Where to buy a cat from
Discussion
Looking for some advice really. Our Cat passed away last year and we are considering (but not yet commited to) a replacement.
We had our last cat for 8 years and got her from a rescue centre at a few years old.
The cat was joined by a puppy which is now a full grown dog and we've also got 2 kids (4 and 8).
Most rescue places won't offer a cat to people with kids and others seemingly aren't keen on dogs. Apparently due to not being able to confirm the cats would be happy with / not attack kids or dogs, which is fair enough.
The kids have grown up with a cat and so has the dog so a new cat would fit in fine here.
When we bought our dog, as a pup, we bought her from a reputable breeder and had looked into the breed in detail etc, I'm not really sure if there is a cat version of this process.
So my question is, what's the best route to finding a kitten or cat please?
I know you can buy on gum tree, Facebook etc but I'd rather buy from somewhere reputable where the cat has been raised properly, health checked etc
P.s last cat spent time in and outdoor, used cat flap etc so not looking for an indoor type cat
We had our last cat for 8 years and got her from a rescue centre at a few years old.
The cat was joined by a puppy which is now a full grown dog and we've also got 2 kids (4 and 8).
Most rescue places won't offer a cat to people with kids and others seemingly aren't keen on dogs. Apparently due to not being able to confirm the cats would be happy with / not attack kids or dogs, which is fair enough.
The kids have grown up with a cat and so has the dog so a new cat would fit in fine here.
When we bought our dog, as a pup, we bought her from a reputable breeder and had looked into the breed in detail etc, I'm not really sure if there is a cat version of this process.
So my question is, what's the best route to finding a kitten or cat please?
I know you can buy on gum tree, Facebook etc but I'd rather buy from somewhere reputable where the cat has been raised properly, health checked etc
P.s last cat spent time in and outdoor, used cat flap etc so not looking for an indoor type cat
Edited by Roboticarm on Wednesday 27th October 12:52
Roboticarm said:
The cat was joined by a puppy which is now a full grown dog and we've also got 2 kids (4 and 8).
Most rescue places won't offer a cat to people with kids and others seemingly aren't keen on dogs.
The kids have grown up with a cat and so has the dog so a new cat would fit in fine here
Said the dog! Your dog might be delighted to have a new friend to play with, but I fear any new cat is going to absolutely hate it.Most rescue places won't offer a cat to people with kids and others seemingly aren't keen on dogs.
The kids have grown up with a cat and so has the dog so a new cat would fit in fine here
Introducing a full grown cat with a dog is challenging. The cat will often times tolerate the dog but would really rather it not be there. A kitten can be different if done correctly.
We've always adopted cats, whereas dogs have come from reputable breeders. I have no firm evidence to base this on but it feel like it is much less of a problem with cats, and the potential health problems etc are generally not less prevalent with rescues/moggies than is the case with dogs.
I would suggest a rescue kitten/young cat.
EDIT: Didn't explain that very well. You go to reputable breeders for dogs for obvious reasons, these reasons are less of an issue for cats, so rescues are not so much of a 'risk'.
We've always adopted cats, whereas dogs have come from reputable breeders. I have no firm evidence to base this on but it feel like it is much less of a problem with cats, and the potential health problems etc are generally not less prevalent with rescues/moggies than is the case with dogs.
I would suggest a rescue kitten/young cat.
EDIT: Didn't explain that very well. You go to reputable breeders for dogs for obvious reasons, these reasons are less of an issue for cats, so rescues are not so much of a 'risk'.
I got our last one from Wood Green. Bit of an adventure because on the day we went they were holding a huge fundraiser with marshalls in the carpark and TV cameras. The cat section was closed but when we explained we were there to adopt rather than treat it as a zoo, they let us in.
We made a shortlist of about 5 cats and showed it to the lady on the desk. She started listing their details and I think she got through three, all having health issues - I recall a heart murmur and a skin problem - I said to her that the teenager was really interested in the kitten - so that's what we ended up with.
We couldn't take him straight away and when I asked to collect him at the weekend they were quite firm that it should be faster. I ended up booking a day off. I think he was £90, fully vaccinated and chipped and never had any accidents in the 2-3 years until my relationship broke down and I had to leave him behind.
Since then I adopted another one via Gumtree. Lovely couple in Leicester who lived with the cat and three children in a one-bed first-floor flat. So the cat needed a new home. They vetted me via email, any children (no) is there a garden (yes). When I went to collect the lady quite rightly said that if she didn't like me she wouldn't have let me take the cat. The children were very upset and requested that I send them a picture every now and then.
For £50 I came away with a lovely 9 month old cat and two bags full of toys, food, treats, a very plush bed, spot-on medications for a few months, and a vet's registration card showing the right vaccinations. I didn't have to buy anything.
So in my view, although cat owners don't need to rely on breeders as much (obviously there are types you need a breeder for) they tend to be a safe bet.
We made a shortlist of about 5 cats and showed it to the lady on the desk. She started listing their details and I think she got through three, all having health issues - I recall a heart murmur and a skin problem - I said to her that the teenager was really interested in the kitten - so that's what we ended up with.
We couldn't take him straight away and when I asked to collect him at the weekend they were quite firm that it should be faster. I ended up booking a day off. I think he was £90, fully vaccinated and chipped and never had any accidents in the 2-3 years until my relationship broke down and I had to leave him behind.
Since then I adopted another one via Gumtree. Lovely couple in Leicester who lived with the cat and three children in a one-bed first-floor flat. So the cat needed a new home. They vetted me via email, any children (no) is there a garden (yes). When I went to collect the lady quite rightly said that if she didn't like me she wouldn't have let me take the cat. The children were very upset and requested that I send them a picture every now and then.
For £50 I came away with a lovely 9 month old cat and two bags full of toys, food, treats, a very plush bed, spot-on medications for a few months, and a vet's registration card showing the right vaccinations. I didn't have to buy anything.
So in my view, although cat owners don't need to rely on breeders as much (obviously there are types you need a breeder for) they tend to be a safe bet.
We wanted an adult cat rather than a kitten , so I said let’s go to the local cat rescue place please, they’re desperate for people to give a cat a home, or so I thought.
£200 “donation” required. OK , that included vaccinations (£50) which I would have willingly paid. Also you have to be checked out . ( it’s a cat ffs, I’m not adopting a child!)
Forget it. Found one on gumtree. He had well cared for just ignored a bit. He’s not really the cuddly type abd I could see he’d maybe not like kids pulling him around.From what I could see,They also had a new dog, one had to go, the dog cost too much.
They wanted £30 but threw in food, toys, litter and tray etc, so effectively free.
Two years on he’s thriving.
£200 “donation” required. OK , that included vaccinations (£50) which I would have willingly paid. Also you have to be checked out . ( it’s a cat ffs, I’m not adopting a child!)
Forget it. Found one on gumtree. He had well cared for just ignored a bit. He’s not really the cuddly type abd I could see he’d maybe not like kids pulling him around.From what I could see,They also had a new dog, one had to go, the dog cost too much.
They wanted £30 but threw in food, toys, litter and tray etc, so effectively free.
Two years on he’s thriving.
Cat rescue places def worth looking at, they are mostly trying to 're home adult cats which as others have said is not ideal when you already have a dog. But they do also have kittens - our cat came from Celia Hammond rescue home in Lewisham and he was .ca 4 months old when we got him.
The good ones vet you quite thoroughly as a potential owner so would take the dog into account anyway.
The good ones vet you quite thoroughly as a potential owner so would take the dog into account anyway.
We got our current cats, as kittens, by word of mouth.
Asked everyone we knew if they had friends, neighbours or colleagues that knew of a cat or kitten that needed rehoming.
My father in laws workmates girlfriend had adopted a cat which unbeknown to her at the time of adoption was pregnant.
We adopted two of the kittens. Despite not wanting payment we handed over £50 for the pair of them.
Asked everyone we knew if they had friends, neighbours or colleagues that knew of a cat or kitten that needed rehoming.
My father in laws workmates girlfriend had adopted a cat which unbeknown to her at the time of adoption was pregnant.
We adopted two of the kittens. Despite not wanting payment we handed over £50 for the pair of them.
I would recommend a kitten, but it is possible for fully grown cats to adapt to dogs.
We took on tiger lily from a rescue organisation. she was previously feral but has adapted to us and dogs incredibly well. we have fostered several dogs and she has been great with each one.
Photo of her and Harvey from last year.
We took on tiger lily from a rescue organisation. she was previously feral but has adapted to us and dogs incredibly well. we have fostered several dogs and she has been great with each one.
Photo of her and Harvey from last year.
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