Just been offered a kitten - would I be foolish to say yes?

[JamNittyGritty]

Animal loving household - just me & 2 teens.

Got 2 moggy kitten brothers 4 years ago, wanted 2 so they had company as I work, kids at school and live at their dads half the week. Sadly one was killed by a car 2 years ago - kids have begged for another since then but I have said no because of cost and worry about the impact of a new cat on the one we still have.

But now a neighbour has kittens and has asked if we want one and I so dooooo. My heart is yes but my head is more practical - help me decide please!

no because -

1. upsetting for current cat and disturbing his peaceful home
2. insurance, vets, fleas, food etc etc it all adds up - I can afford it but not without cutting back elsewhere (nothing essential more eat out etc)
3. I don’t have a separate space to put the kitten in - they would be in together from the start

yes because

1. we would love it soooo much
2. younger teen struggling with mental health and a kitten could be good for her
3. Company for current cat

No pics of kittens as havent seen them - but will share one of our current lively boy

Of course there's somewhere separate for the kitten to go - nominally in your room, but in reality, it's going to be scooped up by your DD.

If your older cat is friendly I'd get the kitten

Get the kitten.

You know there is only one answer.

Looking stern!

Get the kitten :-) and shop around for food etc.

Never say no to a kitten. They won't listen anyway.

Get the kitten.

Does your cat like other cats? As in those that might wander into your garden?

Get the kitten

...and then pay the kitten tax

We lost 1 db. He pined terribly.. I caved after 5 months and got a tiny dkitten from CPL. Set up a second bed and litter tray in dd's bedroom and left them to it. A few tiny hisses.
Within a couple of weeks we had this...

Roll on 5 years..

Does your DD understand that the kitten might be very nervous at first, even if it seems fine when with its mum, & has to be left in peace until it’s ready to interact? I had one foster kitten who hid for the first 48 hours.

How old is the kitten? I know there might be a perfectly reasonable story behind your neighbours having kittens - maybe a pregnant cat arrived in their back garden? In which case good for them.

But if it’s because they didn’t have the sense to get their cat spayed, then do they know that kittens should be with their mums for the first 3 months, that female kittens can be fertile from 4 months, and that they absolutely have to get the mum done as soon as her kittens are weaned?

Be cautious. As a kid we had a cat who lost her littermate fairly quickly in similar circumstances. When she was about 8 we got another kitten. The older cat spent the next 10 years hating her every day and the best we got was acceptance and not trying to attack her, but a refusal to be in a room together ( previously very affectionate).

Tolkien lost his brother Tolstoy suddenly when they were 5. Enter little Tennyson. They were carefully introduced and Tolkien was unsure at first, but Tennyson won him over.

My biggest concern would be the financial side of things. Do your teens have jobs? If not could they get them, and contribute a bit?

@Campingisnexttogodliness that is such a lovely outcome - and they are both gorgeous, I would love this for my boy but @khaa2091 your story is my biggest worry - I would feel so guilty and sad for them both (& worried to leave them alone..)

For those asking about current cat - he’s a bit standoffish and a bit shy- knows us well and gets on bed / sofa for strokes - not on laps and if he feels too crowded will move away. There’s a couple of local cats he tolerates and some he hisses at. But he’s far more likely to run away than fight - not aggressive at all and hasn’t ever even hissed st us, or scratched etc.

@EmpressaurusKitty my dd does understand this as it was the same when we got our two. Not sure where the neighbour has the cat from but at a guess (I’ve seen mum outside) a young cat who hasn’t been spayed. Kittens are 6 weeks currently and I wouldn’t take one until old enough, if I do decide to. Neighbour is giving not selling so clearly not breeding for money. Just not informed!

Thanks for all replies- I have just done the maths and am still on the fence :)

How are you doing the maths? are you just doubling the existing costs because buying in bulk and shopping around could bring costs down, for example buying a small 800g box of cost food costs twice as much per kilo as a 2kg bag. Flea treatment via an online subscription service is a lot cheaper than from a vet - and definitely shop around with vet prices.

I love your cats’ names @@ilovesooty☺️

Could your neighbour take the kitten back in the event it doesn't get on with your cat?

Thanks @JamNittyGritty. I volunteer for a rescue & we’re usually packed with kittens so it’s great that your neighbour’s finding them good homes. And you sound like a good home!

Will you make sure she knows what needs doing before the mum gets pregnant again, possibly by one of her sons? I’ll spare you the horror stories I’ve heard from the rescue but I have plenty.

So,you have a four year old male cat, atm? What sex is the kitten?
It shouldn’t really matter, but I personally, have found that opposite sex cats work better when introducing. However, it’s much of a muchness. Male cats tend to be a little more laid back anyway, and assume your current cat is neutered?

At four, your cat is a nice age for this to happen. He should still be playful, and benefit from having a cat pal😸
As for separate space - I adopted a kitten in January, and used one of my bathrooms as a ‘kitten holding’ spot.
Great point from EmpressaurusKitty about suggesting to neighbour about making sure the mum of kittens gets fixed. So no more kittens after this!