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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Been offered a kitten

23 replies

ABitBesotted · 02/03/2022 14:13

One of my DC has wanted a cat for a while. I like them and have often found myself feeding waifs who turned up but have never owned one.

The lady at the Coop has some cute black and white baby cats who look very Postman Pat's Jess-ish and has offered us one.

Pros:

  • It would be loved, fed, insured. Furniture is quite old and I am not fussy about it.
  • DH used to own cats and understands them. His were playful cuddly tabbies, though.

Cons:
-We have a puppy (15 weeks, very playful, still bitey and mouthy) who would probably chase and might accidentally hurt a kitten (?)

  • We live near a busy road and DH's last cat had to be put down after being hit by a car there
  • It is me at home at the moment and I am unfamiliar with cats and mightn't understand what it needed at any given moment. Apart from feeding them and stroking the occasional friendly moggy I've never really had anything to do with them.

It feels like a no, but is it definitely a no? I wouldn't want to stress out either my puppy or a kitten, but the Co op lady I think thinks getting them cohabiting now would be fine, i.e. if both are young, they'll learn to get on.

My puppy is a border collie so an essentially gentle and obedient but also herding type, which might irritate a cat when grown. I did know a farmdog growing up who slept happily with the family cat, though.

I admit to having been really taken with the kitten, a really adorable and lively little creature, which is why I'm asking you lot.

OP posts:
lateral · 02/03/2022 14:18

When you say a lady at the co op what do you mean? Is this a reputable cat breeder you know who you happened to meet in the co op or a random local whose cat got pregnancy because they were irresponsible?

I would be more concerned with where the kitten was coming from, it's parents and whether it has been socialised properly or seen by a vet, than the pros and cons of owning it initially

lateral · 02/03/2022 14:19

Sorry I missed the bit where you have met this kitten, what's the co text surrounding that? Is this woman bringing it to the shops?

Beamur · 02/03/2022 14:21

I think introducing kittens and puppies can be fine. Kittens are actually quite feisty and likely to let the dog know who's in charge. It's a huge generalisation but I have looked after several border collies for a friend (don't have one myself) and they have all been rock solid with my cats. No chasing no herding.
If you have a puppy, a kitten is a piece of cake in comparison...
Cats are pretty straightforward really, food, sleep, fuss on their terms. Safe places they can retreat to and somewhere safe to toilet.
The road would concern me a bit and especially if you have already lost a cat. Sadly road sense has to be learned..I tend not to let kittens out until they are well over 6 months old (longer if possible) just so they are less daft when they do go out!

SierraHotelIndiaTango · 02/03/2022 14:22

Sorry busy road would be an automatic no from me , you have lost one to it would avoid further heartache

Original poster
ABitBesotted · 02/03/2022 14:24

No, the lady works at the co op (and lives beside it). Reading back, it does sound a bit random, sorry. I think it was an accidental pregnancy. She has eight cats (!) and one of them has had three kittens. They all seem to be in blooming health (no idea if vet checked) and live at home with her and her children.

I literally know nothing about cats, so you think this is a situation to avoid? She isn't a professional breeder.

OP posts:
Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 02/03/2022 14:26

Busy road would put me off.
Our local streets are a 30 limit and I still worry about our 2.

SirVixofVixHall · 02/03/2022 14:29

Puppies and kittens normally fine ime, I have had dogs and cats together and they were really great friends and would play. My friend had a kitten and a collie cross, and the kitten, even when grown up, would hang from the dog’s neck with his paws around her, very funny.
Busy road much less fine, but could the cat could be kept indoors ?

Cakelover17 · 02/03/2022 14:29

I wouldn’t be concerned about the kitten being from an accidental pregnant from a health point of view, it’s mostly just the owner of the mum that’s irresponsible! But I would want to ensure the kittens had been seen by a vet and he vaccinations etc.

But the road is a clear no, especially if you’ve already lost a cat to it sorry, I think it would be irresponsible

Fernandina · 02/03/2022 14:29

A kitten with a border collie puppy?

I wouldn't, to be honest. Not fair on either of them.

Original poster
ABitBesotted · 02/03/2022 14:30

Thank you @Beamur for your words about collies and cat care, and @SierraHotelIndiaTango too. DH's cat was about six or seven when it was hit by a car (having apparently never been daft in traffic before) and it upset DH a lot. The road thing might be the kicker, then. Sad

I don't think I could keep an indoor cat (even if DH agreed to that, which he wouldn't) as the backdoor is always open to let the puppy in and out of the garden.

OP posts:
Original poster
ABitBesotted · 02/03/2022 14:34

@Fernandina

A kitten with a border collie puppy?

I wouldn't, to be honest. Not fair on either of them.

Fair enough and this was a huge concern for me, too. The dog is very high energy and bitey in the evenings and I wouldn't want to stress out a little cat.

I am going to say no, because of the busy road, which is on the next street from here. You're all right, it would only be setting us up for future heartache and not fair on the moggy.

Thank you all very much. It's much appreciated.Cake

OP posts:
TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 02/03/2022 14:41

Avoid.

Firstly a playful bitey puppy is going to scare a tiny kitten who has only just left it's mum.

  1. Busy road. Nope nope nope unless you are planning on it being a house cat.
  1. You have literally no idea of the parentage of these kittens. How do you know that mum and dad aren't siblings (this usually ends quite badly with deformities and illness).

Basically in your situation with the road, the dog and a young child a rescue would not accept you for rehoming. There's a reason for that.

Sorry if that sounds harsh 😞

TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 02/03/2022 14:43

Ah sorry OP it took me ages to write that so I hadn't see you had already decided no!

Original poster
ABitBesotted · 02/03/2022 14:48

No worries and thanks for your input, too, @TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo. It all makes it easier to confirm the decision in the face of an extremely adorable kitten with ridiculously cute pawpads.

OP posts:
TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo · 02/03/2022 14:50

@ABitBesotted

No worries and thanks for your input, too, *@TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo*. It all makes it easier to confirm the decision in the face of an extremely adorable kitten with ridiculously cute pawpads.
Kittens are just adorable aren't they.

Don't worry though I am sure your litter tray time will come!

lateral · 02/03/2022 14:58

I wouldn’t be concerned about the kitten being from an accidental pregnant from a health point of view,

Accidental pregnancy can have huge health implications though, so it's at the very least worth consideration. The fact that the mum hasn't been spayed is an indicator that the owner isn't on top of what's best for the cat. Since OP update that there are actually 8 cats I would definitely stay well away.

Allergictoironing · 02/03/2022 16:44

Maybe not this cat, but if you do find yourself yearning after one down the line then possibly consider cat proofing the back garden?

Iamkmackered1979 · 02/03/2022 17:02

Kittens can look after themselves our retriever pup was a bitey nightmare too but our kittens were fine, he didn’t like claws and teeth they would tell him if he went too far. One loved him and one just stayed out of the way. The one who loved him still does they are great friends 2 years on. The other one does not like to go outside she is very much a house cat but her sister is not and loves to climb trees and play outside, we aren’t near a busy road though. I just used to close kitchen door whilst out with pup.

I would check kitten for fleas prior to bringing home though last thing you need with a pup. Good luck whatever you decide.

Chikapu · 03/03/2022 17:49

You say the puppy is bitey and mouthy well times that by 100 for a kitten! It will chase and bite your ankles, hands, cables etc.

EachandEveryone · 04/03/2022 19:25

Can you cat proof ypur garden? There are professional companies that do it. Its expensive but worth it I reckon.

TroysMammy · 04/03/2022 19:32

@TheDoveFromAboveCooCoo I suspected my cat's parents were siblings. Troy died aged 5 from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and his brother who was hit by a car had urinary problems. Barnaby before he died developed a cough which is what Troy also had before his diagnosis.

I would never have a cat if I lived in a busy road.

Original poster
ABitBesotted · 04/03/2022 19:41

Thank you for all the replies. We decided against getting the moggy.

Really sorry to read your story, @TroysMammy. That's heart-breaking.

I am quite intrigued by catproofing and have been looking at it. Can neighbours' cats get trapped in your garden? I'm just looking at the way the barriers slant inwards. Would you wake up in the morning with 50 angry cats back there?!

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/03/2022 20:26

@Chikapu

You say the puppy is bitey and mouthy well times that by 100 for a kitten! It will chase and bite your ankles, hands, cables etc.
Ah but also consider a puppy bite to a human would be a 1000 times worse on a frail kitten. They would match , colourwise . You can blame the dog for the moulted fur because you cannot prove it is the cat's (can you tell I'm TeamCat here ?)

The road is a worry , I know lots of cats live on A roads and survive (I see more dead foxes than dead cats , maybe cats get picked up?)
Maybe wait till your puppy grows up a bit ?

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