We want to get a kitten!

emptypocketz

OH and I would are looking into getting a kitten, I am so excited!

I have had a look on some ads and people are selling them at around £30.

Could anyone tell me what we are meant to be looking for when choosing one?

Also, what do we need to buy and where can we get it cheap (i.e. cat litter tray, scratch post etc). - what injections do they need/how much is it for them to be neutered.

Thanks for your help
x

smileitconfusespeople_2

:j Hi try your local cats protection league ..the animals are usually well looked after or Battersea dogs home:T (now cats and dogs home:D )

elite_2

Please go to your local animal shelter - they will have tons of kittens at this time of year, and will often come with first set of injections done - They are often up to £40

You will need:

litter tray + litter
Bowls - food & water
Somewhere to quiet to sleep - can be a posh cat bed - but they are just as happy with a cardboard box with an old jumper in
Insurance - tons of info on here about this
Toys - Don't be splash out too much - mine are just as happy with a piece of string or screwed up paper as they would be with something expensive!

They need two sets of injections initially with a yearly booster IIRC these are
around £20 each


Neutering - I think it is cheaper for males?? Ours were £20 each, but a female is more complicated £40???

If you get a slightly older cat from a shelter - they will probably of been neutered already

pogster

You ought to go to the Cats Protection League or your local RSPCA. They normally ask for a donation of around £20 - £30 for a cat or kitten. They have their jabs done for free so you know that they have been looked after, plus you are giving a cat/ kitten a good home that desperately needs one.

If you do get a kitten - you can free food from whiskers - check their website and you normally get a goodie bag from your vet (if done via the above).

We have 2 cats and they are a pleasure to have around - one was from the RSPCA (a fully grown cat that had been in accident and lost his family) and the other a kitten from the CPL.

cat4772

Hi emptypocketz

DH and I have been adopted by 5 lovely cats, though we have 7 it would have been 9 but we managed to rehome 2 of the kittens)!!!

I think the microchipping had a discount as it was done at the same time as they were neutered. Total for each of them was about £50 - 60!

We get worming tablets and flea drops (I bought mine online at hyperdrug rather than going to vets at it's only £17 for a pack of 6 rather than £15 for three at the vets)! Tablets - hardest thing is getting them down a cats throat! Many wrestling matches I've had with a cat, a towel and a tablet!

All bar one of our cats were so young when they decided to make their home with us (the first three were between 8 and 12 weeks when they arrived - over a three year period rather than all at once), we realised that their old owners must have bought them and almost immediately let them out to roam. My advice would be to make sure that when you get kitty home, s/he stays in for at least 4 weeks to associate you and your home as his/her home!

toys - definitely don't need a lot of these - they really are fascinated with rolled up paper, string etc. Christmas tree ornaments are a cats paradise!

Good luck with your Kitten!

Cat.x

tigs78

Please don't buy a kitten from an advert, at this time of year there are literally thousands of kittens looking for their forever home in rescue centres up and down the country. Here's a link to rescues in your area... http://www.catchat.org/adoption/index.html

You will have to pay the rescue a donation/adoption fee but not only will you have the satisfaction of rescuing a needy kitten (instead of lining an irresponsible backyard breeder's pockets) but as others have said they often will have their first vaccinations done and will definitely be vet checked, de-flead and treated for worms which a free-ad kitten probably won't be.

Would you consider getting two kittens? If you can afford it then I'd dfinitely recommend two, twice the fun and less work as they often keep each other entertained. I recently adopted two kittens after losing my 19 year old - they are just so much fun, not a day goes by when I don't belly laugh at their antics

http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Pawprint/AllAboutPets/Choosing_a_cat.asp

As for a kitten shopping list:

Litter tray and scoop (hooded is best, less smells)
Food/water bowls
Bed - not strictly necessary as they will sleep anywhere given the chance but I couldn't resist!
Toys - you needn't spend a fortune, I made that mistake but they prefer the cheapy mice best.
Scratching post/climbing centre if you have the room - have a look at https://www.zooplus.co.uk
Brush/comb - get them used to being brushed whilst they are still young
Camera - to capture all those 'Aaah, how cute' moments!

helend

I would definitely look to one of the cat charities - although you may want to bring home more than one:D

We got our first kitten at 8 weeks old from a cat charity. We had to pay £35 (6yrs ago tho) and that included his neutering fee for when he was old enough to have the op. They also gave us a little history of his family and a picture of him with his siblings and mother. As for toys, they only ever play with a couple of the balls with bells inside and one of those kids toys - fabric 'snake' attached to the end of a piece of wire.

We were also advised that if we lived in a busy (traffic-wise) area we should get a light coloured cat as there would be better chance of him being seen at night.

Forgot to say: good luck and enjoy your kitten

arthur_dent_2

Definately go with a rescue cat. I got my female already neutered and this is invaluable. Not only because of the cost but also because it is one less trip to the vets.

emptypocketz

Thank you for the advice people - I have jotted down your ideas/things to get. Will definitely look at the rescue centres first, and I actually love the idea of getting two kittens, just need to talk the OH round to it!

Did you put collars on the kittens straight away or did you not bother with collars? we were thinking of getting collars so they are used to it, with our tel no. on in case they did a runner.

milkydrink

emptypocketz wrote: »

Thank you for the advice people - I have jotted down your ideas/things to get. Will definitely look at the rescue centres first, and I actually love the idea of getting two kittens, just need to talk the OH round to it!

Did you put collars on the kittens straight away or did you not bother with collars? we were thinking of getting collars so they are used to it, with our tel no. on in case they did a runner.

Get them microchipped, its safer.
Rescue cats are usually microchipped.

tigs78

emptypocketz wrote: »

Thank you for the advice people - I have jotted down your ideas/things to get. Will definitely look at the rescue centres first, and I actually love the idea of getting two kittens, just need to talk the OH round to it!

Did you put collars on the kittens straight away or did you not bother with collars? we were thinking of getting collars so they are used to it, with our tel no. on in case they did a runner.

My two will wear collars when they are big enough, they need to be around 6 months old size wise. The so called elasticated safety collars can be very dangerous though, I have seen cats who have had to have their leg amputated due to the collar getting caught under their armpit The best type of collar to get is a breakaway collar so that if the collar gets snagged it simply pops open, microchipping is essential too.

He/she shouldn't be going outside until they have been spayed or neutered anyway which happens at around 6 months old, kittens can get pregnant/father babies from around 4 months old so they really do need to be kept in until they are 'done'.

emptypocketz wrote: »

we were thinking of getting collars so they are used to it, with our tel no. on in case they did a runner.

Looks like you have made your mind up on the 'one or two?' issue :rotfl:There's nothing cuter than watching two kittens play together or snuggle up together at bed time. I think having two is much easier than one and they are also company for each other when I'm at work. I vote two