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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.

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Original poster

Where to find a kitten or pair of kittens

46 replies

RosesAndHellebores · 26/01/2023 18:35

We lost our darling boy on 6th January. He was 15. Today I collected his ashes.

We need a cat or pair of kittens. I know it isn't strictly speaking kitten season but I thought there was always a surfeit of kittens. There appear to be none. We have registered and been accepted by a local cat charity, Cats Protection, Battersea, our vet. I look at ads (I know that's not the way to go) and they all seem to be for pedigree cats. I don't believe they are truly pedigrees.

Do ordinary moggy kittens just not exist any more or is it just the wrong time of year.

Our house so desperately needs a cat to be a home. I'd take a young cat but dd (23) wants a kitten(s). She has had MH problems and our darling cat was one of here safe spaces so I can't overall her.

OP posts:

WildFlowerBees · 27/01/2023 08:58

Look at local rescues, around us they're begging for kitten/elderly cat fosters. You might be a foster fail though, I know I would be!

RandomCatGenerator · 27/01/2023 09:08

FeinCuroxiVooz · 27/01/2023 00:06

we went via the pets4homes website but you do have to be really careful to avoid the irresponsible owners who are deliberately allowing pregnancy after pregnancy for profit. you need to do home visits, ask a lot of questions and listen to your gut feelings to make sure you are going with someone who is definitely going to get their cat spayed as soon as these kittens have gone.

always get a minimum of 2 kittens. solo kittens do not grow up to be happy cats. google lone kitten syndrome. kittens need other kittens.

It’s interesting you say that about the kittens. Not all kittens like other kittens in my experience! Our nightmare kitten was just so horrible to our other cat, and is now thriving as a lone cat with my in laws. He was just so jealous.

Hobbesmanc · 27/01/2023 09:10

RosesAndHellebores · 26/01/2023 22:36

We are in Surrey. I'd travel to the moon and back but I wouldn’t make a cat suffer more than 30 minutes in the car.

We had a three hour drive to pick up two kittens. They were asleep the whoLe journey.

barneshome · 27/01/2023 09:10

Go to the cats protection I got 2 older cats gave them a lovey home and they are loved to the sky

FeinCuroxiVooz · 27/01/2023 09:53

RandomCatGenerator · 27/01/2023 09:08

Show quote history

this is true, there are some older cats prefer to be solitary but they still need other kittens up to the age of 1 year or so even if they don't "get on" very well. the play-flighting between kittens as they learn the skills they need is vital for them. solitary kittens miss out on a lot! certainly in some cases it can be appropriate to rehome one of the adult cats later on if the siblings don't find a way to get along but a lot if the time they will be happy together.

Backstreetsbackalrightdadada · 27/01/2023 09:55

Celia Hammond! What a great charity :) they always have cats for adoption, fingers crossed you find the one for you :)

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 27/01/2023 10:00

If you'd be able to foster for a local rescue, (is DD at home during the day and available to do the feeding, cuddling and litter changes?) then that would get you a litter of tiny kittens quite quickly, right at the beginning of the season, and you could then keep two of them, or one and mum. It's an amazing experience.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 27/01/2023 10:08

Backstreetsbackalrightdadada · 27/01/2023 09:55

Celia Hammond! What a great charity :) they always have cats for adoption, fingers crossed you find the one for you :)

CHAT is an amazing charity but would be unlikely to rehome to the OP, they give preference to local adopters because rehoming to people further away is a strain on resources.

AnnaMagnani · 27/01/2023 10:27

RosesAndHellebores · 26/01/2023 22:36

We are in Surrey. I'd travel to the moon and back but I wouldn’t make a cat suffer more than 30 minutes in the car.

My rescue flew over from Dubai. Doesn't seem to have bothered him and he will cheerfully get in his carrier by himself without having to be wrestled in.

It's 30 minutes just to get to the vet where I live.

Wolfiefan · 27/01/2023 10:38

@FeinCuroxiVooz you have no idea if people will get their cat spayed. Decent owners spay before letting their cats out.

louderthan · 27/01/2023 11:04

Place marking here as I am in exactly the same position! Lost my darling 20 year old girl in the autumn and I'm bereft.
I've had rescue cats of various ages and states of health all my life and I would really really like some kittens...

louderthan · 27/01/2023 11:32

I'm on the south east coast

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:02

It's the wrong time of year for kittens, even though there are always some born out of season. I'm with Celia Hammonds. As you're looking at Battersea then I'm guessing you're in London. We have quite a few big kittens on our website right now: eliahammond.org/canning-town/index.php/animals-needing-homes/canning-town-london
Feel free to pm me.

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:03

Lets try that link again

celiahammond.org/canning-town/index.php/animals-needing-homes/canning-town-london

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:04

FFS, one more time:

www.celiahammond.org/canning-town/index.php/animals-needing-homes/canning-town-london

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:05

OMG - what is going on! Anyway, search www.celiahammond.org cats needing homes, Canning Town

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:16

Sorry, I should have read all the updates. I see you don't want to travel that far. It is just the wrong time of year. In a couple of months all rescues will be heaving with kittens. Or why not adopt an adult cat right now?

TwoPointFourCatsAndDogs · 27/01/2023 12:30

Try Alley Cats Rescue, Buckinghamshire. Not to far from Surrey and often have kittens.

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:43

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 27/01/2023 10:08

CHAT is an amazing charity but would be unlikely to rehome to the OP, they give preference to local adopters because rehoming to people further away is a strain on resources.

Show quote history

That's no longer true. Since Covid we've been doing virtual home checks, and that has carried on (for the Canning Town branch at least).

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:46

@FeinCuroxiVooz Anyone who has allowed their cat to have kittens is an irresponsible owner. Buying kittens just encourages irresponsible behaviour.

AintNobodyHereButUsKittens · 27/01/2023 13:11

thecatneuterer · 27/01/2023 12:43

That's no longer true. Since Covid we've been doing virtual home checks, and that has carried on (for the Canning Town branch at least).

Show quote history

Oh sorry, I was looking at the Lewisham page, which says they still work to a South London/North Kent catchment. I didn't realise that Canning Town had a broader reach.

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