What do I have to consider before buying a kitten?

Question

I've never owned a kitten before and I want to buy one. What are the things I need to think about or get before I go out and get one.

How much do they usually cost?

Answer 1

Be prepared for sleepless nights, they're hyperactive little monsters.

Why not get yourself a rescue cat? One that will just sleep and eat that you can love and cuddle?

Answer 2

Do you have a safe place for the kitten away from cars, dogs and people??? If not, your pet should be kept indoors; it is much healthier and safer as they dont get diseases like leukaemia and feline AIDS, or enteretis. You will need a littertray on sheets of clean paper, to be kept sweet by removing what she had done, daily, and scald it out and put fresh litter in about every 7 days for a kitten, more often for an adult. She will need to go to the vet for injections, and will have to be neutered at between 5-6 months; this is healthier for her, or him, plus male cats smell really awful when they mature! You will need toys for the kitten, and kitten food, and clean water every day- dont give a kitten cows milk, it can kill them. The best place is an animal refuge or sanctuary, where they cost about £60, but have a clean bill of health, and most sanctuaries etc, contribute towards the spaying and neutering--some pay the full cost. Now would be a good time, as many of these animal homes have masses of kittens looking for loving homes; why not have two, and then they are better than any comedy on tv when they are playing, and they dont get lonely when your out, and you get twice as much love and purrs, and cuddles!!!

Answer 3

First off, you usually don't own a cat, they own you! Get on line and read up on basic kitten care. Having any animal is a big responsibility which lasts for the lifetime of the animal. They can also get expensive. They need shots, spayed or neutered, wormed, treated to prevent fleas, not to mention the cost of food, cat litter, etc. Kittens, especially, need lots of love and attention, as they get into and onto everything! If you do decide to make this commitment to another living being, then please, go to your local shelter and pick a nice kitten there. Give a good home to a homeless kitten, they usually already have initial shots and worming, and the shelter will generally offer rewards, such as coupons for discounts on spaying and neutering; and at a reasonable price.

Answer 4

1. Do you have the time to commit to looking after the cat (remember they can now live to 20+)
2. Can you afford the vet bills.
3. Do you want a pedigree or a moggy
- if you want a pedigree can you afford the inital payment which will be in the hundreds. - Rescues depends on the shelter
4. Where do you live built up area or rural - if in a built up area are you on a busy road if so can you cope with the cat being a housecat or can you cat proof your garden so the cat cant escape and risk being run over
5. Food costs
6. Can you cope with possible loss of furniture due to cat scratching
7. Are you or any of your family allergic to cats if so think about the breeds without guardhairs Cornish/Devon Rexes or the Spynx cats
8. Litter trays and the need to keep them clean
and I am sure there are other things but if you do go ahead you will have a friend for life.

Answer 5

first of all where are you planning on buying this kitten. A breeder? A pet store? a Shelter (lets hope for the latter). It also depends on how old the kitten is when you get it . Food, litter box, toys and patience. Visits to the vet. Spaying and or neutering. Depending on where you live and if you do things the right way, it can cost you about 500.00-600.00 dollars during the first six months if you live in the Boston area. There tons of fun but alot of work.

Answer 6

Typically your adoption fee will be around $100 if you go to places like PetsMart or PetCo. They work with the local Humane Societies and such in the area that adpot out animals. This fee includes all shots and spay/neuter fees...as well as registration fees for the animal.

Things you need to think about are:

1) Am I willing to take care of another life? Am I ready for the responsiblity of another life to take care of that will depend on me?
2) Am I financially able to take care of my new friend properly? can I afford food, litter and a decent place for my new friend to grow up in (home) every month? Can I afford the shots needed for my new friend every few years, and annual check-ups every year?
3) If I live in a busy street area, or even wooded area...am I willing to keep my new friend indoors and train my friend properly how to use a scratching post, keep from getting on on tables (if you mind them doing that), etc.

These are just a few things, but there are a bunch more. You have to be willing to alter your life to take on a new one in your home. It is like having a baby enter the household for the first time...it will change everything. Well having a pet is no different. You need to be willing to love that animal at all costs, with no reservations. If the cat poops in an area they are not supposed to, will you hurt the animal? Of they vomit, will you yell at the kitty? If they play and break something, will you scold them? Cats are cats, they are animals. They have the mentality of a 2 year old, and have no concept of cause and effect. They do what they do, they do what they feel. Most times, not out of spite for you (you will be able to tell when it is spiteful)...but just because they are being kitties.

It is a responsiblity owning a furry friend...and I am glad you are thinking things through before you pursure adopting a new friend. That is highly mature of you.

Answer 7

good planning!!! so many people just jump in then have regrets!! well, first how much room do you have, where do you live (city/country) will it be an inside cat, where will it sleep (prob with you lol) where will you put its litter tray, do you have little kids, are you allergic etc. what type do you like, have a look on the web. i would get a kitten from an unwanted pet home. they only charge a little for fees. make she you worm and vaccinate it. get a kitten that is at least 7 to 8 weeks old. you can spend ALOT on registered cats!! you can prob get one for free from the papers, they usually moggys but they great too. you need to decide on the sex too, i personally love girls. good luck

Answer 8

I would get one from the shelter or pound. They usually come spayed and with a health guarantee. You don't need a pure breed. Get a litter box and find a vet and ask your friends that have cats what they would suggest. Cat owners stick together and help. Generally no matter what ** you get on here. Get the same litter that the pound used and it should be housebroken just by enclosure in the cage. A collar and a name. and maybe a few toys and a lot of time and patients should do the trick.

Answer 9

To accept and cuddle the cat when it brings in dead birds or mice... and that if the bird or mouse is not wuite dead its being a mummy cat and traying to teach you how to hunt and get dinner.

Your furniture will be scratched...

You will need cat flapps in your doors inc most likel bedroom door so cat can be ahppy with u at night but get out at 4am.

The kitten will pee and poop in the house till house trained.

YOU WILL HAVE THE CAT FOR THE NEXT 15-20 YEARS
YOU WILL HAVE THE CAT FOR THE NEXT 15-20 YEARS
YOU WILL HAVE THE CAT FOR THE NEXT 15-20 YEARS
YOU WILL HAVE THE CAT FOR THE NEXT 15-20 YEARS

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AS THE CATS COMMING TOO AND CATS DON't LIKE MOVING HOUSE.

Whats the traffic like around your way and likly hood of cat being run over.

Kittens dont stay kittens for long...

You like cats?

Dumping said can in a cts home will mess it up in the head and be very hurtful


Pet insurance vets cost a fortune. Especailly life saving treament.

Let the kitten get used to the cage before ends up in it ie like a ct box, then take cat on a trip in the cage and feed it... then take it to the vet for a get to know the vet who is nice trip.


So when you do it for real the cat is not trumatised...

Cats have card cat carriers for lunch...

Unless its a manx cat which likes water, bathing a cat will mean loss of blood.. ie yours.

You will get bitten and scratched by the cat no matter how loving it is...

Experienced people dont whip hand out of the wat as cats usually grap, its the drawing that cuts.

Look at cat food costs as well.


What do you do if away can a neighbour feed the cat?
Is there a cat next door who will consider your garder its territory?

How about a cat eating dog?

Answer 10

well they can be hyperactive depending on what breed you choose and where you get them from also if you buy a kitten that has only just been aloud to leave it mother then you'll need to spend a lot of time with it and make it feel loved also when you bring your kitten home don't let it leave the house for 2/3 days cuz it will try and find its way home to mommy etc...(that always happened 2 us) you can get it some toys and you'll need to find out whic food they can eat dry biscuits or the tinned stuff but you can find out all the important stuff from who ever your getting the kittens off of i recomend a shelter b.cuz then you'd be giving them a better life and you've got to get your kitten registered at the vets and if you have any other pets like dogs, cats fish then you'd better keep an eye out for it and make sure they all get along but i think thats all the important stuff wooooooooo gd luck

Answer 11

Cost varies a lot. You do need to consider though, buying a cat box, and cleaning it out daily. Also, the cost of food, and experimenting to find out what kind of food your cat likes. You need to make sure you have time to spend with the cat. You could be working on your computer, while petting your cat. Of course, you need to get the cat some toys to. Maybe a rubber mouse, or some little fluffy balls. Maybe some balls with little bells in them. These are the main things, so I hope this helps. Good Luck. :]