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

Original poster

Where to buy kitten and which type should I buy?

19 replies

TomHaverford · 11/05/2016 19:01

We have just moved in to our forever home and would really love to get a kitten. We have a large house and secure garden and a 10mo old Dd with someone in all the time. I just dont know where to start really!

What type of kitten should I be looking for? Ive seen british short hairs and they are lovely but im not sure if I should get a pedigree or not? The thing that attracts me to that is that the kitten is coming from somewhere reputable and is vaccinated and microchipped ect.

Im not opposed to moggys but have no idea where to get one from. Ive looked at some cat charities but the cats there all seem to be much older and i would ideally like a kitten as we have a young dd.

I also have a chronic mouse problem and any help in that direction would be a huge plus!

OP posts:
lottielou7 · 11/05/2016 19:34

I have two ragdolls - they are beautiful cats with a very placid personality and we absolutely love them to bits. If you get a pedigree make sure you do your research and find a breeder who cares about the animals. Our kitten is from a reputable breeder but he came to us covered in fleas and she was willing to sell him to me on the active register which is not a sign of someone who has the animals welfare at heart.

Most people will say that you should get your cat from a rescue and I don't disagree with this at all but it comes down to what you really want. Bear in mind that pedigrees tend to have more health problems than moggies and boys are much more expensive to insure than girls.

Costacoffeeplease · 11/05/2016 19:35

Definitely contact a local rescue, we're in kitten season now, they're probably flooded with kittens

Wolfiefan · 11/05/2016 19:37

I wouldn't get a kitten with a 10month old. Ours would attack anything moving when they were little. Hands, feet, clothing. Both my kids were scratched!
A slightly older adult (or two?!)
Whereabouts are you in the country?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 11/05/2016 19:39

Please contact a rescue. As Costa says it's kitten season and they will be over run. It's worth contacting them as not all kittens go on the website.

Personally I didn't want a kitten and went for a slightly older cat with a known temperament (he was around 3), would you consider that?

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 11/05/2016 19:47

I think you're not seeing kittens on the rescue sites because the kittens that were born at the beginning of the 2016 kitten season aren't quite old enough to be adopted yet. If you get in touch with your local rescue site then they will have kittens needing homes in the next couple of months.
However they may say that tiny kittens aren't a wise plan with a very young child and try to steer you towards a cat the same age as your child, which could work brilliantly.

MaddyHatter · 11/05/2016 19:56

the rescues here have a lot of kittens that are 4-6weeks so won't be ready to be adopted out for a while.

Do try a rescue though, they generally come to you neutered, chipped and often with a months free insurance, and vaccinated!

Original poster
TomHaverford · 11/05/2016 20:30

Thanks for the advice!

I would consider an older cat that was used to children, I just thought it would be easier with a kitten to settle in. I have looked at rescues, im based in London and the two i've looked at will only adopt out kittens in pairs? Im not sure about two as I had two kittens when I was younger and had to give one away as it was constantly attacking its sibling.

In regards to dd with a cat- my parents have a cat who she adores and is very gentle with although he is elderly so maybe this is the way to go?

Since i posted I have been furiously googling and do like the idea of a rescue cat...

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 11/05/2016 20:34

Maine Coon, two, because I'd love to and can't.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 11/05/2016 20:36

If you're in south/east London then do get in touch with Celia Hammond Animal Trust - they have huge numbers of adorable cats and kittens looking for homes and I'm sure they'll find the perfect one for you.

Original poster
TomHaverford · 11/05/2016 20:44

IHave I would love a Maine Coon!

Aint I am in east london and have been looking at Celia Hammond but they also have the two kitten adoption rule.

OP posts:
TheABC · 11/05/2016 20:51

I have done rescue cats and pedigree. The main difference is that you pay a lot more for pedigree in exchange for a likely temperament and qualities. We got our maine coon from a reputable breeder after ascertaining he had been brought up with small children and other animals (a necessity in our household). However, we adored our rescue moggies who came fully deflead, wormed and chipped. The only drawback is that the shelter cannot always tell you enough about their background. Two cats can work - DH adopted a brother and sister before we met that happily lived together - but to be sure, try to get slightly older kittens or cats that have been together before.

cozietoesie · 11/05/2016 20:53

With a young DD, I'd probably go for a slightly older rescue cat who has a bit more of a known temperament. (Kittens are much more 'pot luck'.) Remember, you could easily have this cat living with you until they are - say - 15-20. The kitten stage is no time at all.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 11/05/2016 20:53

CHAT are pretty good at matching siblings who will get along with each other though. Or a young mum with her kitten - they won't normally fight each other (I think, not an expert). Or go for a lone young cat, there's some gorgeous 8-12 month cats out there looking for a good home.

(Biased here because my spare room is currently home to a CHAT fostered young mummy cat and her four inconceivably cute little fluff-balls who will be looking for homes real soon now).

LMGTFY · 11/05/2016 21:01

We have 2 cats, one this week has left 3 puddles of vomit around the house. When we moved one peed in the clean laundry, the other peed on my bed cos they were stressed with moving. They were great mousers at the old house where we had lots about but this did mean daily 'presents' Please please think carefully about whether you will always find the puddles/poos /dead mouse before your soon to be toddler puts them in their mouth. I love the little sods to bits and having one is wonderful, but just think about the next year or so and if you can manage a toddler and a cat pissed off with being licked, pulled, picked up and generally chased; if so then that's wonderful, happy days ahead!

Wordsaremything · 11/05/2016 21:18

Older cat, not a kitten. And make sure you can protect him or her from your toddler.

Original poster
TomHaverford · 11/05/2016 21:25

Thanks for all your advice Smile. I think i will ask the people from Celia Hammond to come round and assess us and then go from there.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 12/05/2016 00:32

Good luck. Years ago we got a lovely mum and son from Katz Castle (Cobham?)
She was 2 and he was 18 months! Gorgeous pair. Settled right in.

31weeksgone · 12/05/2016 00:37

Sorry I haven't read the full thread but just wanted to recommend the cats protection league, yellow symbol/brand logo. We got our cat Alice from there, a 8 week old kitten. (She's now 5!) She was registered, neutered and microchipped. I think we picked her up around 16 weeks old? She's fab. You don't always have to buy a kitten to be able to get one, you can adopt them ☺️

31weeksgone · 12/05/2016 00:38

This charity, are fab.

Where to buy kitten and which type should I buy?
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