How do I find a kitten?

[Northernlurker]

Kitchen is nearly done so it's hopefully new kitten(s) time. Our older cat came from cats protection but when I look online they never seem to have kittens. I would really like a rescue again, preferably tabby or ginger, but how do you get in line? Should I be emailing round the rescues or do you just have to turn up at the right point?

Yes I'd Google your local rescue centres and also befriend them on Facebook as some use that to advertise. Drive around a few and talk to them.

Unfortunately as I have a 1 year old daughter and a dog i got turned down from a few and in the end I got one off gumtree.

Give it a couple of months, then kitten season will be in full swing. Plus many rescues don't advertise kittens, people get on their lists just before the season starts.

One thing to bear in mind is that rescues will rarely home kittens as singles, they prefer pairs. This helps them learn from each other, and keep each other company if you are out/asleep/trying (and failing) to WFH. It would also save your soft furnishings like the sofa, chairs, curtains etc.

The vets often have signs up looking for homes too.

Great tips thanks. Yes am weighing up a pair, that will make us a three cat household. No problem there 😀

Even more important you get a pair! The existing cat is presumably fully adult, and won't appreciate a hyperactive ball of fluff trying to play with it all the time.

Meant to say before - often the bigger "chain" rescues are inundated with potential adopters as well as kittens, so make sure you ask at smaller local rescues as well.

It’s a bit early for kitten season yet. (I have three newborns in the upstairs bedroom but they’re still at the blind and squeaky stage.) Give it a couple of months and the centres will be flooded with kittens.

In fact, offer to foster a pregnant cat and you can soak yourself in kittens to your heart’s content

The rescue I volunteer at has had quite a lot of kittens recently. They do get rehomed very quickly. It is a case of being patient, some people think rescues are like Amazon and get stroppy when three isn't a particular cat/kitten available.
Do enquire and you could always complete your home check stuff whilst waiting.

That's what I thought, if we get ok'd now then it will be easier when the right kitten(s) turns up. We have a cat flap, very safe garden, years of cat experience etc. Our old girl is very companionable too. We think she will adjust to a kitten ok given gentle introductions.

Can you give us a rough idea of your location / where you can travel to and perhaps we could recommend small rescues centres

I just got approved by the RSPCA . I filled in an online form - details about my home and household, plus preferences about kittens age,characteristics etc. Then I had to send photos of my home and spoke to someone on the phone. They said they don't often get ginger kittens. They will get in contact when they have kittens in that match .
There is also a website called Catchat which you can find our about all the rescues in your area.