Adopting a kitten vs an older cat

[CatJumperTwat]

Recently lost my sweet 18yo to cancer. I want to give a new cat a home, but I'm really pining for a kitten. I've adopted seven cats over the years and they've always been adults, typically the ones nobody else wants - the shy/aggressive ones, the old ones, the ones with health problems. Now I'm thinking of ignoring all those and trying for a cute little kitten that would never have a problem finding a home.

To be clear, I would still adopt from a rescue, one I've used before. I'd never buy a kitten.

Is it okay to be selfish or is it really wrong to do this, especially when the kitten will be an adult in no time anyway? Are there downsides to having a kitten vs an older cat that I should consider?

In case it changes responses, I have two other cats. 10F and 6M, adopted at 5 and 6 respectively (it's Joe's birthday in a fortnight!)

I think that since you have dutifully adopted so many older cats, it isn’t selfish to want a kitten. You are experienced and can judge whether one would fit in with you family and cats.

I am sorry for the loss of your cat. 18 years is a good, grand age to have reached.

Do what you want. Why do you need stranger’s validation??

Adult cats are the best!

I've had my little kitten 2 weeks now. He's worst than my 2 children as newborns!
Cute but michevious. Oh and he likes trying to steal food!
He's very sweet and very loving though, just be prepared for litter training, scratching, and proper hyper runs... but don't forget the lots of cute cuddles and also the cute kitten parts too!
P.s his name is peanut

Kittens are amazing and need loving homes too! Don't feel selfish, even for a moment, for wanting to provide one 🥰

Are you ready for your house to be trashed and the older ones pissed off with being hassled to play!

I adopted kittens and would have preferred cats as

• litter inside is gross
• keeping doors and windows shut is annoying
• neutering is expensive

However, they have only ever known love and in return they do love to be near humans.

Peanut is adorable!!

Thank you AppleButter. He was a happy boy.

I'm okay with mess, an inside tray (my elderly boy needed a tray anyway as his joints were too stiff to dig in the garden), and I think my younger cat would actually enjoy having a playmate. I'm more afraid of an inquisitive kitten getting stuck in small spaces and giving me a heart attack, or escaping when I open the door to let another cat out... might have convinced myself!

The fates have intervened and I have an adult girl coming my way. She's probably less than two years old so it's the best of both worlds.

How lovely, tell us more about her and how it came about.

I think young adults are a really great age to adopt - they have all the cuteness of kittens but their personalities have set and they really need homes.

Oh how cute. We took on a 3.5 year old ex stud. He's so lively we may need to get him a kitten as a playmate 🤦🏼‍♀️