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

Original poster

Cat lovers I need your advice!

41 replies

coffeequeeen · 30/10/2022 16:47

Cat/kitten lovers I need your help!

So I've desperately wanted a kitten for a long time. I grew up with cats and am confident with them.

However,

I have never bought one in my adult life.

I obviously have read a lot online and it's all a bit of a minefield. I see a lot of suggestions about getting a rescue kitty and to do your research however they (rescue) seem so hard to come by (don't like young children/not near busy road etc/have to be paired etc)

I've been messed around a few times with rehoming various kits and then just thought why don't I just buy one...then it's in my control! I've been to visit a few pedigree breeders who where allowed me to view with mothers/handle them etc and I was happy with their communication/the kittens behaviour/home and loved them however...

Obviously the price has come at a bit of a shock...

How much should I be looking at for the most
Common breeds? Ballpark figure?

What should I look out for?

Thank you!

Grin
OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 30/10/2022 17:55

Research the breed you want. Then check they've had the health screens appropriate for the breed. For example, Persians should be screened for heart disease. I think Maine coones are the same and also need their hips checked. Or you could adopt from
A breed rescue. I've had three beautiful Persians from
A specialist rescue. They will have been health checked. And smaller rescues may be less fussy about their criteria.

Ludo19 · 30/10/2022 18:57

Breeds will differ greatly in price if they're GCCF registered. You ideally want the parents to be PKD and HCM clear. Ideally vaccinated and chipped beforehand with an obvious vet check. If you'd like a chinchilla or a persian, I can give you details of a fantastic breeder. PM me if this breed is of interest.

minipie · 30/10/2022 19:06

The great benefit of a rescue (other than moral brownie points) is that they are mostly adults and their personality is clear.

We chose our rescue cat because she wasn’t nervous of the DC, came right up to us and said hi and clearly liked people.

A kitten - you won’t know their personality, even within pedigree breeds there’s a big variation. And they are more likely to get nicked or run over, many breeders will tell you to keep them indoors.

Have I sold you on a rescue cat yet Grin

Original poster
coffeequeeen · 30/10/2022 20:02

@minipie I would love a rescue for the moral points and not have to pay £££ However trying to get one is proving difficult....and it's never on my terms.

I just don't understand it. I've been messed around, I've looked on various rehoming/Facebook blah blah and it's all the same story.... too busy road/kids over 16 etc it's ridiculous.

If anyone knows any way around this then please do let me know.

As I've said before, when visiting breeders I've been allowed a cuddle/play and they all have seemed very well socialised. I just don't know what's a normal amount of ££ to pay or if I'm being ripped off is basically what I'm asking!

OP posts:
DeeofDenmark · 30/10/2022 20:09

Well I rescued and the minimum fee was £150 per kitten so I guess a breeder would charge more. How much are they asking?

Original poster
coffeequeeen · 30/10/2022 20:11

Over 1000 for a lot of the breeds such as Maine coons, bengals etc

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 30/10/2022 20:23

Well, is the road busy? If you get a cat and live near a main road, or an estate access road and your cat goes out, there is quite a high chance it will get run over.

So obviously bad for the cat and distressing/expensive for you so no wonder a rescue doesn't want you to have a cat.

EmmaC78 · 30/10/2022 20:26

Have you tried breed specific rescues? If you are near a busy road then an indoor cat ay be better so a pedigree rescue might work.

lljkk · 30/10/2022 20:34

Gumtree, PetsAtHome.

Ruddy heck, I just found an ad online for a 9 yr old cat for £100.
A bog standard moggie.

Who TF would pay that for a cat which is on its way to high vet bills due to age.
Ginger kittens for £350 each (also moggies)
What TAF.
There are also some cute kittens for £50-£100.
But sheesh.
Sorry OP, the only part I'm sure of is that if you can't get rescues, there are affordable cats out there (£100 or less).

My rescue (CPL) kittens last year were £60 each I think, with neutering vouchers.

Beamur · 30/10/2022 20:38

I paid £85 (bargain) for my rescue about 7 years ago. Vaccinated, chipped and spayed.
My orientals cost quite a lot more (£600) and were vaccinated. Can't remember if they were chipped. I paid for the spaying.
Get a rescue if you can. There are options if you want a house cat (deaf cats, FIV positive cats).
Don't get a Bengal unless you've done a lot of research! They're not easy cats.

WeeMadArthur1 · 30/10/2022 20:50

I can't help with info about buying a cat, but just wanted to say that we rescued two kittens from the RSPCA earlier in the year and they were happy for them to live with young children and didn't ask about where we lived, just wanted to make sure we had a garden.

If you go on the RSPCA website you can search by kittens and by those who can live with young children, there are hundreds, but obviously depends on where you live. There are new kittens looking for homes at our local RSPCA rescue all the time (I know this because if it was up to the DC we would be adopting them all!)

Ikeameatballs · 30/10/2022 20:54

I paid £500 each for two Russian blue kittens in 2019. Best decision ever! I think they were cheap as they were 20 weeks when we got them but they were healthy and settled in well.

Original poster
coffeequeeen · 30/10/2022 21:01

Hence why I don't want to rehome an older cat who is going to cost a fortune in vets bills before we have even had much time with them, not
Exactly enticing for a first time owner.

Ok, so I think I'm asking how much should a Maine coon cost? A BSH? A Bengal? There seems to not be much info and prices vary so much?

@WeeMadArthur1 I've looked near me on the website and there is literally only a couple and if there are any they are bloody reserved! And I've looked a few times over the years and it's always the same.

OP posts:
Beamur · 30/10/2022 21:04

If you want a pedigree, shop carefully.
See if there is a breed association and ask if they have lists of breeders or available kittens.

Beamur · 30/10/2022 21:04

You may have to travel!

CraigDavid · 30/10/2022 21:04

Get a rescue cat from the RSPCA. That's what I did. A year old little girl who was a stray in need of a home and is now part of my family. Please don't but from a breeder; adopt don't shop!

CraigDavid · 30/10/2022 21:05

Buy not but!

Twattergy · 30/10/2022 21:07

With Cats Protection they didn't restrict our ability to home a lovely little kitten despite young child and busy road. Tbh unless they do a home visit (they dont) they can only take your word for it anyway. I think you should persist with rehoming. Bog standard moggie kitties are a safe bet in terms of temperament and ease. More pedigree types are more expensive and tend to be more highly strung, therefore harder to keep.

dodobookends · 30/10/2022 21:08

It has been a few years since I went into our local vets, but at one time they had a notice board in the waiting room, and people would advertise kittens, gerbils and whatnot on there. Could be worth asking vets in your area.

BayCityTrollers · 30/10/2022 21:14

Our ragdoll is a rescue, she came to us aged 4 years. We weren’t looking for a pedigree but she was offered to us by local rescue and cost us £90. She was an ex queen who didn’t seem to have had the best life and was very underweight when she came to us.

She’s a proper pampered princess now and much healthier, it’s been a real joy to watch her grow in to a much more confident and happy cat.

It is worth checking with breed rescues if you do want a pedigree. Lots of ex breeding queens around😢 They deserve a good life and it opens your eyes to the cost of the breeding business. It’s no fun for the mum cats whose only worth is the ability to produce cute kittens.

Loveatortie · 30/10/2022 21:29

How do you know a rescue cat is going to cost you a fortune in future vets bills, your pedigree may cost you the same or more🙄

MojoJojo71 · 30/10/2022 21:42

Have you actually visited any rescue centres? We just adopted a mum and her kitten and the centre we went to said that they get such a turnover of kittens that they don’t always advertise them on their website. If you let them know what you’re looking for they could let you know if any litters come in?

Another bonus of rescue is that the fee you pay (we paid £100 each) covers chipping, vaccinations and neutering.

minipie · 30/10/2022 21:43

It isn’t a choice between kitten and older cat about to have lots of bills

There’s lots of young adult cats in rescues, sadly, as some people get bored once the kitten stage is over. Ours was 18 months old - so an adult, all kitten madness and destructiveness over, but still very young and plenty of years till she is an elderly cat.

itstrue · 30/10/2022 21:43

We have just brought a pair of siamese kittens. Absolutely love the breed and their personality is a perfect match for our house. I would suggest that you research the breed you like throughly as some breeds can be quite demanding.

I'm in NZ and we have a low breeding pool here but this will be a problem with any pedigree cat breeder.

The breeder I chose shows her cats (so is trying to breed to a standard. She was very upfront about the testing she does and doesn't do on her breeding lines. She actively imports cats from other countries to expand the gene pool and insisted on showing me her breeding operation. Before considering us for a home she had a long list of questions for me including ones on why did I want a Siamese and what did I know about the breed. Also she offers support over the cats lifetime and asks to have them back if I need to rehome them.

They came desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.

Cat lovers I need your advice!
Narwhaleahoy · 30/10/2022 21:48

As a previous, multiple Bengal owner, and as a PP has said, do NOT get a Bengal unless you are an experienced cat owner. They are beautiful and amazing, but can be VERY hard work. A reputable breeder is expensive.
Getting a Bengal cheaply is asking for trouble - I know because I’ve made that mistake and been there. I never gave up on Luci, but, Lord, he was 15 years of hard work!

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