Does anyone know about kittens?

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Berkeley

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I have been considering buying a kitten for a while now, seeming as though I have my gorgeous horse I think my boyf deserves his favourite four legged furry! I don't want to get one for xmas as our house will be manic and I want to give him/her time to settle first.

I want to buy just one. We both work full so what happens when they are left alone all day? I want to be clued up on the facts.

Any tips? warnings? experiences?
 
Firstly, I would recommend rescuing one from a rehoming centre rather than buying if possible.

Do you have space for 2? Whether yes or no, I would say to get the kitten/s when you can have a few days off to spend with him or her to help them settle. They should be fine alone provided that they have everything they need.
 
We recently got two kittens from the Cats Protection, but found they have loads of kittens in spring but not many through the winter months, as cats don't tend to breed through the winter. If you can I think it's much better to get two as they can play with each other, I think single kittens often get lonely and as they are not able to 'play fight' with another kitten, they often tend to play fight with you (not always desirable behavior!!) xxx good luck :)
 
HollyWoozle said:
Firstly, I would recommend rescuing one from a rehoming centre rather than buying if possible.

Do you have space for 2? Whether yes or no, I would say to get the kitten/s when you can have a few days off to spend with him or her to help them settle. They should be fine alone provided that they have everything they need.
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That is a great idea! If you can resuce two together, they will keep one another company whilst on their own all day. Lots of pics when you get one/two :D
 
I definitley note what you are saying about getting 2, but I just want one. There are a few bring advertised now, but as you say - they are not common this time of yr and I don't want to leave it until xmas when people buy them and I lose out.
 
Berkeley said:
I definitley note what you are saying about getting 2, but I just want one. There are a few bring advertised now, but as you say - they are not common this time of yr and I don't want to leave it until xmas when people buy them and I lose out.
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Can't you check with your local resuce centre to see if they have any first? Also two won't be much more hassle than one and would be fairer if your not there all day.
 
I have called Celia Hammond a few times this yr - they never get back to me with an appointment time which I thought was a bit odd. I am aware that with rescue centres they want to inspect the house - which means setting up a day during the week. I can't as I have no holiday left to take time off until xmas. Its hassle. Or I can go up the road to where I live and buy one today.

I rescued my TB mare, so be be too hard on me ;)
 
Um kittens .. there is a 75% chance that they turn into evil, twisted, fluffy, cute balls of teeth and claws :p

Personally if i was going to get another cat it would be a nice sane adult from a rescue - They are very hard to come by!! :D
 
i've done both, had a kitten and rescued one. i'd rescue again anyday. when i got my first, Buster the ginger cat, i let my heart win the day. i'd recently lost a very precious dog and it wasnt the right time to get another dog, (middle of divorce and young children) so i decided on a cat. the place he came from was disgusting, he had an eye infection, fleas, the lot, and her living room was floor to ceiling in cat cages, but i couldnt walk away and leave him there, although my sensible side told me to. anyway, to cut a long story short,he had digestive problems and he nearly died at 3 months old and cost me £200 vet bill, which still didnt sort him out. after being very close to having him put to sleep, i fed him boiled chicken and rice for a week and he started to improve. now he is a whopping 5kg moggy! i say he grew on love, because that cat means the world to me.

my second, bella, black and white, came from my local cat rescue. she was six months old, already spayed and settled in so easily. they both get on really well with each other and my dog, who i got between getting the two cats. i would go back to the rescue centre again rather than go kitten hunting again. best of luck and post lots of pics!!

sunbathing on my bbq!!
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curled up on my bed
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sitting on top of my gate, guard cats!!
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I got a new kitten recently (sorry, I'm going to post lots of photos of him now! :p ) he's an Egyptian Mau. His buddy is our Burmese who has taken to big brother duties like a duck to water. :D He (the burmese) has never had a cat friend before, even though we have always had more than one cat.

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He's grown so much!

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I do think that recuing cats is a very good thing, however I think that you should consider an oriental cat. They tend to be much more 'people orientated'. My favourite cat we ever had (the cream siamese in my avatar) would even come for walks with me along the canal and through the fields. :)

Make sure that your kitten is 12 weeks old or more and I also agree that two kittens would be better really. Having said that, up until I got my kitten I would have said that the burmese above would have prefered being in a one cat household. Maybe luck was on my side when I chose the kitten. :D
 
Yep, they are pretty boys... but the Burmese loves to bring in rabbits and then eat their heads and the Mau got in bed with me last night because he was cold! He was under the duvet with his head on the pillow when I woke up and I was squished over against the wall.
 
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I really think that buying a cat would be a shame- we all know about the probs with buying poorly bred ponies that you feel sorry for but the cat situation is a hundred times worse. Not all rescue centres will make you take a day off work for a home visit- I'm quite sure they could fit you in evenings or weekends. Besides- if you get a kitten I thought you wanted to take a few days off so that it could settle in? Maybe you should wait until after xmas and then call around other centres- Blue cross, cats protection, RSPCA, local animal rescues etc. They are more likely to be wormed, vaccinated and fed properly if you get one from a charity.

P.S unless of course you buy a pedigree (sorry didn't mean to be negative about all cat breeders!!)
 
I have just spoken to the RSPCA and Cat.org. They were very helpful indeed. I just REALLY want a cute kitten - one like Faracat's! They both said that both myself and my boyf would need to come down and be interviewed which is a bummer considering its a surprise for xmas.

hmmm....not sure now.
 
Berkeley said:
I have just spoken to the RSPCA and Cat.org. They were very helpful indeed. I just REALLY want a cute kitten - one like Faracat's! They both said that both myself and my boyf would need to come down and be interviewed which is a bummer considering its a surprise for xmas.

hmmm....not sure now.
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The trouble is everyone wants a cute kitten, this is why so many older cats are dumped in rescue centres :( I don't balme you as they are little cuties, but the ones in rescue cntres are cute too :D Just think that interview will give one little kittie a chance of a life not stuck in a home. We need to help our fellow abandoned animals and it will guarantee you a place in heaven :p and Karma will be your friend.

When my boy leaves this world :( I am going to adopt the old manky cats (one eyed, three legged, ugly ancient ones) that noone wants, to give them some lovely last days. May live to regret it though :D
 
My kitten's Mum was a rescue cat. There are pedigree cats/kittens that need new homes too. :)

TBH all kittens are cute. :D I just like the temperament of the oriental types, I just wish that I was better at cleaning up rabbit blood!

I also have this female siamese
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This is my old male siamese that I miss alot. :(
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Berkeley said:
I have just spoken to the RSPCA and Cat.org. They were very helpful indeed. I just REALLY want a cute kitten - one like Faracat's! They both said that both myself and my boyf would need to come down and be interviewed which is a bummer considering its a surprise for xmas.

hmmm....not sure now.
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If you are not sure dont do it, kittens are kittens only for so long and get past the cute stage relatively quickly. Also you need to ask yourself if, with you and your partner working full time, will you be able to give it the attention it needs. It may be a "bummer" but rescue centers require a meeting for a reason, to make sure the new owner is commited and has some idea of what they are letting themselves in for. Also if you cant afford the time to go for the interview then will you really have time for a baby animal?
I think it is important to put the needs of the animal before what you and the other half want.
 
People want cute babies, but they don't stay cute and will you still want it if it's peeing and cra*ping all over your carpet, where you have not been there to toilet train it properly? I think you really need to think hard about this. An old neighbour of mine got a kitten, two weeks later it got sent to a rescue home as it was not 'behaving':rolleyes: and was stuck on it's own all day. I really felt for it. I had to look after it for two days while she was away and it was shut away in her kitchen all on it's own, it was so pleased to see me, and when I went(shut kitchen door) it just cried. :(
 
He is a cute kitten but I think that he's getting more beautiful as he grows. :) His coat markings are becoming clearer and hopefully he should look something like this eventually.

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He is a great cat and he loves coming into the feed room to 'help' me mix the feeds for the horses! :D
 
Allover said:
If you are not sure dont do it, kittens are kittens only for so long and get past the cute stage relatively quickly. Also you need to ask yourself if, with you and your partner working full time, will you be able to give it the attention it needs. It may be a "bummer" but rescue centers require a meeting for a reason, to make sure the new owner is commited and has some idea of what they are letting themselves in for. Also if you cant afford the time to go for the interview then will you really have time for a baby animal?
I think it is important to put the needs of the animal before what you and the other half want.
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I am sure. I am not the only full time working person who has cats. It is a bummer that there will be no surprise. I am committed.

You have wholly misconstrued my post. And vexed me a little.
 
if going to be alone all day maybe 2 kittens, they littertrain themselves, well mine did. but if away all i would keep them to one room and be warned they can wreck the place so have it as a minalistic room. have toys litter tray. scratch post oh and a wee bed for them, they love the ones you connect to radatior. food water and they should be grand. also they is loads in paper free and some pet shops give them freemine does, well its a part rescue as well. but i wouldnt buy them as country is full of them. have fun and enjoy them. they are great wee fury friends to have. all mine is out side cats now, well farm cats just had mine in when i got them was sever winter.
 
sarah sum1 said:
People want cute babies, but they don't stay cute and will you still want it if it's peeing and cra*ping all over your carpet, where you have not been there to toilet train it properly? I think you really need to think hard about this. An old neighbour of mine got a kitten, two weeks later it got sent to a rescue home as it was not 'behaving':rolleyes: and was stuck on it's own all day. I really felt for it. I had to look after it for two days while she was away and it was shut away in her kitchen all on it's own, it was so pleased to see me, and when I went(shut kitchen door) it just cried. :(
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Luckily, all my floors are wooden ;)

That's awful shutting it away in a kitchen :( I have my dad coming round to fit the cat flap next week in preparation. We have an emormous garden which backs on to woods which is super. To be honest my property is more suited for a horse and a dog but I can't leave a dog in the house all day. At least with a cat, once they are out and about, they can entertain themselves. My horse in on full livery.
 
One of my friends cats has kittens (total accident! managed to get out of a top floor flat, never been out in its life....) she was off to do some voluntary work in madagascar for 6 months, her mum said she'd look after cat, but kittens had to go, she had one left so i took it to keep my cat company (who was a rescue kitten, he'd been born runt of litter so rather than die, she gave him to rescue centre to see if they could help) he is 3 now and the hugest cat ever...anyway, new kitten lasts 5 weeks, he died of cardiomyopathy, and even though my older cat had been alone for his 2 years or his life, the fact that he had then had company sent him mad and he literally climbed the walls, so just before xmas, my boyf suprised my with a little white female kitten, for which he paid an amount that made my physically sick! she was just a mixed breed, but you'd have thought she was pedigree! so some rescue centres will have kittens, and u will pay over the odds specially in the xmas run up!
 
Berkeley said:
Luckily, all my floors are wooden ;)

That's awful shutting it away in a kitchen :( I have my dad coming round to fit the cat flap next week in preparation. We have an emormous garden which backs on to woods which is super. To be honest my property is more suited for a horse and a dog but I can't leave a dog in the house all day. At least with a cat, once they are out and about, they can entertain themselves. My horse in on full livery.
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I'm sure it will be very happy. Just remember it can't go out for a good few months.(sure you know this) Cats by nature are very independent and it will probably sleep most of the day, and explore for the rest. But do think maybe a couple of days off or a day even to help settle in would be nice, if you can do that.

Good luck and can't wait to see photos :)
 
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