Does anyone know about kittens?

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.

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.

Ahh you meant it was a "bummer" that the OH had to go?

You also said you are not sure, hence my reply "if you are not sure" etc.

Maybe the OHs surprise could be a day trip to the rescue center:D

No vexing meant:)
 
sarah sum1 said:
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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Excellent advice on here chaps - thank you massively. I intend to buy one (or two now!) within the next couple of weeks. It will most probably be kittens and I will post pics.

Now....boys or girls.....?
 
Lol Faracat .. wanna swap? :p

You can have one evil moggy, with a massive saggy belly (op gone wrong :() a scar on her head and an amazing ability to scare you s*itless in the dark :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.

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.

Ahh you meant it was a "bummer" that the OH had to go?

You also said you are not sure, hence my reply "if you are not sure" etc.

Maybe the OHs surprise could be a day trip to the rescue center:D

No vexing meant:)
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Noted and apologies for misunderstanding you. Good plan on the suprise rescue visit! :D
 
Berkeley said:
Excellent advice on here chaps - thank you massively. I intend to buy one (or two now!) within the next couple of weeks. It will most probably be kittens and I will post pics.

Now....boys or girls.....?
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After having both boys and girls I would get girls. Boys spray until they are 'done' and are generally more fighty with other cats, my cat has cost me hundreds in vets bills where he keeps fighting with a neighbours cat and gets abcesses (sp)

My little girls didn't hardly fight with other cats at all. Just make sure you get them done so you won't have litters of kittens! :D Please get two, it would be lovely for them and less hassle for you I think :)
 
Berkeley said:
what about a boy and a girl?
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If they come from the same litter, it doesn't really matter what sex they are. Just choose the ones that you like best. If you neuter a boy cat as soon as he's old enough, you shouldn't have any problems with spraying.

I let my kittens out (under supervision) as soon as they've had thier second vaccination.

Just because I found it when I was going through my photobucket... but here's my favourite siamese when he was a kitten. :D

farafour.jpg


PS, Moritz is super cute. :)
 
Berkeley said:
Oh gosh - my next door neighbour's son has 3 left. 2 boys and a girl. I do not want 3. What do i do!? how do you choose??!
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This is going to sound mad... but I like to turn kittens over and see how they react if you tickle their tummies. The tummy is quite a vulnerable part of their body so if they happily let you touch it, it's a very good sign that they trust humans. :)
 
Faracat said:
This is going to sound mad... but I like to turn kittens over and see how they react if you tickle their tummies. The tummy is quite a vulnerable part of their body so if they happily let you touch it, it's a very good sign that they trust humans. :)
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Hey - I have PM'd you
 
Faracat said:
This is going to sound mad... but I like to turn kittens over and see how they react if you tickle their tummies. The tummy is quite a vulnerable part of their body so if they happily let you touch it, it's a very good sign that they trust humans. :)
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My cat lets me do anything to him, he oftens lays on his back while I stroke his belly and I could do anything to him and he would suffer it :D My old cat would have had my eyes out!

But I would say not to keep picking a kitten up though, as tempting as it is, I find the friendlier cats tend to have been given a chance to come to the human rather than grabbed at every squeezable opportunity :D
 
I'm in Kent and was browsing the Cat's Protection League sites last night. (I'm just window shopping, honest!). It might be worth contacting them as they do have kittens in now, and some look very pretty. If your kitten is going to be left alone for most of the day when you are at work then I'd just reconsider getting two. They will be company for each other, but maybe less destructive than a lone kitten, because they have someone to play with.
 
You could always consider a Bengal, we have two and they really are extremely entertaining! Apparently they are the cat version of dogs if that makes sense! Ours love water, play 'fetch' every night (literally they'll find something, bring it and drop it on us to throw for them then they'll keep retrieving it!) etc.

We started with just one who we bought from a breeder (and no, they are NOT cheap) but decided because we were out all day at work, she needed a friend so we found a bengal breeder who had one going free as she had a very slight heart murmur. We got her and they are absolute best buddies now. You can get the odd one for free or very cheap if you look hard enough, be warned though some cat get a bit out of control so may be being rehomed because of that! Ours are fantastic, but I have heard horror stories of some bengals stalking their owners and jumping on them from the stairs etc. lol. Of course, try your local RSPCA for non-pedigree cats, all my mums ones are rescues and they've all been lovely.

As others have said, I think any cat need a friend when your out all day, especially a kitten... Choosing wise, I go for temperament. Mingle with all of them but take time with each one. You'll just kind of have a gut feeling. Try to get one with a temperament to match your situation. If you're out all day, a lazier / calm cat may be better suited than one of the crazy ones.
 
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Cor never thought I would get to the end of this.
There are pro's an cons for kittens and cats.
My first Cats Protection cat Katy was 10 months old when I got her I was at work all day and partner was on shifts. She settled very well kept her in for two weeks only time she ever messed in the house was when she was ill. Died of a tumour at 10 years old.

Suzy was a farm cat belonging to some distant friends who had to move off the farm they rehomed her as she was youngest cat. She was 9 months old had already had a litter of kittens and was in kitten again when I took her to be speyed. She went from outdoor farm cat to sofa loafer and loved lying on radiators had her until she was nearly 19. She was my bestest friend in the whole world.

Tiggy is my Cat protection Kitten I got her during the floods of 2007 at 10 weeks. its true about them having someone to play with I was working from home when I got Tiggy and played with her lots. She has more toys than any cat I have ever owned she is cuddly naughty cheeky demanding follows me everywhere in the house and garden and thinks I am just another really big cat. When she wants to play she either taps me with a paw or runs through the room wearing her naughty tail. Has always been an immaculate Litter tray user and doesnt need it now she goes outside I have areas of the garden I dont discourage her from using and check out with a trowel on a regular basis.

When you get your kitten(s) if not from a rescue centre have them checked by a vet.
Get them vaccinated properly and get them speyed/neutered.

CP have all cats checked over wormed deflead and they test for Feline Leukemia etc.

But most of all have fun!!!
 
I got a kitten from a rescue centre - mind you, this was over 16 years ago, but she is still going strong:) I don't remember having an interview and certainly not a home visit - the rescue centre was literally heaving with cats and kittens, they couldn't get them out the door fast enough. This was Bury Cat Home.

She is just an ordinary moggy and an only cat, but we all love her dearly and she certainly seems very happy and content. Whe we got her she was 'home alone' but she has shared our journey as we have relocated (several times) had children/been made redundant/got a dog etc. Thinking about it, she has actually been one of the few constants in mine and OH's life for the last 16 years, bless her.
 
Its a shame you don't live near me!! There is a sign down the road advertising free kittens!! We got our two ferral kittens from the local dairy farm. They were born under a cow trough!! They are the most loving cats ever!!
 
Your babies are lovely!
Our three-legged monster regularly brings presents - this summer we've had the usual mice and rodents but also moles, pidgeons, a bat, and dozens of rabbits. Sometimes he doesn't "do" the rabbits first, so you get woken up either by his breakfast screaming, or by him chasing breakfast round the bedroom! Delightful! ;)
 
My two girls are from the same litter - now 12 are lovely with me - very sweet and loving and never any bother but they hate each others guts and if I show more love to one than the other the other comes and beats it up.

Good luck with your kitties.
 
Now....boys or girls.....?
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Boys every time! Easier, safer (& cheaper) to get done and more affectionate than girls.

We got a rescue kitten once (from RSPCA, not some crazy cat-lady) - still ended up spending loads in vet bills AND got a b*llocking from the vet (in the nicest possible way!) for not getting one from a breeder or a family.

my opinions on rescue centres vetting prospective owners, making sure they won't leave kitty on its own for more than 20mins at a time are best kept to myself.:mad:
 
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Its so great to know that I made the right decision. Thanks again SO MUCH for everyone's input and advice.

They are both snoring upstairs in the basket filled with fleece blankets.

One of them has a flea though.....chemist tomorrow methinks!
 
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