Considering getting a cat

[rainbowslollipops]

I have a 6yo dd and a hamster. I thought about getting a kitten but have training next week and change of hours after that so I'd like a older cat maybe 1/2yo. what do you think? my mum had cats when I was growing up so I've been around them a lot.

[cozietoesie]

A 'deal' of some sort, Sparkling. It might be a smaller local shelter.

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh that's good. Not sure why you would have to use their vets not your own mind.

[cozietoesie]

You need to make an informed decision, rainbows, as Sparkling said. If you get a cat, you'll need to pay out later money for food, litter and so on as well as possible vets fees, insurance (if you get it), flea and worm treatments and so on.

If the finances won't stretch - and that could be for the next 15+ years - then the best thing to do is to say 'not yet' even if the family would love one. Doesn't mean that you won't ever be able to have a cat, just maybe not at the moment.

[rainbowslollipops]

The £50 also gets a free neutering from them so I'm happy to pay that but could you justify £65 to book a kitten that won't be neutered at your nearest vets has to be via theirs and you've gotta pay 70% of the neutering on top of cat items?

[Sparklingbrook]

The Cats Protection charge £50 adoption fee. You are getting a full health check, vaccinations, microchip transfer and flea and worm treatments. Plus the help and back up/support after adoption should you need advice. The adoption fee doesn't begin to cover the cost of homing the kitten to adoption age.

You may want to rehome an older cat that has already been neutered?

Private ads are a worry IMO. i think the purchase price of the animal shouldn't be your main concern. Along the line there will be vets bills that come up unexpectedly that may be more than £70.

Lots to think about, to make an informed decision.

[rainbowslollipops]

It kind of has put me off since my sister got a microchipped and vaccinated kitten for £15 and is eligible for a neutering voucher. The rescue center also said I wouldn't get the neutering free and that I'd only get 30% knocked off it via the vets they use. That would mean having to find someone to take me 30min drive to the vets they use as well as buying the cats things. I just think £65 then the 70% I have to pay towards neutering on top of new cat things is a lot of money. When you can get a kitten from a private ad for maximum £30. I'd go for cats protection but they never seem to answer their phone or manage to call me back.

[cozietoesie]

Most rescues will ask for a donation but that's really only to cover their expenses - eg feeding and littering, first shots and microchip, neutering for older kittens and so on. No-one is making any money out of it, I assure you.

Nonetheless, a cat doesn't come free (or sometimes even cheap what with insurance and later vets bills) so if it's beyond your purse it's best that you recognize it right away rather than not spending money on a cat when it needs it. Most of us will do it willingly because of the joy they bring to people and families - but not everyone can manage the finance.

I hope circumstances permit you to get one at a later stage in life.

[rainbowslollipops]

Went to see the kitten and all was fine until they told me they charge £70 for the kitten as a donation. add that to the stuff I need to buy and that's expensive for a black kitten

[Sparklingbrook]

Dexter is a great name.

[rainbowslollipops]

haha I will don't worry! Dd decided Dexter would be a good name

[cozietoesie]

Get the camera charged up ready ! (You're obliged to post a picture here.)

[Sparklingbrook]

Roll on Monday.

[rainbowslollipops]

He's all black and 4 weeks old so he can't come home for another 4 weeks which is great for me cause it means I can get extra bits.

[Sparklingbrook]

Squeeeeeeee!!!!! Any further info? Colour/age/cuteness rating?

[rainbowslollipops]

I called a animal shelter to see if they had any in and they said they have a male kitten that's come in this afternoon and that I'm welcome to see him Monday afternoon and they'll.hold him for me until then

[rainbowslollipops]

An indoors one would be nice actually.

[KirstyJC]

Oooh good point - you could get an indoors one, then you wouldn't need to worry about a catflap.

[cozietoesie]

Depends if it is to be an outdoors cat, Kirsty - not all rescue cats are.

[KirstyJC]

We got an adult cat from a shelter and he is perfect!

They came and did a home visit, and due to 3 boisterous little ones they said we could only take a cat over 6 months old (which I wanted - potty training kids is hard enough, didn't want to do it with a cat as well!).

They talked us through the cats they had and then matched us to the perfect cat - they had fully assessed him and he was happy with lots of noise and young kids.

We did have to have a cat flap installed though, which was a bit of a pain as we didn't want one. (We closed off the old cat flap in the previous house as our previous cat used to like leaving bunnies on the stairs. Alive ones, mostly.) I was hoping not to have to get another but they insisted, so make sure you have somewhere to put one.

[Sparklingbrook]

Ooh good luck. And do keep us posted.

[rainbowslollipops]

The hamster can go in my room as my door is always shut as is Dds room. I'll show dd some cats and info on them. I think I saw a section on a website for kids. Thanks ladies!

[MrsClown1]

I hasten to add, I only have 1 cat and 1 dog now (both rescues)

[MrsClown1]

Hi Rainbows - my advice (for what its worth!!) is get an older rescue cat. When you first take it home (if you get one) it will be a little nervous but it will soon settle in. I have had cats for years, all rescues and all but one adults. I had 8 cats at once at one time! Until 2 years ago I also had hamsters and the cats just ignored them. Not knowing what the cats are like I would keep the hamster cage in a room where the cats cant go just be sure. Do you have a spare room? Funnily enough we got a 10 year old poodle 2 years ago and he used to scare the hamster to death! He used to sit looking and growling at the cage so the hamster was scared to come out of his tunnel so we ended up finding a wonderful home for the hamster at my son's girlfriend's house!! I LOVE CATS (well all animals really). Good luck.

[cozietoesie]

That's fine then - but don't imagine any cat won't immediately realize he's there. They would smell him and/or hear him breathing and whuffling in his sleep if nothing else.

Still sounds as if you have to do more on the reassuring DD front though. Perhaps let her look at websites with you and tell her a bit more about cats?

[rainbowslollipops]

Hamster is only 11 weeks old and comes out each night but in his exercise ball. I have no problems letting him in his ball in another room to stop the cat getting in there but to be honest he sleeps all day so I doubt the cat will actually notice straight away. Dd knows I'd never let anything happen to the hamster.