All advice welcome .

[Jaytee38]

Ok. I'll admit I grew up only with dogs but I've always loved animals. In fact I shared a flat for a couple of years with a cat and flat mate. I actually helped her choose the kitten.

Back in the day we obviously had the mixed food tray for wet food and milk and a separate bowl for biscuits. We had a coveted litter tray.

We had various toys and a scratch post. He had a proper cat bed but never slept in it.
He was an outdoor cat who only came in in the evenings.

This time id obviously choose a cat to re-home. I'd really like a kitten if possible . Id honestly prefer a short haired cat. Unsure of sex.

I really feel having a pet will be good for me.

So my questions are

What differences could I expect between male/female cats behaviour wise?
What are essential items I need for the cat/ kitten coming home? Are there any specific product to go for, or ones to avoid.

If I go to visit a rehoming centre what should I be looking out for?

Apologies if this sounds stupid but why do they like to re-home in pairs? If it's to do with company I am home a lot. Would that make a difference.

If I've missed anything out please feel free to tell me. I'd rather father as much info as possible.

Thanks for any help.

Cats are great!

Essentials; litter tray and litter - start off with what litter they are used to, you don't want any dirty protests! Scratching post/tree - the biggest you can accommodate and afford. Earthenware or stainless steel dishes, not plastic. A grooming mitt. A few toys. I wouldn't bother with a bed. They'll never use them 🙄.

NEUTERING, INSURANCE AND MICROCHIPPING IS A MUST. IMO it should be a legal requirement.

I find boys a bit more stupid but a lot funnier and naughty than girls. Girls are generally more sensible and smart but a bit offish. Although it hasn't out me off them, I have 4 girls that I adore.

Many rescues like to rehome kittens in pairs, especially if people are out of the house working - it would be incredibly lonely and sad for a wee kitten to be by itself.. But your rescue can advise you on what suits your lifestyle. Having 2 is not a lot more trouble than 1 tbh and watching them play together is really special. But I have 7 (all rescues) and would happily have more so I'm maybe not the person to talk about sensible numbers

Getting a cat from a rescue is a great thing to do, kitten or older. If you look at something 3/4 months plus, they should be neutered and vaccinated and whatever adoption fee is charged, it'll be less than what it would cost you to do it.

As long as you can do the above and have a back up for times you're on hols/away, you'll have such a fab addition to your life.

IMO Males are a lot more loving and bashful than females that tend to be more stand off ish and haughty (at least my female is) I agree the biggest cat tree you can get and lots of fun toys for them is a must.
Cat milk isn't really necessary but can be a nice treat in moderation , Speaking of treats invest in some dreamies they are like cocaine to cats mine goes bonkers for them when you first fetch your cat home make sure they have a space to themselves i used a cardboard box with some of our old clothes in so she got used to our scent and she still sleeps in it now and loves it more than any cat bed. We left her alone for a few days with minimal contact and let her come to us when she was ready. Also a good quality food is a must generally the higher the cost the better the quality but it isnt always the case
Ours is currently on Aldi food which is what she got at the centre but we want to switch her to Applaws wet or a high quality grain free dried kibble,You should avoid foods with grains cereals and fillers as they just cause problems for the cat and have no value at all.
Sorry for the long essay hope it helps and enjoy your new furbaby

A rescue centre will normally have neutered, vaccinated and microchipped the cats. If it's too young to neuter, they often supply a voucher to get it done at a latter date.
Female cats I have had tended to be typical eat, sleep, out, love you for food, cats. My first boy is more dog like, affectionate, follows you around, has learned simple commands like sit and roll over. This is based only on my limited sample so could be just him and nothing to do with male/ female! Litter tray - try to use same litter as the rescue centre, some cats can be lucky about change. Same with food, you can gradually add in new food if you would prefer a different brand, but cats dislike change on the whole, so no sudden swapping diet.
Scratching post - some like upright, some like vertical. Try a cheap cardboard one before you splash out.
Kittens won't react to catnip, so wait until they are older.
Toys don't have to be purchased, feathers, balls of foil or paper, hair bobbles etc. are generally liked.
Flea and worm treatment. Tick treatment if you are in a tick area.
Cat flap for when they can be let out.

Should say picky not lucky re cat litter!

Essentials:
Microchip
Neutering
Vaccinations
Treatment to prevent fleas & worms
Carrier
Either pet insurance or savings in case of injury/illness
Large litter tray(s) with the same litter they've been used to
Bowl (ceramic or stainless steel) and the same food they've been used to
Bowl with water placed away from food & litter
Scratching post (stable, tall enough to stretch up on)
Something to groom them with

Things to avoid:
Giving them cow's milk (too much lactose)
Automated or completely enclosed litter trays (the cat might decide to start pooing elsewhere)
Scratch posts that are wobbly or too small
Frontline flea treatment (doesn't work on modern fleas)
12 month insurance policies (any new conditions are excluded)
Expensive cat beds (will never be used)

Definitely agree male cats are more affectionate than females. I only have males. They're all lovely. Also quicker and cheaper to neuter.

Still no look after looking for 3 months. Been trying to do the responsible things and search through the SSPCA and local re-homing but snapped up so quickly.

Is really like a kitten this time as firstly I'm home a lot. Secondly I've taken on older cats and loved them. I'd just like a turn of having a cat from a kitten

Started looking locally but no luck and I live in a city. I don't even want a fancy breed just a domesticated short hair...

Anyone have any miraculous solution ?? 🙂

People sometimes leave it too late to get a female kitten neutered and then give her up her to a shelter when they realise she's pregnant. Her kittens will get rehomed very quickly once they're 12w or so. It usually takes a bit longer to find a home for the mum, who might be under a year old herself.

If you are open to adopting a cat up to the age of about two or so, you might have more luck.

This is the wrong time of year for kittens for a start. By the time we get to April/May every homing centre will be flooded with them.

There is a breeding season and December is as out of season as it's possible to be!

Also we (Celia Hammonds) would never home a young kitten singly. They are so much happier with a sibling or their mum. A young kitten on it's own will need constant attention and still probably won't be happy. I don't know the policy of other rescues but we do it for a reason - and that is to make everyone (kitten and owner) happier and less stressed.

So the best thing you could do is to adopt an adult cat. That way the personality of the cat will be known and the rescue will be able to guide you towards the best cat for you (for example confident, friendly, and not desperate to be with other cats). A single kitten would be the most stressful and difficult thing to take on but if you really must do it then wait until May and there will be millions of them.

Came on to offer advice but looks like that's been covered.
You might have more luck not around Christmas to be honest.
Also, what's wrong with plastic food bowls?? CantCat has them and I had know idea I should have stainless steel or ceramic. Will change if needed!

I found building a relationship with the rescue centre helped. We went regularly and because they knew us and what we were looking for they phoned us up when they had what we wanted. The next time we were looking our local rescue centre had loads of kittens!

I love young adult cats. Harry was about 3 when we adopted him and he was young and playful but beyond the climbing the curtains stage. He's nearly 13 now but still thinks he's a big kitten sometimes (other times he's a lazy git but I think that goes with the territory!).

what's wrong with plastic food bowls
Nothing, if CantCat is happy with them.

Some cats don't like them when they're brand new (because they smell of plastic) or when they get too old (because the surface gets too worn and retains smells).

Also plastic bowls can be flipped over with the flick of a claw if the food isn't what they want im switching to ceramic bowls for this reason

We use ordinary cereal bowls, the cats are better at licking them clean. Machine washable.

What about a pair of sibling kittens? MNers seem to like getting 1 boy+1girl. I got 2 brothers.

Oh, thank you. He seems to be fine with them. And has never managed to tip one over but I wouldn't be that suprised if he learned
I was worried I was inadvertently poisoning him! Thanks for the advice, I would have had to do a mad dash to the shops!

Thanks for all your advice. It's much appreciated.
I'm happy to wait. I just figured that you hear every year that people end up dumping animals in shelters every year after Christmas, so I thought I might have a chance 🙂

It's too soon. Give it a week!

Yeah i was thinking it would maybe be start of January. Just keeping an eye on cats protection.
Thanks again for everyone's advice.

So far I've got a couple of ceramic dishes. A couple of toys and a scratching pole that has extra bits to play with.

I assume it's best to have the same litter and food that's established?
Also going to meet up with someone from local cats protecting. Sadly their are ppl trying to rehome pets already although more dogs than cats.
I really want to have the house best organised for the cat first.

I kept the same food for about two weeks and swapped over. Litter was different
Mine is an incredibly affectionate boy, no interest as he was slightly older and he's all black. He strolled out the carrier and looked around, and clambered on my lap all "this my home? Ok then. Good human"

Cats protection gave me loads of leaflets about settling new cats in and getting them used to fireworks etc etc. I binned them after he climbed on my lap and slept through a firework display

We had a single kitten from the rspca nearly four years ago. He had no siblings and enjoyed playing with the other kittens in foster care, but seems happy to be an only cat. Actually he seems to think he’s one of the kids.
He took everything in his stride right from the minute we brought him home and is very loving and confident. A bit wary of strangers but that’s good. We take him to my moms and on holiday and so long as he is with us, he’s happy. I don’t work so am around a lot.
This weather he barely goes out. I don’t really think cats should be out in all weathers unless they really do prefer to be, and certainly not overnight.