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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Where's the best place to get a kitten?

29 replies

Notfootball · 05/10/2013 21:42

Always had a cat as a child and they have come from family and friends.

We'd love to have a family cat now, I used to have moggies but would like something a bit different but don't think we can afford a pedigree - we have about £150 to spend - so I guess it would be cross.

My children are nearly 3 & 4 and are used to cats and are very gentle.

Where's the best place to get a kitten? Checked our most local rescue centre and they only have beautiful older cats.

OP posts:
LidlAngel · 05/10/2013 21:45

are you anywhere near London? Battersea always seem to have kittens on their website.

imperfectparent · 05/10/2013 21:54

Please don't buy a pedigree from a breeder. It is their personality and character that matters the most. There are so many lovely moggies available. Try your local Cats Protection branch or the RSPCA. We adopted 2 a few years ago who were middle aged. They were mother and daughter. We've just also adopted a kitten and they are all blending in well together (the odd spat as they sort out the pecking order). Our kitten was 5 months old and newly spayed. They recently had a kitten rehoming day with more than 20 kittens so it isn't the case that all cats available for adoption are older. Even so, a cat of maybe 1 or over may suit you as kittens can be little vandals (in the nicest possible way). I think the adoption fee was around £60 and they come spayed, vaccinated and wormed. Good luck. They really are a joy.

thecatneuterer · 05/10/2013 22:20

Please don't buy any sort of kitten - pedigree or moggy. If you do that you're encouraging people to allow their cat to breed more. There are already thousands, if not millions more cats than there are available homes - please don't encourage people to add to the numbers.

There are kittens available in all rescue centres. You can find your nearest rescue here: www.catchat.org

But as has been said above, you would probably be better off with a slightly older cat. They are less trouble, you know the personality you're getting, and they will already have been neutered.

sashh · 06/10/2013 08:11

A pedigree cross is actually just a moggie. Usually a queen who has escaped for some fun.

It's possible my cat, a stray, is a Bengal cross - she does look like one, but then she also looks like a tabby.

Cats Protection, Battersea etc are the best places. Their kittens have had a health check are either neutered or will be, vaccinated etc.

Dillydollydaydream · 06/10/2013 08:21

We got our 2 kittens from a rescue centre they had dozens to choose from :(
This was just one rehoming place we went to.

itsnothingoriginal · 06/10/2013 11:13

Lots of kittens to choose from at our local CP branch. We adopted ours at 9 weeks old. She's a tortie and white. It's been hard work but worth it as she's just used to our family now (and the hectic but loving DC Grin).

Putitonthelist · 06/10/2013 14:50

sashh just had a nosey at your photos and your cat is so pretty!!

I have a brown tabby, she is very light underneath with spots on her underside so unsure if she is part Bengal.

ZebraOwl · 06/10/2013 20:51

As the others have said, please, for the love of all that is good & feline, don't buy a kitten, rehome one from a rescue. Actually, ideally, rehome a pair from a rescue because unless someone[s] home all the time, they'll likely be lonely as an Only Cat.

My blond!cat is exceptionally beautiful to the point strangers stop & take photos of him & even the vets have all commented on how gorgeous he is. (Black!cat is also gorgeous, just less showy!) AFAIK, my cats are Pure Moggie, but they are also Pure Awesome.

Before you decide against an older cat, are you certain a kitten would be right for your family? Can someone be around to feed them 4 times a day? Would you be able to cope if they weren't completely litter trained? How old are your children? Will you definitely be able to keep the kitten(s) inside until they've been neutered (& microchipped)?

Original poster
Notfootball · 06/10/2013 21:11

Wow, thanks for all your replies and advice. I shall make it my business to find a rescue cat. I'll search the rescue centres further afield tomorrow and pick one from there. I am home all day, just pop out for the usual errands and the gym, and a kitten could definitely be fed 4 times a day and be kept inside. Thanks again, you have turned me off from the breeders.

OP posts:
Scarletohello · 06/10/2013 21:13

Well according to recent posts on MN the best place to get a new kitty is in the garden, inside a car bonnet or in a hedge...! :)

KirstyJC · 06/10/2013 21:13

When we got our (older) cat, there were about 20 pairs or kittens at the CPL. Apparently all from one home where the owners didn't neuter them.

The rescues are brilliant - they know enough about the cats to get the one who suits you. We are a noisy lot and they found us a cat who doesn't bat a whisker at 3 shouty boys and seems to like being poked with toy cars!Grin

Good luck finding your new puss.

thecatneuterer · 06/10/2013 21:19

That's great OP. I realised my link wasn't clicky.

Here it is again: www.catchat.org

thecatneuterer · 06/10/2013 21:23

Zebra 'for the love of all that is good and feline' Grin ... expect that phrase to turn up in my posts in the very near future ...

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/10/2013 21:29

I'm having an adult rescue when the time eventually comes. You can keep the kitten phase, I'm over it.

I'm going to get the shyest most difficult one to re-home.

timtam23 · 06/10/2013 21:58

yes - as Scarlet says, definitely check under your car bonnet first Grin (that was my kitten!)

Thanks to the recent threads about rescue cats, if we get another cat I'll try to go for a black cat as apparently they are least popular Sad

cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 22:01

timtam and Scarlet

Could I just ask you to be a bit more sensitive for the sake of poor Sparkling who can't seem to 'find' a kitten for love or money.

WinkGrin

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/10/2013 22:08

www.derby.cats.org.uk/derby/adopt-a-cat/?cid=61383 like this one?.

cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 22:10

She is quite lovely.

Madratlady · 06/10/2013 22:11

I have 2 gorgeous rescue cats who adopted each other before they were adopted by me. They were 10 and 16 weeks when we got them from the rescue centre.

peggyblackett · 06/10/2013 22:13

Whereabouts are you OP?

ZebraOwl · 06/10/2013 22:25

Yay!

(It includes LOTS of pas de chat, naturally...)

Am v glad that you're now planning to get a cat through a rescue. If you can manage it, I honestly would recommend getting two kittens (I know some shelters will only home in pairs) as it makes for (in the main, obvs there are times it doesn't work!) Very Happy Kitties. Mine are littermates & would be far less happy creatures as Only Cats, even though I'm in a lot of the time - & indeed frequently home in bed, which is where the cats think I should be always (with breaks to feed them/change their water/sort their tray)...

Worth reading up on rescue centres policies etc in case some near you have a minimum age-of-children-in-home when it comes to adopting. Chance to scope out possible kitties is always good. I was going to adopt from a local rescue (am in London, LOTS of options!) but then my two darling moglets padded into my life on their squooshy little paws so I didn't get to the point of arranging a homecheck, but read quite a bit & different places have different rules/expectations etc.

You are Very Splendid Indeed, Notfootball for listening to us & engaging - not everyone would. Cannot tell you how glad I am that you've decided to get a cat from a rescue centre. One of my friends adopted two 5-month old kittens from Celia Hammond a couple of weeks ago & they have brought her Much Joy: I hope that your kitten(s) bring you the same.

(Oh, & - am v glad you like it. Mr Balanchine, curled up in my lap snurring away as I type, also approves. Is apparently my day for phrase-coining... )

imperfectparent · 07/10/2013 10:30

I would just like to second the post about black cats. It is true of dogs and cats that the mainly dark ones are the most overlooked. I believe it is thought that their eyes seem less prominent and engaging against dark fur as opposed to their blond buddies with their come hither looks. Our local CP stated on their website that on a kitten rehoming day, 18 out of 26 kittens were homed and all of the overlooked kitties were mainly dark. Naturally I phoned up straight away and homed one to join our 2 middle aged cats (who are incidentally pure white and mother and daughter). Our little black kitty is a darling and proving very spiky at holding her ground with the embedded matriarchs.

I believe CP have declared 31st October black cat day and everyone seems to be submitting photos of their black cats at the moment. One poster suggested that at future rehoming days, they are given sparkly collars to attract the odd backward glance. Give a second look to the black cats. They will bring you good luck in abundance.

Moyerette · 07/10/2013 10:36

I'd like to voice support of the black too. They are seen as 'cast-offs' and are so hard to home. I'm sure if you chose a black cat from a rescue they'll be shoving you out the doors as soon as you say yes Wink.

cozietoesie · 07/10/2013 10:55

I like the idea of those temporary sparkly collars (if they'll wear them.) They would show sleek black fur off a treat.

Moyerette · 07/10/2013 11:03

One of the black cats in my street has a yellow neon one. It looks so funny but it does its purpose. You can't miss him a mile off!