New kitten a good idea or a bad idea..?

[Smee]

Maybe foolishly I thought it would be great to get a kitten. DS is four and great with animals, so I mentioned it to a neighbour, who has just left a message saying she's got a work colleague who may be able to bring us a black female kitten this weekend... I'm not sure how old it is, but apparently it's ready to leave its mother.
So do I really want a kitten, or should I go for a teenager? I've heard kittens are a bit of a mare, but I like the idea of us having the fun of one. Any quick advice welcomed. I am totally clueless.. THANK YOU!

I would say go see the kitten, see how it is, see how it reacts to your DS. They are lots of fun but it needs to have the right temperament. I have a 16 week old kitten, he is so much fun and would, I think, be great with a young child but some kittens are more nervy.

Thanks CdeL, problem is this one would be coming from a way away, so we wouldn't get to meet it before it comes to live with us. The people who have it say it's lovely and it comes from a sane mother cat - whatever that means..
What age is it okay for them to leave their mother anyway? I know it's not a good idea to take them too young, but I haven't a clue what age that could be?

oooh I love kittens! They really made a difference to my young life, what a lucky DS he is! They can be taken from their mothers really quite young and weaned; something like 8 weeks I'd say. Gosh how lovely! You need to make sure it doesn't go out at the beginning so it knows where home is, and has a regular place where the litter tray is and where it sleeps (though they are so cute, they are bound to end up in someones bed). Definitely go for it, but do make sure you get DS a book on kitten care and be prepared to do the litter tray yourself!

Ideally 12 weeks - I got my little psycho nut at 11 weeks and he was fine though. Definitely no younger than say 9 weeks. They ween at 6 weeks or so but they need a bit more time with their mums learning social skills.

Do the people who have him/her have children or have children who visit? If so and the kitten is fine with the children then go for it. It will more than likely be fine regardless of whether he/she has met children yet or not.

Just make sure the kitten has somewhere to go to 'get away' from your DS if it chooses too - say a spare room, even under the sofa! And if it goes there it gets peace.

And be warned - they have sharp teeth and claws at that age!

Good tip about it having had contact with kids or not.
Any idea on what's the wisdom boy v girl cat. This one's a girl kitten, but I've heard male ones tend to be more affectionate.

• is it absurd and would we be missing out lots if we decided to wait and get a slightly older rescue cat? I'd bet you'll say yes. Am prepared for lunacy and up for kitten fun, but have never done any of it before, so wonder if we should go for a slightly safer start to cat life..

flf, thanks for your enthusiasm. I am excited, just a bit scared too. After all it's a big thing to bring into your life - could be with us for a long time and what if I screw up and get us a lunatic..

Definitely go for a kitten, they are so gorgeous and it doesn't last long; you'll probably find yourself getting a rescue cat too to keep it company. I really wouldn't worry too much about the child friendliness, they do have personalities and some like people and some don't, but it will be early enough for you all to get used to each other. They usually spend lots of time hiding under furniture at the beginning anyway as new homes are very scary!

Boy v girl.... pretty much the same until boy gets neutered/girl has babies when they both get a bit more boring

I also have to convince DH... Actually I think I want one more than either DS or DH

We have just got two kittens - a rescue pair, brother and sister. One ginger and white, one white with black markings. The boy is more friendly than the girl - she hasn't purred yet whilst he's like a little car engine. She is a lot more reserved.

We were allowed to collect them at 12 weeks and they had had their first set of injections. They have settled in quickly although their litter training pre-moving in was obviously a bit hit and miss so be prepared for accidents!

I know this might not be helpful but getting a pair has really worked out well for us; they keep each other company playing and fighting! It's so sweet when one of them is upstairs mewing pitifully for the other one to come up too! I go out to work part time though, so I'm glad they have each other for company but this may not be an issue for you.

Apart from having to clean up the odd accident, we haven't regretted it for a second! The wonderful thing about kittens is how very very funny they are

Good luck! I hope you manage to get DH to agree to a kitten. They are lovely.

There has been many a hard hearted father who didn't want pets; they usually turn out to be the softies that pop to waitrose to buy them bloomin smoked salmon when it turns out to be their favourite food, and worry most about them not coming home at night!

Slayerette is right - they do like feline company. I have a 3 year old cat too and my kitten and he wrestle and play lots (my 18 year old cat not so keen on the mad play funnily enough LOL). Go one - get two

That sounds familiar - he was like that about having a child.. [hmmm]

slayerette - now you've done it. I WANT TWO

lol. let us know how you get on. want to see the "Smitten" thread....

Well, remember that you don't have to have the one your neighbour suggested. Most rescue centres will only rehome kittens in pairs, so you can look around! We put our names down for these two when they were five weeks old (they were born in rescue centre) and were prepared to wait because DS and I really wanted a ginger one! - not that we're shallow

They are currently hunting each other round the armchair, having played a vigorous game of 'I'm the king of the castle' and attacked the very threatening shirt in the ironing basket and the even more threatening blanket over the chair

Sounds like DS. I think he and a kitten will get along just fine..

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pets/650408-Rescue-cats-need-a-home

have you seen this thread. 2 rescue cats need a home a kittwen and it's mum.

We have a kitten he is now 6 months old and is a bit of a nightmare tbh, we got him when he was 12 weeks. He scratches us and dd (3) a lot. He also wees on our clothes and miaows at our door during the night (if we do let him in he just attacks us.) It's getting to the point where we are considering rehoming him as we don't know what else to do. He is only going to get bigger and cause more damaged. also we have had him castrated and that hasn't changed him at all.

agree that men tend to say they don't want a kitten but fall helplessly in love when actually presented with a purring little ball of fluff... certainly true of both my dad and dp when it comes to cats (although i think dp is remaining very calm about the fact that we suddenly appear to have 7 in the house atm )

i do think getting a younger kitten is always preferable as they adjust a little more easily to their new home. never less than 8-10 weeks old though as they tend to be extremely clingy if removed from the mother too young and will drive you nuts sucking on your clothes all the time.

another reason to get a kitten young if you have kids is that it will adjust alot better to the rough and tumble, noisy play of a child than an older cat would. and no matter how often you tell a 3 year old to leave the cat alone you'll still walk into the room and find the kitten hanging from said childs arms or being wheeeled around in a buggy [sigh] a cat that's used to it though will be extremely tolerant.... in fact our 2 four month olds actively seek the kids out to play with them despite this treatment and never scratch or bite the kids even though they're quick enough to chew on my hands when they're playing.

get the kitten, they're so much fun and will provide years of joy. there's nothing better for a child than having a pet to grow up with.

me23 - thanks for thread link, though I think we're too far away. Also for the dose of realism. What you going to do then? Sounds like you did everything right, and didn't get them until 12 weeks, etc, etc. Hope you settle on an answer soon. Still hasn't put me off though. I must really want a kitten.
PT, good advice - I'm waiting to find out how old/ etc, but if it sounds like its been well treated we've agreed to go for it. Doubtless I'll be back on here for advice..

We have a 14/15 week old kitten. Black and female too. She is perfect. She is house-trained - never had an accident. A bit destructive - she's chewed the wires on 2 pairs of MP3 player earphones and knocked over a Dartington vase . But apart from that she is a total angel.

I wouldn't take a kitten I hadn't seen with its mum. And of course they are going to sell the kitten to you, they are hardly going to say its mother is a bit mad and the kitten is a nightmare!

I honestly don't know what to do! He urinated again today in a drawer full of dps boxers! I haven't told him yet just stuck them in the wash hoping he won't notice. people keep saying to me kittens are mad and won't calm down till there 1 years old. But dp has grown up with kittens/cat and said he has never met one as crazy as ours!

good luck with your kitten hunting.

Sorry to hear about kitten troubles, me23. Can't you 'encourage' him to spend a bit more time outdoors? We have just been down to the pet shop to buy some 'Get Off' spray to encourage ours not to use the doormat (or where the doormat was before we threw it out) as Litter Tray No. 3 - but I'm guessing your dp doesn't really want his boxers to smell of Get Off

I must admit, we are quite strict at the moment about controlling where they have access - they're staying out of bedrooms until they're bombproof as far as litter training goes.

The miaowing at the door would drive me mad - our pair are confined to barracks in the kitchen and only start getting fussy when they hear us up and about and think it might be breakfast time. But this is why having a pair is good - they do keep each other company.