mum than being confused with catteries etc, and I really believe a positive early experience of life helps them become good natured older cats, which is particularly important when you have DC's. 13 weeks is still a tiny cat! I'm of you getting kittens!

I love the names too, very kitsch! Particularly Gilbert! Love it.

OK update, kittens arrived today - they are lovely though naturally terrified and ds desperate to get his hands on them.....
Now every so slightly terrfied of the responsibility and am hoping they will use litter tray soon!