ChatterBank1 min ago
Kittens
12 Answers
Going to look at a kitten tonight at 6pm - have had cats all my life but don't know much about kittens!
We've already got a 7year old cat already called Elvis, who lost his friend Frankie earlier this year, when it became clear that we couldn't stop him from peeing all around the house. Frankie was apparently 8 weeks old when we got him, although I've been told he looked more like 5 weeks.
He was filthy, had worms and fleas, was v.skinny and didn't know how to drink out of a bowl or wash himself. He puked regularly and then when I got pregnant 3 years later, he started marking his territory, everywhere (cot, doors, walls, sofa, kitchen work tops, etc)
We'd love another cat, especially since Elvis seems to miss Frankie, but I can't bear the thought of going through all that again, so I'm looking for some advice....
I'm a bit worried that the lady selling the kitten, says it (she, I think) is only 6weeks old, is this a bit young to be leaving home?
Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Are females easier, harder, no difference to care for?
Which have the better personalities, male or female?
Would either sex adapt to other cats and children?
Any help would be greatly appreciated :)
We've already got a 7year old cat already called Elvis, who lost his friend Frankie earlier this year, when it became clear that we couldn't stop him from peeing all around the house. Frankie was apparently 8 weeks old when we got him, although I've been told he looked more like 5 weeks.
He was filthy, had worms and fleas, was v.skinny and didn't know how to drink out of a bowl or wash himself. He puked regularly and then when I got pregnant 3 years later, he started marking his territory, everywhere (cot, doors, walls, sofa, kitchen work tops, etc)
We'd love another cat, especially since Elvis seems to miss Frankie, but I can't bear the thought of going through all that again, so I'm looking for some advice....
I'm a bit worried that the lady selling the kitten, says it (she, I think) is only 6weeks old, is this a bit young to be leaving home?
Is there anything I should be looking out for?
Are females easier, harder, no difference to care for?
Which have the better personalities, male or female?
Would either sex adapt to other cats and children?
Any help would be greatly appreciated :)
Answers
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Six weeks is too young for kitten to leave Mum - wait until 8 weeks.
Check it's been dewormed a de flea ed and ask about injections.
In my experience males tend to be less loving than females, having said that have had some really affectionate chap cats.
Males need to be neutered and females spayed - females will be more expensive to do.
You should be looking for a well fed (not pot bellied) kitten with clean eys, ears and nose. No fleas and a friendly confident nature.
Unneutered males tend to stray and are more likely to spray, they are also more prone to getting into fights and coming home with abscesses and all sorts of injuries.
When they come into season,un speyed females will attract the attention of all the males in the area and result in yet another litter of kittens looking for homes.
Check it's been dewormed a de flea ed and ask about injections.
In my experience males tend to be less loving than females, having said that have had some really affectionate chap cats.
Males need to be neutered and females spayed - females will be more expensive to do.
You should be looking for a well fed (not pot bellied) kitten with clean eys, ears and nose. No fleas and a friendly confident nature.
Unneutered males tend to stray and are more likely to spray, they are also more prone to getting into fights and coming home with abscesses and all sorts of injuries.
When they come into season,un speyed females will attract the attention of all the males in the area and result in yet another litter of kittens looking for homes.
Thanks for the quick replies! Any idea how much the cost of speying and neutering is these days, i think it was around £50 for neutering about 5 years ago?
Will go along tonight and check about the age, and ask her to hang on for 2 weeks if he/she is young - it was soooo hard raising Frankie from that age, and i think it affected him for all the years he was with us, I should probably look for a kitten who is the complete opposite to him and I probably wouln't go far wrong!
Will go along tonight and check about the age, and ask her to hang on for 2 weeks if he/she is young - it was soooo hard raising Frankie from that age, and i think it affected him for all the years he was with us, I should probably look for a kitten who is the complete opposite to him and I probably wouln't go far wrong!
best phone your vet - all of them seem to have a different price and it does depend which part of the country you're in. Down here in the south I feel as though I've contributed to my vet's annual car up-grade each time I visit. Good luck with kitty and let us know how you get on - we want all the goss.
I'd be worried - I think 6 weeks is too young. Also she is selling it. Unless you are going for a pedigree, in my local vets there are lots of notices up of "free to a good home". I've never yet paid for any of my cats (at least to acquire them - the costs come later!)
In my experience, young males are a handful, but no less loving than females. I lost my old female recently and whilst she was a darling, my little male is affectionate and sweet and follows me everywhere. My female was jolly stand offish with other cats, my male cat loves anyone and everyone (but he does think he is a dog!).
Good luck.
In my experience, young males are a handful, but no less loving than females. I lost my old female recently and whilst she was a darling, my little male is affectionate and sweet and follows me everywhere. My female was jolly stand offish with other cats, my male cat loves anyone and everyone (but he does think he is a dog!).
Good luck.
We got a kitten last weekend, female and 7 weeks old. She's litter trained, eating and drinking well, and she has settled in very well, she doesn't care whose lap she falls asleep on after her manic half hours!
Wouldn't say either sex are easier or harder to care for, and my last cat was male and extremely affectionate, it depends on the cat, not their sex,
As for paying, yes I did pay for her, but I guess people who charge for kittens can be sure the buyer is serious about getting a cat ( either that or they are looking to make a quick profit from softies like me!)
Wouldn't say either sex are easier or harder to care for, and my last cat was male and extremely affectionate, it depends on the cat, not their sex,
As for paying, yes I did pay for her, but I guess people who charge for kittens can be sure the buyer is serious about getting a cat ( either that or they are looking to make a quick profit from softies like me!)
8 weeks is the usual age to leave mum, I find. i find boys are easier but females are fine if you have her spayed in good time. See if the kitten likes you, that's important - when I went to see No.1 son for the first time, he played with me and bit my thumbnail (which he still does, 11 years on) - I took that to be a good sign. You want a bouncy active kitten who eats well and looks well. I took mine for a check-up at the vet at the earliest opportunity.
A word though re Elvis - although he might miss Frankie, you might need to watch him with the kitten for a while. A boingy kitten is a different pal for an older cat, and Frankie might be jealous at first, so you need to keep reassuring him.
A word though re Elvis - although he might miss Frankie, you might need to watch him with the kitten for a while. A boingy kitten is a different pal for an older cat, and Frankie might be jealous at first, so you need to keep reassuring him.
hello all, we got the kitten! I'm a soft touch!! All kittens here in s.wales are being sold at the mo, we paid £30, like slinkycat says, I guess it just ensures you're serious, but she is the 1st cat ever to be paid for in 3 generations of my family.
She hasn't got a name, yet. So suggestions are welcome! Needs to be something musical to follow our tradition (Sid (vicious) & Nancy (spungent), Elvis, Frankie (goes to hollywood))
She is sort of dark greyish tabby with a white belly and socks, she's chubby but not fat, very clean, confident, playful and alert and most importantly to me, she's eating and drinking really well :) I can't believe how different she is to Frankie as a kitten, she's much more advanced.
Elvis hasn't really shown much interest yet, he's eaten with her in the same room and sat v.close, so I think that's a successful 1st meeting?! obviously they need lots more supervised contact and reassurance before they're left alone though.
She hasn't got a name, yet. So suggestions are welcome! Needs to be something musical to follow our tradition (Sid (vicious) & Nancy (spungent), Elvis, Frankie (goes to hollywood))
She is sort of dark greyish tabby with a white belly and socks, she's chubby but not fat, very clean, confident, playful and alert and most importantly to me, she's eating and drinking really well :) I can't believe how different she is to Frankie as a kitten, she's much more advanced.
Elvis hasn't really shown much interest yet, he's eaten with her in the same room and sat v.close, so I think that's a successful 1st meeting?! obviously they need lots more supervised contact and reassurance before they're left alone though.
Ooh the name possibilities are endless! Kate (Bush) Ella(Fitzgerald) Dolly (Parton) depends what your musical preferences are, you could go for Siouxie to fit in with the more punk type previous names! Good luck, we had a list of about 20 names, and many disagreements before we settled on our new cats name!
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