Choosing everykittens this evening and I know NOTHING

[everymummy]

DS has wanted a kitten for ages and ages and so the time has come - I've found a litter for sale nearby and we're going to choose one or more probably two or three this evening.

Is it better to have two from the litter, right?

Is there any advice for buying kittens? Presumably we will see the mother. I've never had a cat before.

If you don't have any advice please drop in and join the squeeeee!

Your thread title makes me despair. You're going to choose a kitten/kittens this evening and you "know nothing".

PLEASE- before you take on responsibility for another living creature, take time to do some research about what you need to do, what the commitment involves and where you're getting it/them from.

You're not choosing a handbag you know, so a bit less of the childish 'squeeee' and a lot more thought, care and planning would be appropriate

My two princesses were pedigree breeding queens from what I think was a kitten farm type situation. I dread to think how many babies they'd had. But it has taken me nearly two years to bring them round to what they are now. They had never lived in a house and were incredibly nervous. Out of the group of 6 that were rescued their third sister died and one of the others almost died from a uterus infection. This is why you shouldn't buy kittens. The lady who rescued them said their owner was a lovely lady, but she told her a pack of lies. She'd spotted the chicken coupe style cattery they were kept in.

The more people who buy kittens from anywhere other than a rescue, the more people will keep breeding kittens for sale, as they know they'll make money out of them.
And please everyone be aware that this applies to pedigree animals as well - if a specific type of animal is currently "in fashion" then people will pay more, which makes that breed a target for the unscrupulous breeders.

My tips for what it's worth:
Only buy from a rescue or people who you already know personally.
Make sure you get your kittens neutered and chipped before you let them out.
Buy 1, not 2 - they really do keep each other company !
Register with a vet and make sure you get your kittens checked to make sure that they are healthy.
Make sure that your kittens are vaccinated and wormed.

If you've never had kittens, it might be an idea to get your DS used to them if you have a friend who has a cat (I can't get the recent post out of my mind - the OP posted about her DC who killed their new puppy by throwing it as "he didn't know how to behave around puppies". Please don't make that mistake !
Kittens are not toys.

Oops - obviously that should read:
Get 2 not 1 as they really do enjoy each other's company !

Our cats came from rescue as kittens -they are sisters who were hand weaned and so they think they are human. They are not keen on my three year old (too loud!) but have never so much as unsheathed a claw near him. It's so important to get properly socialised cats with children - personally I think a rescue centre would be a better option for that reason alone. Plus as others have said they will worm etc and we had to sign a contract stating that we would get them neutered and they gave us a lot of info and advice.

Yes repeat the mantra "adopt don't shop"! A reputable rescue will have the kittens/cats vet checked, fleas, wormed, neutered (if old enough).
Personally with a young child a bigger cat would be better. I volunteer at CP and have seen a lot of cats between 6 months and 2 years old needing new homes. They are still playful but more is known of their temperament as well as being sturdier.
Think carefully before getting a cat and I don't have a very high opinion of breeders using animals to make a fast buck with no regard for animal welfare, they are scum.

I bought a kitten recently - we tried rescues first but the local ones wouldn't let us have a kitten because we have young children.

We only got one and paid about £30 for her I think. Got her at about 10 weeks and were happy she was healthy looking and energetic and the mother was friendly and healthy too.

We took her to the vet immediately and had her checked over, vaccinated, flea/worm treated etc and she's booked in to be spayed and microchipped at 18 weeks.