Advice on new cat/ kitten

[miccymaccy]

I've always had rescue cats. My last cat sadly passed a year ago but feeling ready to love again ;) and thinking the fact we'll all be at home for a while might be a good time to get a new cat.

However, ringing round my 3 local rescue centres, all have declined us as we have 3 small children and live on a main road. Fair enough but we've given several cats a loving home in the past so feel confident we can do that again.

So I'm thinking of getting a cat/kitten but I've never 'purchased' a cat before. Having a look online and obviously want to see them with their mothers. Anything else I should be looking for? Also if someone says a cat/ kitten is a breed, is there paper work to prove it? Any help much appreciated.

Don’t shop online.
If you want a breed then research the breed and breed club. Though you won’t be getting a pedigree from a good breeder quickly.
Or wait to rescue. Some cats have to stay inside. Or could you cat proof your garden?
Don’t give your money to people who CBA to neuter their cats.

Rescue centres have turned you down for a very good reason. Living on a main road means there is a very high chance that any cat you get will be run over. I realise you have had a cat without this happening - but you have been very lucky.

Young cats (under 2 years old) are the most likely to be run over. They explore more and haven't learned fear of road and are more impulsive than older cats. With young children you haven't a hope in hell of being able to successfully contain a cat in the house. Doors and windows will be left open, no matter how hard you try to police it.

What's the access like from the back of the house to the front? For example if you are in the middle of a block of terrace houses, making a large block of gardens with little access to the front, then that would be just about feasible - but you should still aim to get a cat over 4 years old and that has has experience of roads.

If you are in a detached, or semi-detached house then you shouldn't consider it.

Our rescue would consider placing a street-wise cat (one that's come from the street) over 4 years old in a situation like yours - depending on ease of access to the main road. We would certainly never place a younger cat or kitten - as it wouldn't live to be old!

What criteria did you give to the rescue? Did you specify young cats/kittens? If so, then of course you were turned down. If you are willing to accept cats suggested by rescues then there may be some that would home to you.

To buy would be an awful thing to do. No one should encourage people to bring more cats into the world when there are already far too many. And you would also likely be condemning that cat to a very early death.

I said any type of cat who would be happy with children, no age specification at all. Our house is detached so no way of stopping them getting to the road. But in the 15 years I've lived here and the 4 cats we've had in that time we've never had a problem with the road.

You could cat proof the garden.

Yes indeed. You could cat proof the garden!

We've recently got a rescue cat. We have 2 children (7 and 9) and our small road is just a few metres from a main road. To be honest I think the cat was terrified of the children at first. I tried to keep them quiet but they could only keep it up for 5 minutes at a time. The cat went in to hiding for 2 weeks and now seems more comfortable when the kids are out. I think it's OK if your house has plenty of places for the cat to go off and get some peace and quiet. When I was reading up on the rescue cats available there were several that had to be kept as indoor cats. Could you get one of those?