Pros & cons of adopting an adult cat (rather than a kitten)

[zonedout]

Please

Hello zone. I have always adopted an older cat. The reasons I can think of-

Rescues are full of older cats overlooked due to the cute kittens.
It will be neutered, chipped etc.
It will be litter trained.

The 3 older cats I have had have just slotted in IYKWIM. They stay indoors for 3-4 weeks then you can let them outdoors. They are calmer.

I have never actually had a kitten so may be missing out though...

We adopted an adult cat (she was 2). Cats Protection wanted us to have an adult because ds was then five, and they don't like to place kittens with young children if they can avoid.

I was very pleased to have a cat who was already litter trained and had gone through the 'mad charging about in the middle of the night' phase (she still does that, but like a teenager has her own key to the door and so lets herself in when she's ready for a kip!).

I think Cats Protection find it harder to re-home cats (and ours is a black cat too, so very hard for them to place). She is not hugely affectionate, won't sit on a lap or anything, but she has been a blessing to us.

Con - well, you miss the super-cute kitten phase, and of course as an adult rescue she is the one who went through something bad which led to her leaving her first home and living rough with her litter. She gets away with murder though as DH is convinced she has PTSD or something! (She doesn't at all).

Forgot to say there's a pic on my profile. Not bad for an older rescue cat.

Gorgeous, Sparklingbrook!

She has the loveliest nature tribpot. She likes to go out and about but loves to come in for cuddles.

I adopted three adult cats before getting kittens. Kittens are a pleasure all of their own but the adult cats were all great, litter trained already, neutered already, streetwise and friendly. My 3 were all happy to be lapcats and give and receive fuss. Very self-sufficient. All an absolute pleasure and the last one was great with my young DS, bless his furry cotton socks.

The one thing you might also want to consider is getting a pair. My kittens are really cute in the way they curl up together, play etc - my adult cats would never do that because they weren't siblings and/or hadn't grown up together. If you got an adult pair from a shelter (sometimes sibs or bonded pairs end up there) you could get some of the benefits of that relationship.

Thank you both for your answers

Sparkling, he/she is absolutely adorable

I had originally intended to adopt a kitten but on my initial visit to my local cats protection a 2 1/2 year old black boy made me fall in love with him. I went back to see him again today and he proceeded to spend 45 minutes lying on his back for tummy strokes the damn floozy

I also have quite young children so yes, probably better than a young scratchy kitten. He came from a very sad background

Oh zone he sounds great. 2 1/2 is no age at all. How old are your DC? Have you had a home check yet?

Thanks for the compliments I will tell her, but she knows she's fabulous.

Ah, interesting point Snazzy. I love the idea of a pair of kittens, think it would prevent future arguments amongst be particularly nice for my ds's but also slightly nervous about having 3 animals to take care of (we have a dog and hope to always have!)

I've never had a kitten, but we recently adopted a two year old and a three year old. Their characters have both evolved over the six months they've lived with us and they're are lovely and affectionate in different ways.

Pros - you don't have to train them, if you get them from a rescue centre , they'll be neutered, vaccinated etc. Cons - you may not know their history, so you don't know why they react in certain ways, but that's probably true for all cats:)

Sparkling cat only eats Felix as Good as it Looks. I couldn't imagine paying for twice the amount. Or insurance, boosters, cattery bills etc.

zoned - your cat has chosen you. There is nothing you can do about it now!

Yes, he is still extremely young. My ds's are almost 7 and 4. They have grown up with dogs and are extremely good with animals. I haven't had my home check (although apparently they could arrange everything the same day) as I am waiting for my ds2's allergy test on Thursday. I know I have got slightly ahead of myself here but just wanted to do a bit of groundwork. Actually ds2 has never shown any indication of being allergic to cats (we are frequent visitors to houses with cats) but as he has asthma I wanted to make sure to prevent any potential heartbreak... Feel a bit stupid getting so ahead of myself...

You may as well give up - your cat has chosen you:)

Well it all sounds perfect to me. I hope the allergy test turns out ok and you will be buying cat beds and ping pong balls very shortly.

Fingers crossed we will get the go ahead with ds's test on Thursday and then yes, I realise I have been reserved

You have been chosen.

We went to a cat show recently where one of the adult cats kept poking his paw through the cage to hold DH's hand. DH would have paid large amounts of money and swapped me for that cat at that moment in time.

My dh is allergic to cats but as long as he washes his hands after fuss all is ok, the cat was on his lap tonight and he's ok. DH is ok too.

Black cats are lovely.

@ fluffycloud.

Black cats are rather wonderful, aren't they? Not sure why they get so overlooked. Well, this boy made sure he didn't get overlooked!

Too late!

I adopted two cats, 12 years ago now. They were 2 or so, all litter trained hard work all done. To me working full time it made no sense getting a kitty. As I write this 1 of them is curled up on my lap, they are my best buddies. Obviously you get all the love with a kitten, but my cats seems grateful I chose them, they've never showed any behaviour problems, a 100% toilet record. All the hard work is done and still young enough.

Thank you, cantbelieve.

So that's it. My mind is fully made up. Roll on Thursday and keeping everything crossed that we can give a home to that lovely black 2 year old and nobody beats me to it

Great, I'd definitely recommend a rescue cat too.

I see Sparkling is here showing off again

I also have a gorgeous 1yr old rescue cat, she's part maine coon, very relaxed & slotted in perfectly with us, we needed a confident cat with DS & his friends barging about and dog.

DS also asthmatic but no problems AFAIK.

Our cat has been a joy. He walked in off the street last Christmas, battered and thin. Although he had a microchip, the addresses registered all denied knowledge of him so he became ours. The only disadvantage is not knowing his exact age- he is a relatively young cat, at least three years but not possible to estimate any closer.

He is litter trained, truly appreciates our indulgent home and only gets upset if he gets hungry when he charges about. We wonder whether he has vestigial anxieties about being stray and starving.....

He is my fourth rescue/stray cat in the course of my life....And I've never had a bad experience with these cats., Shelter staff get to know them very well, all their foibles...

Ah, thanks sparky. Any photos of yours?

I have a similar requirement, 2 ds's barging about and dog!

Did you get your ds allergy tested first or did you just go for it?

He sounds lovely (and very lucky) mignonette.