Topic: New cats and kittens

[Rhoda Dendron]

I lost my two precious cats over the last year - they were our family and the loss was quite devastating for us.  Anyway my OH is broody for cats and we are thinking of getting some new ones.  We thought we would probably get a rescue moggy and a pedigree as this combination worked well before. (The rescue moggy took after my husband, loyal, cheerful, untidy, loved his food and wouldn't ever do what he was told - they adored each other.  The other a British shorthair blue/cream attached herself to me (pretty much literally) and like me was noisy, demanding, loving and needed a lot of cuddles.)

We are thinking of a silver tabby kitten and have also been offered the 3 year old mother of the kitten as the breeder wants to find a good home for her.  She is absolutely gorgeous and part of me feels I would like to rescue her (I can't think that being bred from and shown is the happiest life for a cat although some seem to enjoy it.).  One thing that worries me is that I have been told in the past that the mother cat often doesn't want to have her offspring around after they have been weaned, so they may not get on together.  Does anyone have any views on this?  Also although she seemed like an affectionate cat and had been 'socialised' are there any likely problems health, personality, etc. with an ex-breeder?

It is all so difficult - I know we will never have cats again like our first two and I am worried about making a mistake as I don't want to end up with a cat that is totally aloof from us.

[Hyacinth]

dunno about mums and offspring, cos I've not had personal experience, but our second cat, a russian blue, we had from a breeder - surplus to requirements after she'd bred from her and shown her >:(  she was 4yrs old, I think. SO rewarding! There shouldn't be any health probs at all, as it was in the breeder's best interests to keep her healthy. Ours just loved the 1-to-1 attention she got as a 'pet' rather than a breeding commodity and was extremely affectionate.V. timid at first, tho. As she'd been kept either indoors or in a large enclosed pen outside, to see her explore the garden and sniff the flowers was just the best. btw, as she'd always used a litter tray, she used to come haring indoors to have a P or whatever - a big bonus when you grow veggies in your garden and she made herself an immediate favourite with the neighbours too! I'm so pleased I took her and I still miss her. A great character.

All the best in what you decide.Lishka

[grotbag]

Have you seen my kitten pics? We have a mum and daughter,who sometimes get on and sometimes not!.Although we do breed from our cats (british shorthair)they are pets first .We have just purchased a silver tabby kitten ourselves.She is very timid and doesnt seem used to being handled.We have been told if you want a friend get a female if you want a baby get a boy.Good luck

[Rhoda Dendron]

Hi Grotbag and Alisha

Thanks for the messages - it is not making my decision any easier although we still have a while to decide as the kitten won't be ready until August.  Grotbag I have tried to look at some of the kitten pictures and get a logo from photobucket saying that the images aren't there any more. 

rhoda

[katynewbie]

 ;D

Lishka, that made me laugh about the litter tray! Mine used to be house cats and still use the tray, Bud will not pee outside...it's dirty!! lol

 ::)

[Rhoda Dendron]

Hi again Grotbag

I managed to take a look at the kitten pictures from May 14th.  I am sitting here weeping now as she looks very like my lovely  shorthair blue/cream that I lost early this year.  She had that same stocky look with broad face and shoulders but she was exquisitely lovely and still looked like a kitten facially even when she was fading away.  I want another shorthair but thought I'd go for a silver tabby (or spotty actually) so they would be sufficiently different from her.   She was another cat who invariably used the litter box rather than go in the garden even if she was already out there.  Unfortunately she never really got the point of the box as she would get in and then pee backwards out of the tray all over the kitchen floor tiles!!

RHoda

[Hyacinth]

At least we're all showing peeps that it is possible to train cats to a box, even if they go outside......sigh....why ever don't other people do it? Cat muck is a nightmare in the borders and beds....big, big sigh....my blue was a terrorista.....could torment to distraction the most well-behaved obedient dog on a lead being walked on the green opposite....then rush in, all wide-eyed,  to thunder up the stairs to the top landing, use her box, then thunder down the stairs and outside to continue the 'game'..

Loved your comment GB, that if you want a friend, gat a female, if you want a baby get a boy.....just like real life, then ::) ;D

[plot51A]

Silver tabbies and spotties are just adorable! In another life I kept and bred siamese and silver tabbies. Many breeders keep their queens in the house as part of the family, and if so don't think there should be a problem with the mother/offspring thing - but just like humans, they are all different. I used to give people very comprehensive notes when a kitten went to a new home - what they liked to eat, what litter they were used to etc. Sometimes as soon as they reached their new abode they (the kitten!) changed the regime completely - turned their noses up at favourite food - especially the siamese  ;D Frantic phone calls from new owners! Now my OH is allergic to pets and also we live in a flat so cats are out of the question. But sometimes I miss them so very much.