Should I?

[YoureAllABunchOfBastards]

We are going to see a kitten tomorrow. I may have fallen in love already.

We have had a cat before - got her when she was about 8 months old. She was a very nervous house cat, utterly gorgeous. She died four years ago, aged fourteen, and we decided no more animals for a while - had lost the second of our two dogs a year previously.

Now the kids are 6 and 4 (nearly 7 and 5). They love animals. We spotted a kitten advertised locally - 7 weeks old. Visiting tomorrow.

We are going on holiday in 6 weeks so would have to use cattery (we know a very nice one nearby). We know we need to sort injections, neutering etc, and that we would have to keep the kitten indoors for a while. After that, we have garden access and live on a quiet road, so fairly safe. Our sofas are already wrecked thanks to previous cat.

We are out of the house 8am - 4pm every day. There are actually two kittens - do we go for both? Will they keep each other company? Are we being nuts?

Argh. Just read a lot of stuff about 7 weeks being way too young to be separated from mother. May need a rethink.

It's a little young, yes. Kits tend to be better socalized and trained (cleaning, litter tray etc) if they're with their Mum until at least 10 weeks, preferably even a bit older.

What are the circumstances, though ? Is the kitten to be put to sleep if you don't take her?

You might be better off waiting until after holiday and then looking in the local rescues. Maybe even going for a mature cat who is good with children? There are loads of those looking for homes right now, sadly.

Well, we left the 7 week olds and as I type I am watching DH play with our new family member, a five month old black and white darling. He has been in our house for an hour and we are all in love.

I am removing ornaments every two minutes, though - long time since we had a kitten!

Alternatively, now is the time to get out that appalling vase/nick nack that you were given by Aunt Wilmelhina or someone and put it, with anticipation, in pride of place!

Well done on the new kitten. Looking forward to some pictures.