Best places to look for kittens?

[Errkal]

Wut. Kitten then.. Though a kitten is cat, right?

And I don't mean train it as in collecting the paper and doing the hoovering but to be loving and not boring!

Cats do what they want. Having one from a kitten won't change how the cat turns out. If a cat is going to turn out to be a bastard it will be a bastard, no amount of affection as a kitten will change that.

That's just not true.

Jesus, ATF has become a very hostile place recently.

it is true ! cats are far closer to their natural roots that say dogs. which is why they are prone to turning feral, raising from a kitten helps and effection can have an effect but there is still nature there if a cat is going to be a prick it will be no mater what.

[jamcc]

Don't think for a second that I don't agree with you in that. That's why I always have been and always will be a dog lover.

Go away.

How about you.... strawberry float off out of this thread, especially seeing as you've contributed strawberry float all.

[OnlyShallow]

She could always look on this site.

http://www.kittenads.co.uk/

[jamcc]

Yeah I found that this afternoon, thanks. Looks really good. Have sent my friend a few numbers to call.

I created this thread as I remembered that there are a lot of cat lovers/owners (some a but worryingly so) on here and thought people might know some magic way of acquiring kittens. Other than theft.

[Dual]

I'm sorry for what I said earlier in the thread jammcc.

[Archaeon]

If she wants to train an animal to love her she should just get a dog.

[OnlyShallow]

If she wants to train an animal to love her she should just get a dog.

[Archaeon]

Am I wrong??

[SEP]

Am I wrong??

My cat loves me. He's very skittish around other people, though.

[jamcc]

I'm sorry for what I said earlier in the thread jammcc.

Too late, man. I've already reported you to all the mods. I think they're going to permaban you.

Am I wrong??

My cat loves me. He's very skittish around other people, though.

My friend's current cat hisses at everyone bar her and I. I kinda like that about him.

[Jonathan86]

As the husband of a vet, here's some info for your friend:

- She is delusional if she wants a cat purely to train. Cats, like humans, have lots of different personalities and can change when they develop in age. If you get a kitten who is very food-orientated and you can teach it tricks, it's not guaranteed that it will be the same when it's older. Similarly, a kitten who isn't too fussed about treats can turn into a very trainable cat when it's older. This goes for socialising too. Dogs are much more trainable in this respect.
- Train-ability in cats very much comes down to whether they are food-orientated or not. Some cats are happy to eat just what they require and graze at the food provided throughout the day. Others, however, are like dogs, will scoff down food, and will do anything for a treat - and this is generally what you need in order to train them.
- There are thousands of cats being put to sleep every month because no one wants them - literally thousands. Your friend sounds selfish in her specific requirements. Tell her to look around local shelters and pick a cat to give a great home to.

- PLEASE GET HER TO SPAY/NEUTER THE CAT. No matter whether it's an indoor or outdoor cat, get it fixed around 6 months. If they don't, a male cat will generally piss everywhere, and a female will go mental to get outside when she is in heat. Additionally, you will also be risking increasing the number of unwanted cats.

Please try and get her to consider adopting from a local shelter.

Edit: From the sounds of it, she is after a dog without the hassle of walking it. Dogs will give you unconditional love and be much more trainable. I'd hate to see her adopt a cat with her requirements in mind, but then it turns out to have a different personality to what she wants and ends up resenting it.

[jamcc]

Okay thanks for that. I think you've misunderstood me though. As I said, she doesn't want to train as in how you would train a dog. She (and I) actually like the way her current cat is free spirit. She's had loads of cats in the past and knows what she is getting in for.

She wants to give the cat lots of love and cuddles when it's a baby so that it's used to it (as she's always done). I've read many sources that say it's the only way to make a cat more affectionate and does work. The only training' she wants to do is basic manners and using a litter tray.

And she's not too lazy for a dog - she works 9 to 5 in central London and has a small house. Her situation isn't right for a dog.

Again, I don't think it's selfish to have basic requirements for a pet.

If you were after a Jack Russell and I offered you a Great Dane, would you take it?

[Jonathan86]

If you were after a Jack Russell and I offered you a Great Dane, would you take it?

If:

- I could afford to keep the Great Dane
- It was well behaved, and
- I knew it was going to be killed next week

Then yes. Although that argument in the context of this situation is like comparing a Maine Coon to a Leopard. Great Dane vet fee's are much more expensive than small/medium sized dogs, and so are their food bills. Plus because of their size they live for about 8 years.

Also, if she works 9 till 5 (so, more like 8 till 6) then she is going to have a tough time socialising it to her standards unless she takes some time off while it's a kitten.

[jamcc]

I think she probably will. Her team seem pretty slack with sick leave as well...

I realise mine was an exaggerated example but I also don't think most people would have answered as you did. Most people aren't willing to take on pets out of charity. I'm sure there are lots of other animals that get put down regularly but you can't demand that people take them on if they don't want to.

[systematic]

Check the animal shelters. Black cats are often the the least adopted: Black cats unlucky at shelters.

[kommissarboris]

mammals are for pussys.

strawberry float this kitten malarky.

go out and buy and then surprise her with a reptile.

reptile supremacy

[Archaeon]

Reptiles are not meant to stay in cages.

[smurphy]

She should stop being a picky bitch and take what's available. Loads of cats get put down all the time because people don't take them in.

I'm afraid I don't agree with this view at all. Why would you want someone to have a pet they don't want? It's the people who take on pets and then dump them that are at fault.

If you aren't going to look after an animal properly because it's the wrong colour or it isn't young enough for you then you don't deserve an animal. People dump pets because they don't consider the responsibility of looking after them, not because they got the wrong colour.

Not to say take the first thing you find. I don't know if this applies to cats, but with dogs you obviously need a breed and size of dog that matches up with you. What it looks like and how old it is (with the exception of very young or very old) shouldn't really play a part.

[1cmanny1]

mammals are for pussys.

strawberry float this kitten malarky.

go out and buy and then surprise her with a reptile.

reptile supremacy

Thanks for the replies so far.

She should stop being a picky bitch and take what's available. Loads of cats get put down all the time because people don't take them in.

She's after a young cat as she wants to train it herself and bring it up to be affectionate (solitary cats are the most strawberry floating pointless pets; "meow, feed me" *buggers off until next meal time*) like her current one is.

All cats are like that! They don't stay kittens, they grow up and become somewhat solitary. They don't stick around with you all day, if she wants an animal that does that, get a dog.

[1cmanny1]

She should stop being a picky bitch and take what's available. Loads of cats get put down all the time because people don't take them in.

I'm afraid I don't agree with this view at all. Why would you want someone to have a pet they don't want? It's the people who take on pets and then dump them that are at fault.

If you aren't going to look after an animal properly because it's the wrong colour or it isn't young enough for you then you don't deserve an animal. People dump pets because they don't consider the responsibility of looking after them, not because they got the wrong colour.

Not to say take the first thing you find. I don't know if this applies to cats, but with dogs you obviously need a breed and size of dog that matches up with you. What it looks like and how old it is (with the exception of very young or very old) shouldn't really play a part.

I used to know someone that bashed kittens over the head. Because they didn't bother to spay the cat. Farmers