Cat/kitten?

[Hodorsbitch]

Hi all. I rehomed a lovely rescue cat 18 months ago, a little two year old boy who'd been abandoned. He was pickly but very loving. But after a year he sadly was found dead by the side of the road. Very sad but after a while the cat-shaped hole in our hous became too gaping and we rehomed a tiny very dainty lady cat of the same age who had come from a multi-cat household who couldn't cope when she had kittens. All went brilliantly and we kept her in as suggested but then she disappeared one night nearly three months ago. She is chipped and we've done the posters/leaflets and calling vets and animal search to no avail.

I've now realised that if she has been taken in by someone else they will have had my little lady for twice as long as we did so if she was discovered to be ours down the line actually it might not be kind or wise to rehome her here again....

So....in the new year I will let optimism triumph over realism and try again but I'm not sure what type of buddy to go for. My mum says that kittens are great because they imprint on you and won't roam- but then they are more prone to getting hit on the road. And an older cat will have more of a known personality and Cats Protection might be able to guide me again on one good for my situation. Quite busy road out front (they did okay me after home visit before), two children aged 4 and 5 and three by cats next door but loads of open countryside behind us and a nice garden.

Who should I look for? Any thoughts on what age and which gender might be best to avoid conflicts with the boys from next door?
Thanks in advance.

I think your mum is talking rubbish. Whether you get a cat as a kitten or an adult has little or no impact on it's bonding or roaming tendencies.

With a busy road, and already having lost one to the road, I wouldn't even consider getting a kitten. I would try to rehome an adult ex stray (one that is used to roads). It would be less likely to roam than a kitten and, if it did find itself near the road, would have more road sense. I would be guided by the rescue. They will know which of their cats would suit you best.

What happened to the lady with all the cats? Did she get help with neutering? And was your girl neutered when you lost her?

I am no expert at all, but we had thought of getting a kitten & ended up getting a 6-8 month old instead - would never deliberately get a kitten having experienced that. He's weaned, litter trained, can stand up for himself with the DC but also young enough to learn to tolerate enjoy the love. So I would go for that sort of option.

I think you'd be better off going for over 5 years old. The more adult the better really considering the road.

Thank you for your thoughts. It's what fits with my inclination and I'm happy to take an older cat over a cute n fluffy kitten which will fly off the shelf. Both cats were neutered before coming home and were through the local cats protection.