Hi - just wanting some advice really. I'm wanting a kitten - female preferably. I dont really know much about cats/kittens as I've only ever had puppies/dogs, so any info would be greatly appreciated i.e. where I could get one from, what things I need etc


thank you in advance

H x

There's some very useful info on the Cats Protection site. (http://www.cats.org.uk/catcare/leaflets_essential.asp)

Usually, if you want a kitten, it's preferable to have 2, so they are company for each other and have someone to play with - kittens are very playful!

You should also bear in mind that kittens can be very destructive - they do mad things like climb curtains, which don't the curtains any good at all. Sometimes it's a better bet to get an older cat, which has got past the "loopy" stage and is a bit more settled.

Any cat can be destructive - usual problems are claw sharpening on furniture, walls (they adore blown vinyl) and anything else, except their damn scratching posts. Not all cats do scratch, but some of mine managed to de-upholster most of the back and arm of a sofa (only a second-hand, one, mind!) because they turned their noses up at a scratching post. The one I've got now doesn't seem to sharpen his claws - at least, nowhere where he can do any damage.

Young kittens needs to be fed about 4 hours - so they're no good if you go out to work all day and can't get back for the lunchtime feed.

This all sounds terribly negative, but I think you should be aware of the downside of cat ownership before you go ahead and get one.

I've had cats now for over 30 years and they are certainly worth it - a nice, warm, fluffy cat curled up on your lap and purring is bliss in the winter.

I got a kitten roughly a month ago and in all honesty, having had a child so seen toddler years... a toddler was easier :hihi: I often hear myself cry "christ, kids are easier than this!!!!"

To be fair I wouldn't be without him. He's totally brightened up my life (and I've had a cat from kitten years before, though I was young) but roughly knew what to expect.

Make sure the kittens not too young to be parted from his/her mum. This (I believe) is at the VERY least 9/10 weeks and even thats a little too early.

Please check rescue sites (google RSPCA Sheffield online) for example. These ask for adoption fees of approx £60 but do bear in mind this includes vaccinations, spaying/neutering, microchipping, vet checks and usually some free insurance (6 weeks) alongside expert advice (vaccinations for a cat/kitten alone will cost you more than this at a vets so worth thinking about)

I got my kitten from the RSPCA and simply cannot fault them.

Basic needs.... well I got a 'starter kit' from Argos for £20/£25... this had basket, carrier, scratch post, bowls, etc... literally what you need (bar food and a few toys) and have been fine. You need little more than that for the very beginning but as I found you will just pick up from there :)

Sheffield city council pound have some kittens in at the moment

Things you would need include
-food/water bowls
-litter tray and cat litter
-toys
-food and water
-they need injections every year
-scrathing post
-pet carrier

It needs keeping in until after it has had it's injections at the very least. Injections can be ready from 8wks old.

Cats Protection also have kittens and young cats- there's a lovely pair of young females aged just 12 months (so past the mental stage), Honey and Starr. If you get your cat or cats from rescue, most usually come vaccinated and microchipped already (Cats Protection also flea, worm and spay) so that's all included in the adoption fee.

Cats are great companions and probably nowhere near as high maintenance as dogs and if you get two together, they are twice the pleasure and also company for one another. Provided you keep their vaccs up to date and make sure you worm every 3 months and feed a good quality diet (this is good for their teeth, skeletel structure, muscle tone and fur) so they are kept healthy, cats will typically live between 14 -20 years. I have a doberman bitch and 8 cats plus I foster for CP and I wouldn not be without my crowd- even the naughty ones (and having recently had experience of newborn kittens, one of who we kept and another we babysit often), I know what little mischief makers they can be- and have the mangled houseplants, broken ornaments and shredded wallpaper to prove it. Wonderful furry critter tho.

Argos has some great and reasonably priced starter packs and seperate items and Wilko and the poundshops are good sources of bowls and other bits and pieces too

Oh and I'm allergic to cats and the other half is asthmatic - doesnt stop us having them though!

Thank you for all your replies. I've just been to Argos and got a few bits - I just need a kitten now.

I am wanting a ginger female one, I;m going to go to Thornberry Animal sanctuary at the weekend

Hi - just wanting some advice really. I'm wanting a kitten - female preferably. I dont really know much about cats/kittens as I've only ever had puppies/dogs, so any info would be greatly appreciated i.e. where I could get one from, what things I need etc


thank you in advance

H x

You will need to get a cat flap fitted and get a scratching post.

Thank you for all your replies. I've just been to Argos and got a few bits - I just need a kitten now.

I am wanting a ginger female one, I;m going to go to Thornberry Animal sanctuary at the weekend

Ginger females aren't that common actually- statistically it's quite an uncommon combination (down to cats having their colouring genes on their sex chromosomes- there's a much longer explanation but I won't bore you with it!).

I have to say that when you meet a litter of cutie pies you're likely to junk your ideas of getting a kitten based on appearance and want to take them all home with you. I've had cats of virtually every colour and can honestly tell you that none have been picked entirely on looks. When you find a sweetie pie you get along with you'll know, and it will probably have nothing to do with the colour of their coat.

Crossed fingers that you find a kitten with whom to share your home- but be ready, they're a bit of a culture shock and your home may never be the same again after it has been 'loved' by a kitten!

Like medusa says, it is very unlikely that you will find a ginger female, 99% of gingers are male and 99% of torties are female! We met some beautiful kittens down at the pound today, 2 gingers and 1 tortie, they are ready to go now and have no reserves on them. I am going to start uploading photos soon, so if you are interested, please check out my thread that will appear in the next half an hour or so :)

Hollymai, I've got my very first cat and kitten earlier this year :)

We bought a litter tray with a detachable 'skirt' which we've now removed as they've had so many accidents (missing the tray). We also found that we prefer the wood pellet type litter - we pay about £8 for 30l from one of the pet superstores.

We've just had the kitten chipped and vaccinated - we took him to Vets4Pets and got the 'best start' and vacc for life.

We got a few toys, a couple of beds (that they totally ignore), a blanket for the bed (as they ignore their beds), food bowls, water bowls, a tray to put them on. Collars and harnesses to walk them. A brush, comb, 'poop' bags (for the litter tray - Morrisons have 50 sandwich bags for 25p), a carry case and scratching posts.

oh yeah and second mortgage :D

Ginger females aren't that common actually- statistically it's quite an uncommon combination (down to cats having their colouring genes on their sex chromosomes- there's a much longer explanation but I won't bore you with it!).

I have to say that when you meet a litter of cutie pies you're likely to junk your ideas of getting a kitten based on appearance and want to take them all home with you. I've had cats of virtually every colour and can honestly tell you that none have been picked entirely on looks. When you find a sweetie pie you get along with you'll know, and it will probably have nothing to do with the colour of their coat.

Crossed fingers that you find a kitten with whom to share your home- but be ready, they're a bit of a culture shock and your home may never be the same again after it has been 'loved' by a kitten!

Although the two I'm fostering at the moment are both females- one is a tortie with ginger and the other is ginger and I've owned ginger females before.

Like medusa says, it is very unlikely that you will find a ginger female, 99% of gingers are male and 99% of torties are female! We met some beautiful kittens down at the pound today, 2 gingers and 1 tortie, they are ready to go now and have no reserves on them. I am going to start uploading photos soon, so if you are interested, please check out my thread that will appear in the next half an hour or so :)

If I were looking for a cat I would take one (or even two) of them.