Kitten Or Cat

[morrisonp]

Hi

I am currently in contact with a local resuce organisation to adopt a rescue cat.

I am wanting advice. My first choice was going to be a kitten for the usual reasons they are cute etc. Only my thought were that it would be more hard work for myself and I also work full-time, so it would spend most of the time on its own. So I deciede to adopt a cat from a rescue centre.

Although my heart is still set on a kitten, could anybody out there advise me about wether I'm doing the right thing in getting a cat rather than a kitten

[LMC]

Thing with kittens is that they don't stay that way!

They are also a lot of hard work, cute though they are, and can be destructive.

Plus, if you're out all day, there is a risk that the kitten will "lose" it's early socialisation and revert to being a cat who walks by him(her)self - they need lots and lots of attention until they are a year/18 months old if you want a sociable cat. Fine if you can spend a lot of time with him/her during evenings and weekends, but if you have a busy social life as well as a full-time job then you may find you don't have time for a kitten. Older cats are more self-sufficient.

Some rescue centres are a bit funny about you leaving a cat at home while you're at work all day (for goodness sake... !!) - why not offer to adopt 2 young-ish adults, then they can keep each other company, you'll get hours of pleasure watching them interact with each other and double the love.

All mine were rescued as adults, and no regrets :)

[Hreow]

Spot on LMC!
You'd miss most of the kitten-being-kitten if you're at work all day, better get a good (pair of) cat(s) that fits into the life you have. They will be cuddly and loving when you come home and you can spend quality quiet-time with them. (Quiet as in lap-time and game-time, rather than fixing, scolding, laughing, tidying.)

[Snoof]

I think that, whichever you choose, getting two would be best so they have each other for company. It'll also help the rescue out as they frequently get pairs in that would be best off going to their new home together (which is harder to achieve).

[Donna]

I would get two young adult cats. They will be company for each other and you will miss all that kitten stage when you at work anyway - an older cat will be less likley to cause havoc in an empty house!!

I had my two from kittens, and much prefer them now they have their own personalities etc.

[Fran]

I agree with all the above..spot on advice :D

[dinahsmum]

It is all good advice. Although I am enjoying my kittens they are causing upheaval in the house and I dread to think what the place would be llike if they had it to themselves all day! :shock: And I wouldn't want to confine them to one room.
There are always lots of young cats needing a new home (sadly). You could have all the joy of a long, long, life with (a) cat(s) whose purrsonality you would see when you chose them (they chose you?) without the exasperation of kittenhood to add to a full time job.
Good luck. I'm sure you will know when you see your soulmate(s)

[EmmaG]

I would go for two young cats as well, I have two (although different ages) and they get on really well and keep each other company. I also work full time.

[Luke]

Definatley a slightly older cat-i myself have vowed the next feline will be a young rescue, couldnt be doing with a naughty kitten climbing up the curtains, turning over the litter tray, escaping, getting into holes etc all over again-NOOOO!

[Kazz]

I have to say unless you have a reason for a kitten ie "other animals" who the kitten would need to get on with and you thought it might cause trouble adding anything but a kitten I would go with an adult.

Explain your circumstances and lifestyle and I am sure the rescue will be able to "match" you with at least 3-4 cats to choose from go with their advice - they "know" their cats personalities. So go with adults over kittens and two in preference to one,:)

[sweetmimi]

Would go for a couple of older cats as kittens can be very naughty if left alone all day and a couple of older cats would appreciate a nice home and would keep each other company as well while you are at work:-P

[dandysmom]

Agree completely with all the above advice!! Kittns are darling, but they DO need attention to be properly socialized & not to tear the house up...two youngish adults should be great!Let us know what you decide...

[Snoof]

I'd like to add to this... Last night one of my cats (Sweep) was lying on the other sofa making himself comfortable while Matt and I watched TV. We're not sure of his age, but he's a grown cat.

We both went and scratched him behind the head (his favourite spot) and he stretched and curled and purred and stretched his paws and used them to touch the scratching arm gently.

No kitten could've made me go "awwwwwww" more fondly than I did at his full-grown antics. Not only is Sweep (as all cats, but specifically mine ;)) a cutiepie in his own right, the emotional reward from having a grown cat settle into your household and find it a worthy home is amazingly big.

[dandysmom]

Beautiful anecdote, Snoof...very touching & so true!:D

[JemBob]

awww snoof that is touching and very ture! like with oscar and rocky its lovely to have an older cat so soothling as well just to lie there and hear them purr

[dinahsmum]

That's very well put Snoof and well worth morrisonp taking note. Kittens are fun but they are a lot of work and worry and a young adult could be just the thing for a working household. And there are so many in rescue through no fault of their own.

[Snoof]

Thanks guys :-) I'm as kitten-mad as the next person, but I think sometimes people overlook the possibility of a (young) adult being the best cat that could happen to them right now.

That and, if you get more later on, your existing adult cat(s) may be able to help socialise and train any new ones.

[morrisonp]

Thanks for all the advice, I knew getting an older cat would be the better option for my lifestyle, just wanted to run it past everyone just to be sure.

Most of the advice is to get 2 cats, I was only looking at getting 1 cat, not sure why. Would getting 2 cats be more sensible and if so why. When I went to the rescue centre there was 2 cats brother and sister which were lovely both just under a year old and kids kids loved them only they wanted them to go together and I said no because I only want 1 cat.

[Booktigger]

If you get two cats that are used to each other, they will keep each other company when you are at work.

[dinahsmum]

But I don't think we should obsess about 2. One cat can be perfectly happy by itself. Either one that likes the indoor life if you don't want it to be outside when you're out, or an independent, outdoor type, who will hunt and sleep outside as it wishes if you have a cat-flap for it.

[morrisonp]

Thanks for advice, I've only ever had 1 cat which spend time indoors and outdoors. I had a cat flap so while I was at work he use to come and go as he's pleased.

Thats bascially what I was looking to do again