Reasons not to buy a pedigree kitten......

[KatyMac]

Yes I am whinging about not getting a cat again; so persuade me I can't have one

There are plenty of rescue cats

You shouldn't encourage people to breed kittens (because of all the rescue cats)

Pedigree cats are over bred & it's bad for them

They are very expensive

DH doesn't want one

There must be more & better reasons not to buy one........

Visit a rescue and get him to accompany you. (Which he ought to be happy to do as he thinks that will stop you coming home with one.)

Then wait for the first kitten to flirt with him.

In my experience, the firmer they are, the harder they eventually fall.

(Although, of course, you might be Dudleyed which would solve all issues.)

My DH was absolutely adamant that we couldn't keep the tiny kitten (Dudley) rescued from under our car bonnet last year, there were good reasons for him saying this as we already had 2 old & ailing cats & 2 small and very noisy boys.

Predictably within about 24 hours he had done a complete about-turn and was coaxing the little creature onto his lap. Duds is now quite devoted to him & sleeps on his feet every night

It's only a matter of time before your DH comes round to the idea...

I'm a bit off rescues tbh. Last cat came from a rescue.

1. It wasn't free (fair enough - rescue has to cover costs - but it was a long way from 'free').

2. It was only half way through the jabs - they offered for us to return to complete the course (2 hour round trip) - but wouldn't confirm to our vet that cat only needed second dose. Hence we had to pay again for jabs.

3. According to the vet, cat was much older than the rescue led us to believe. Within 2 years she had come down with a geriatric disorder.

4. They were very prescriptive about what cat we were 'allowed'. A child under 2 meant that we were ruled out from getting a kitten. With older cats - there was only a choice of 2 that they felt were suitable from pov of being social enough to live with a family/not needing to be placed with a sibling/not having complicated health needs. Of those 2 cats - one hid from us and one came out to say 'hello' - so ergo we got the default cat. Obviously you want a successful placement - but I would argue that a decently socialised kitten born in the rescue has a perfectly good chance of 'growing into' a good family cat.

The rescue cat is now no more - we are on the lookout again - but I DC want a kitten -and we have another baby on the way - so I am planning to go to a breeder rather than a rescue.

Came on this thread because I'd love a Russian Blue - but there don't seem to be many around? Does anyone know a reputable breeder in the SE?

There are good rescues and ....not so good rescues so I wouldn't judge on one experience. You might find better luck with the breed rescues. I get the impression that most of their welfare people are breed enthusiasts who have found themselves in that position rather than going for it - and they generally love nothing better than a good chat (if they have the time) or email.

Here's the link for the Russian Blue Welfare Association - you'll se that they also have a breeder list and - interestingly - a list of disqualified breeders which they recommend you check. Why not drop them an email or give them a call?

We have a BSH who we bought as a kitten from a breeder.

She is lovely (although a bit aloof at times!) but is great with children. Her favourite human is our 8 year old DD.

We would have got a rescue kitten or older cat but those I researched weren't interested in us as our son was too young (2 at the time).

Seems to be a general pedigree trait that they don't wander far outside and always come back to use the litter tray whereas most of the moggies I know travel quite far and do their business outside.

I think they were a good rescue in that the accommodation for the cats was amazing (rescue/cattery set up). But as a punter - I think next time I'll appease my conscience by sticking £100 in the charity box - and then sorting out the cat I want privately. It's a long term relationship - so in retrospect I was a bit to be railroaded into the animal they wanted me to take.