Getting a kitten - where to start?

[everythingisonmurtaghlist]

We're looking to get a kitten later in the year but how do you go about getting one? We had a cat years ago but she died and when we got her we picked up one of those papers with the classified ads in but these don't really seem to be around anymore. Friends have suggested cats protection league, SSPCA etc but looking at their websites it's all adult cats that they have.

he/she will be an outdoor cat - dh insists on this - and not looking for pedigree just a wee moggy really. Advice welcome.

I think kittens come and go quickly at cool and sspca. I would go and visit them and have a chat. The cpl near Kirkintilloch has a kitten room.

Personally I would get a cat at about 18m as you can tell their temperament and don't have to go through the crazy kitten stage

Hi everything. Kittens are snapped up so quickly usually they don't even make it to the website.

Ring the local rescues and tell them you are looking to rehome a kitten. It's kitten season at the moment, so they may have everything from pregnant Mums to kittens that are born but not ready to leave Mum just yet.

Our charity is much smaller than the SSPCA and at the moment we are getting around 30 to 40 kitten a week in for rehoming. Kitten season is in full flow. I'm sure there will be plenty for you to rehome.

We are also desperate for people to foster Mums and new kittens until the kittens are ready for rehoming. Perhaps you might like to do that and then keep a couple?

i think from a rescue you will be hard pushed to get a very young kitten that you intend to have as an outdoor cat from the start as kittens are far to vunerable to predators, and need human contact it would sorry but be cruel to get a young 10 - 12 week old kitten and then not have it in the house

you would probably be better off asking about a feral or semi feral that is a little bit too old to be tamed but still a young cat (say about 6-12 months) as most rescues have a few of these on their books, or looking at a farm bred kitten who will be used to sleeping in a barn but make sure you get it neutered or you will end up with a colony of ferals, this would be a cat that while happy to live outdoors wont want to come into the house, so if you want a cat that is just going to come for food then go for an outdoor cat,

what accomadation do you have for an outdoor cat a shed or barn is ideal but a box under a hedge or just a small outdoor kennell wont do it

Ooh sorry. When Op said 'outdoor' I assumed it would live in the house with access to the outdoors. As opposed to a solely indoor cat IYKWIM. That does put a different slant on things.

I thought by outdoor cat you meant it would have access to outside.

I don't think a kitten would last long outside, it's snack sized.

Cats aren't really outdoor pets, it's a bit mean really.

Oh no would not live outdoors. Definitely a family pet but would have access to the outdoors. I specified as I know there are some breeds that people recommend to be kept indoors

My husband insists on one we give access to the outside if and when he/she wants - he thinks its mean not to. Obviously the kitten would stay indoors with us until old enough to handle itself outdoors. Would people honestly put a teeny baby kitten outside all the time? Can't think why you'd get one at all in that case.

sorry everything when you said outdoor i presumed you meant a semi feral type arrangement, usually called indoor outdoor if in home with access to outside and yes there are people who will let a kitten outside far too early i have fostered a few at around six weeks who have been found on their own outside and obviously not feral born in that case contact local rescues as they will all be up their gills in kittens from now till around january as the kitten season seems to go on all year round now with only a blip in february if the last 3 years are anything to go on

Oh good I had visions of a furry face pressed against the window while you all sat toasty inside.

Moggies can go out, I've got a bengal and lots of owners keep them in but it's a very active breed so I let him out.

We got one of ours as a kitten from CPL - they only put cats on the website who are there for a while, and the kittens don't stay. Unlike our other two - one was there for nearly 18 months, and the other 9 months because they aren't cute and cuddly