Should I adopt a 7 month old kitten from Petsmart?

Question

I saw a really cute kitten at Petsmart today. He was a gray tabby and kept meowing at me and rubbing his body against the window as if he wanted to be scratched. But the problem is I already have two kittens, 5 month old and 1 year old tabbys..... so should I get another one? will they get along??????

I had a gray tabby kitten before but it dissapeared somewhere!

I really really want to get this kitty but my parents might not approve......

I am probably not going to adopt him because Petsmart requires that I fill out an application and they even come to my house to check. That's too invasive. I got all my kittens from my vet and they never checked my home so if I get another kitten it will be from there instead. This is bad since I really like the kitty but don't want strangers coming to my home and telling me whether I'm worthy of giving another kitty love.

Answer 1

Your parents would definately have to OK it before you get another cat if you are living in their home. This is especially true because they will be the ones who have the legal responbsibility for the cat and the ones who will have to take care of many of it's bills and of it too if you go away to college or whatever. 3 kitties can get along OK once they get used to each other if you are sure you have the love, the time, and the money to care for one more cat and your folks say OK.

Every PetSmart I have known about gives space to responsible animal rescue groups and shelters to display pets that have been abandomned or surrendered to them so that the pets will not have to be put to sleep. PetSmarts don't sell pets because there are already so many animals without homes. Instead they help groups like this find good homes for animals by displaying them where people who care about their animals shop. These groups are usually very responsible about being sure the animal is healthy and has had all its shots and is neutered or spayed before it is put up for adoption. The reason they have such strict rules and do home inspections is that there are some wierd and mean people in this world who will "adopt" a cat for the purpose of using it as bait in a dog fight or dog race, or to hurt it in other ways or who will let it run loose and not take care of it. There are also people who mean well but simply can not take care of an animal either because they don't have the money or the time, or patience or a safe place for it. One of my close friends is on the board of an organization that brings pets to 2 PetSmarts to be adopted and they have had people who were homeless ask for pets - not that someone who is homeless can't love a pet but if they don't have a home they can't provide a home to a pet, people who wanted them to sell to experimental places, people who when it was checked out were working 12-16 hrs a day and planning to keep the pet in a crate all that time and more. I can understand how it would hurt your feelings to be told you and your home have to be checked out but it is for a reason. They want to be sure that people don't just fall in love with the kitty or doggie on the spur of the moment and end up not keeping it or not being able to take good care of it. The fact that you have 2 healthy kitties who have a good home and good care would be in your favor very much if it is OK with your parents to get another cat.

Answer 2

The animals at Petsmart or any other pet store, for that matter, always rub up against the glass. Wouldn't you, if you were stuck inside there all day and someone came along and stopped to look at you? Makes me feel guilty when I see them too, but you must realize that you can't rescue every cute critter out there. Much better to stick with the two you already have, so you can afford to give them the love and attention they need and deserve. Also, since you're still living at home, I assume that the parents are paying the food bills for the kittens you have now? At least providing the roof under which they live? Might be an excellent idea to get their thoughts on it. Otherwise this gray tabby could end up at Petsmart like your other one did.

Answer 3

If your parents are cool with it, then by all means, adopt this kitty! I adopted a 12 week old grey Maine Coon mix from PetSmart last year and he is a total love.

Your two existing kitties will most likely hiss at the newby for a day or so. Try putting new kitty in a room where he and your cats can sniff at each other under the door. Try this for a day or so. You can then try letting your 2 kitties into the room while removing the new one so they can exchange scents. Or you can plunge into it, let the kitties see each other and work it out. The 5 month old will probably take to it quickly, a year old one may take a few days. I've had cats for years and years and never had any that didn't get along eventually.

I hope you get it!

Edited to add: Please keep your kitties inside. We got our new one because our only outdoor kitty disappeared. Our 3 stay inside all the time now. It's the only safe way for them to have a good long life.

Answer 4

Adopting a cat at Petsmart is great because unlike pet stores these cats are cared for by outside shelters not by the Petsmart store itself, they just rent out the space to show the cats. But if your worried about filling out the application form because you don't want people to learn more about you and inspect the area where the cat will live to be sure the cat is going to a good home, then they are obviously doing a good job of weeding people out. That is the entire purpose of the application form and you must not think you'll pass otherwise there should be no problem filling it out. So it sounds to me like people who already have cats and are losing kittens probably should not be adopting anymore.

Answer 5

I am all for it!! I say get the kitty!!! I think it would be an awesome idea if you feel like you're able to care for the kitty. Plus you'll be doing the kitty a huge favor by finally being welcomed to a home. It really does touch my heart seriously when people adopt animals. They just want to look for a home and a family who loves them. Try to welcome the kitty to your cats and I hope they do all get along. Remember at first your new addition will be shy, but soon he will be comfortable. For some reason I really love male cats.......they are so affectionate!!

Congrats if you get him!!


As far as what people are saying about them having diseases, don't discriminate a cat just because they might be sick. All cats, healthy and sick need love. You never know that sick kitty can be the sweetest pet you've ever had. It's a shame people pick the "best" cat, but I would adopt any cat regardless of age and health. They all deserve the best.

Answer 6

They do that to make sure the kitty isn't going to end back in the shelther or out on the street.


Loch, Petsmart sponsors adoption days. They allow local shelters and rescues to use their space to try and get animals homes. They don't actually sell dogs or cats. Shelters and rescues will perform all necessary health checks on cats and kittens before allowing them up for adoption.

Answer 7

An adopted cat should always be from a place where it is used to being near people (like a farm). If you are planning to get one from Pet Smart, you should always get your pet first in the morning. That's before all the young kids go tapping on the glass and making it miserable. For example, my sister got her hamster the minute the store opened, and the little thing is an angel. My friend got hers near closing, and it is a little brat (always miserable). That might not be the answer to your question, but I hope this advice works.

Answer 8

Petsmart has the right idea...they want to be sure that the cat goes to a good home. All adoption places should do this. After you just stated that you had a kitten that just disappeared..I would think twice about letting you adopt.

Answer 9

Actually it's not the idea of a third cat that frightens me, it's getting a pet from Petsmart that has me worried, especially as you have other cats around the house. I am not sure where they get their animals from and am afraid that they may not check out the pets they have for sale. There is always the fear of getting a cat with FIP, which is the cat version of AIDS, when you buy a cat from a big store like Petsmart. They do not do all the necessary tests. If you get a cat with such a disease it is easily transmitted to your other cats, and I am sure you don't want to have sick cats.

As far as three cats getting along, that seems to be the maximum I would ever recommend. I have two right now and am looking for a third. Three seem to get along ok. But also, be careful of the sexes of the animals that you have. If you have males at home and bring a new male in it can be a problem. Males like to be dominant. A lot of times it is easier to bring in a female.

Answer 10

NO. You already have two and that's a handful. That kitty at Petsmart deserves a home where he will prbably be the only pet and be spoiled rotten for it.