I really want to get my dh a couple of kittens for his christmas present.

[HeadFairy]

dh is cat mad, he was devastated when our cat died last Christmas and as we're in a small flat we didn't think it was right to get another cat just yet.

We're just about to movet to a house with a garden, and I'll be on mat leave from December, so I thought it was the perfect time to get a couple of kittens for him as a present.

Obviously I'm really getting ahead of myself, but I wanted to find out where's the best place to get one, is it better to get two boys, two girls or one of each (prob from the same litter). Any tips or advice for me?

First of all, I'd say talk to him about it. A surprise present may sound like a lovely idea, but I think he may really appreciate being involved and having some input.

Also, you may find it a struggle to look after two kittens AND a new baby at the same time, so you may want to re-think your timing, and get the kittens asap, so they've had time to settle in before your DC arrives. As long as you and/or DH can take a week or so off work when you get them, and as long as you get two rather than one, it shouldn't be a problem not having constant company for them.

If you're going to get two kittens, then ideally get them from a) a rescue centre, and b) from the same litter. If they're from the same litter, it doesn't matter what sex you get, just remember to get them done asap!

Hope this advice helps

Lovely, thanks for that naetha... I will go to the RSPCA for them I think... we have one fairly close to us.

I might get the kittens a bit before Christmas, so that we're a bit settled before the baby comes.... that's a good idea, and I will definitely speak to dh about it first, though it might be a shame to not actually give him something on Christmas day...

You could give him some kitten food or toys..

I think just playing with the kittens and wrapping paper will be a great enough present for him on Christmas day - take it from me

Also try your local cat rescue centres - they generally struggle for money a lot more than the RSPCA does, and usually offer the same services (i.e. they are or will be neutered, vaccinated etc).

I wouldn't get them for Christmas-too much going on-I would get them settled beforehand.

I think Christmas might be scary for 2 tiny little kittens. When I got mine they took a couple of weeks to settle in. Try putting the word out that you are after some kittens, I got mine from a friend of my SiL whose pedigree Burmese had got knocked up by the local tom

It will be hard to get hold of kittens around Christmas time - wrong time of year for many to be around, and also the animal charities are unlikely to be letting them go just before Christmas as they mostly are very anti pets as Christmas presents as it is exactly that sort of situation that puts many of their rescue cats into centres when well meaning friends and relatives get pets without discussing it first with all involved. If you are after kittens ideally get them this coming autumn or before and make it a joint decision, or leave it until next spring when there will be more kittens about again and homes needed.

My parents got one of each from the same litter and it's been a combination that's worked very well - obviously they've had them 'done'

I agree with others who've said not to combine kittens and baby - they both deserve some undivided attention when they are so young

Thanks for the advice everyone, you're right I'm sure, Christmas probably isn't the best time... perhaps in Feb or March as a late present, I thought it would be best to do it when I'm on mat leave as I know kittens need feeding pretty often when they're young. That way his Christmas present could be a photo of the fur babies and some toys... something to look forward to during the dark days of me endlessly bfing!

I will look around for a different animal rescue centre Naetha, I got my last cat from the Cat's Protection League but if I can find them from somewhere that needs the money more then all the better.

where are you?

I have 3 kittens that will need rehoming. They are currently 3 weeks old and very, very cute!

one black (semi long haired?) boy and 2 female (short haired?) tabbies

we're in London Paula... that's very kind of you, they sound absolutely gorgeous. I'm working almost full time at the moment so I feel it's probably not fair to get a kitten right now as I know they need a fair bit of regular feeding when they're very young. That was why I thought that my mat leave was an ideal time, I'll be endlessly feeding one baby so I may as well do a kitten too (not that I'll be bfing a kitten )

I've just rehomed two kittens from Cats Protection and they won't rehome kittens with children under 5. I now realise this is for a very good reason. They are bonkers. You should wait a few years or rehome an older cat. Is this your first child?

I would be wary of getting kittens with a new baby tbh, and lots of rescue centres won't rehome to people with young children anyway.

But kittens are bloody hard work actually - even more so if you get two, as the destruction they can cause is worse than you can imagine.

Then you need to consider having to litter train kittens while you are still pregnant which can be dangerous to your unborn baby, and the dead things they will start to bring in, birds, mice etc, probably at around the same time as your baby starts crawling.

Tbh I really wouldn't.

I have 4 (8 week) kittens ready. 2 blacks (boy and girl) and 2 silver tabbies (both boys, one has no tail) am in london area here.
fully weaned and litter trained.

shout me if your interested.

otherwise i will be ringing cats protection in 2 weeks time. i have had enough of the mess and chaos...and is financially straining me with all the food and litter.
lovely cats though. very friendly and playful.

Yes they are korma. Watched MummyCat give birth on May 27th.