Where to buy kittens?!

[bethabean]

Hello!

We are looking to buy a kitten and wondering where people tend to buy them from nowadays? I have googled and gumtree, pets4homes etc. comes up so just wondering if they're the places to go or not!

Our local rescue has posts on fb etc. We got one last year.. Donation of £30. Free neutering..

Yeah they're the go to places if you want to support kitten farms....

Alternatively if you want to be a sensible cat owner go to a rescue and get an older cat.

Cats protection, please don't gumtree as often the conditions the animals are kept in are awful and people only for it for the cash while screwing over the poor cats!

@titchy

Yeah they're the go to places if you want to support kitten farms....

Alternatively if you want to be a sensible cat owner go to a rescue and get an older cat.

Not everyone wants an older cat

My son volunteered me to adopt one from his neighbour whose cat has just had some jet black jelly babies.
I haven't seen any up for adoption recently even on pets4homes which usually has some for hundreds of pounds.

i usually only have old cats from the cattery but they are apparently desperate to find really good homes for them.

Not everyone wants an older cat

Ok an older kitten then. But always go to a rescue.

Lots of rescues have kittens now! So much better than buying online - cheaper and no risk of supporting exploitative backyard breeders.

Place marking as my DC really wants a kitten, however we would love a British blue but where do I find a sensible breeder? Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry to take over OP.

Buying cats as if they were used bicycles on Gumtree and the like isn’t right, I think the law has even changed on this. Just encourages breeding for profit which also increases number of cats.

Rescues have plenty of kittens but often like you to take two. Apparently Covid has affected neutering rates and there are even more than usual.

Or it’s a matter of finding a friend or relative whose cat is expecting (not that this should be happening if you are a responsible owner but what’s done is done).

Don’t use pets4homes. We did earlier this year and ended up with 2 poorly kittens, one of whom died. Obv I had no idea they were a front for unscrupulous breeders, and had deliberately not used gumtree for this reason.

We were impatient and wanted a pair of kittens but this wasn’t the right way to do it. I would go to a rescue.

Adopt, don’t shop.

I notice Newcastle cat and dog shelter have older kittens for adoption who are being overlooked (no use if you don't live there I realise). Definitely approach rescues. Ours was an older kitten (9 months ish when we got him).

@titchy

Yeah they're the go to places if you want to support kitten farms....

Alternatively if you want to be a sensible cat owner go to a rescue and get an older cat.

Or go to a rescue and get kittens!!! Rescues have loads of kittens, particularly at the moment. It's a counterproductive and false message to suggest that the choice is either kittens from kitten farms or and older cat from a rescue. Rescues have kittens too.

If you're in London, or nearby, OP, the rescue I'm with can sort you out with kittens no problem. We have far more than we can cope with.

Tbh I would just use gumtree, people say to adopt but you have to jump through hoops to get one that way and even then most won’t give kittens especially if you have young children, my sister couldn’t get a cat because she lived in a flat even though she was asking for an indoor one. I got my cat off gumtree and she’s perfectly healthy. I didn’t get a kitten as I prefer slightly older cats anyway she was 1 when I got her and now she’s 7 but I know most people prefer kittens and you will struggle to get one from a rescue.

@thecatneuterer

If you're in London, or nearby, OP, the rescue I'm with can sort you out with kittens no problem. We have far more than we can cope with.

And what rescue is that? I know most won’t give kittens, are people allowed them if they have small children? As I’ve been told rescues don’t allow that.

@TurnUpTurnip Celia Hammonds. As for small children then it depends how small really. Kittens are at risk from small children. We don't have blanket rules but would normally steer families will children under 5 towards calm, child-friendly, 'bomb-proof' adult cats.

I spent months and months trying to adopt kittens (South East). Registered at every rescue within an hour's drive. Nothing. Gave up and bought them on pets4homes.

@Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse

Place marking as my DC really wants a kitten, however we would love a British blue but where do I find a sensible breeder? Any advice would be appreciated. Sorry to take over OP.

www.britishshorthaircatclub.co.uk/

I see yes we have one not too far from us but I have a 4 year old and I’ve heard the under 5s thing before, she’s been asking for a kitten for the last year, I would be happy with an older one myself but she’s adamant she wants a kitten!

Rescue - I got my lovely boy from the RSPCA, he was £95 which included him being neutered, vaccinated, health checked, deflead, deformed & 4 weeks free insurance.
Photo of him now, he was 11 weeks when we got him.

Try rescues. Or a reputable breeder and buy a pedigree- this should be expensive. You can find hobby breeders through specific clubs for that breed.

Don’t go near pets4homes or gumtree, as others have said they will be kitten farms.

I'm now on my second kitten from my local rescue. Its not only a good thing to do, but the kitten is likely to have been well-looked after, in good health (and vaccinated) and at the best age to leave home. They prefer you to have two, but are also quite pragmatic - since litters don't always come in equal numbers - I've had one both times as I have an older adult cat.

I got our two from Cats Protection League at 10 weeks old. Their adoption fee was £65 each, neutering included. No health issues, free insurance for 4 weeks and first round of vaccines included. Best decision ever 🥰