New member looking for a kitten

Hi there, my name is Keith. I'm new here and am really glad I found this resourceful place. I'm a 24 year old living in NYC and am looking to adopt my first "real" pet; a kitten. I've had fish and a bird once before when I was younger, but never a dog or a cat or anything similar. I've always loved cats though and my best friends growing up had this awesome cat which I used to play with every day. Also my g/f is studying to become a vet and she has a kitten and a dog and loves animals so my love has grown as well.

Anyway, I'm in NYC and looking to adopt a kitten. I've been doing some research and it seems that 8 weeks/2lbs is the average appropriate age/weight to allow kittens to be adopted. I went to a Petco in Union Square and found some georgous kittens but I wasn't allowed to adopt them because they wanted me to get two (or have an adult cat already), which unfortunatley is not an option at this point (my rommmate only wants one cat). I then tried the ASPCA and CACC here in NYC and either didn't find any kittens or found ones which were already adopted.

I bought the ASPCA book "Complete Guide To Cats" and have been reading up on the feline. I've even been looking at some of the breeds. I feel kind of guilty liking a breed cat though because there are so many domestic short hairs that are going to be destroyed if they aren't adopted soon and I feel really bad about passing up on one of them to adopt/buy a breed (sorry if I'm offending anyone).

I'm looking to find a kitten that I think is really cute and that I'll fall in love with for the rest of my life. I don't really have any preferences... I like black, russian blues, tabbys, etc. I guess I just need to find the cat that "catches my eye".

Does anyone know of any other avenues I can try? I believe I'm coming up on the end of "kitten season" so I may have slim pickings from here on out. I've been using Petfinder and Craigslist and either they are out-of-date or require two kittens or are far away. Are there any general tips you guys have for me? I'm very excited about getting a cat and can't wait! I've already called up the ASPCA 3 days since my last visit but they didn't get any new kittens in yet. What precautions should I take? What should I look out for? Any and all info is most appreciated!

Thanks!

-Keith

Welcome to the site! I hope you will stick around to show us what kitten has chosen you when you find one. I am sorry I am not familiar with your area. Have you tried phoned The North Shore Animal League? That is the only one that comes to mind.

Captiva,

Thank you. I will look into that, thanks!

-Keith

Keith...most groups are going to require 2 kittens (the group I volunteer with does) because kittens do best with a friend. It's about what is best for the kitten, especially if you work....the kitten will be by itself for many hours. Why not adopt a young adult...still very cute and the added benefit is that you will be able to adopt one with no problem. The added advantage is that a youngish cat will already have it's personality so you will know if it is a cuddly lap cat. Here is an article on why 2 kittens is preferred:

http://www.pawschicago.org/PetCare/catsinpairs.htm

I would read it before you adopt out a single kitten.

Katie

Hi there Keith - we're so happy to welcome you to TCS. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay with us - we're one great big family and you'll find loads of friends here. If I can help at all while you're finding your way around TCS just click on my username and send me a Personal Message - I'll do what I can to answer your questions

You've had some great advice there - I hope that the news is good and you're soon welcoming a kitty into your home. Keep us informed

Welcome! I would not adopt a kitten until s/he is ready to leave her/his feline mama which is 12 weeks at the earliest. For some reason I fail to understand, some laws allow the sale of kittens at 8 weeks. I am assuming an outdated law from days gone by but I just do not know why this happens in certain jurisdictions. I do know that baby kits need their mama to learn all the things they need to know. By 12 weeks too, mama is quite happy to have her independence back. <g>

There are many great Rescue places to adopt kittens from in NYC. Good luck!

Kieth, My name is Audrey, and I'm pretty new to, My advice for you, especially living in NYC would be to adopt a young cat. they form attachment's a little slower, but you'll know more about the cat you're getting. There are also other good reason's an older cat is better, the young kittens have such a good chance of being adopted, whereas if you go to an animal shelter and find an adolescent cat you are helping to save it's life and give it a wonderful future. Think about it, if you still would rather have a kitten check newspaper add's for the free to a good home. They are also ones that need help or else they may end up never growing up.

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65809

Here's a special little guy that needs a good, loving home. He sounds adorable.

Just keep checking Petfinder or call a shelter that will let you adopt one and tell them you are looking and to call you when one comes in. You can also offer to foster one or two from a shelter and that way you can see if they work out and pick one to keep if both don't work out, or just to get the feel of having a kitten around. If it turns out it doesn't work with both you can give one back.

I don't know about Craigslist, I checked it out once and it seems like any old yahoo can post there and I am sure there are a lot of backyard breeders looking for a quick buck. Just be careful. Maybe it was just the area I was looking at.

Two aren't much more work to take care of than one, and while you're at work during the day, you'll be glad to know that they are keeping each other company!

Keep in mind that every cat has a different personality, so you'll want to find one that matches your lifestyle and personality (active = independent, moderate, mellow = lapcat/sometimes needy?). I know that doesn't sound very selfless, but it is smart and wise to ensure that you won't regret your decision and will truly be able to give your little one(s) a forever home. So I think it's really important to also meet the kitties in person to let the "right one" choose you, rather than decide on one by looking at its picture or choosing one based on cuteness/coloring.

Before we got our little guy (he's 6 mos. old now, we got him at 4-1/2 months), I went to two foster homes and met kitties based on their pictures online. Needless to say, I did not have a pleasant experience with either one (one of them actually was so freaked out by me that he ran away to another room! ), but the very next day, I went to the humane society and found Kuri. I had in mind either another tuxedo kitty or a gray kitty, and I really didn't have any interest in orange tabbies at all - and Kuri was also in the "sick ward" with a kitty cold! But he came right up to me through the bars and was purring like crazy when he saw me. He meowed at me when I walked away, so I came back with a worker so that she could unlock the door and let me hold him. He literally draped himself on my shoulder and clung to me, purring and nuzzling my chin! At that moment, I fell in love and knew he was just the one for our family.

Good luck to you, Keith! It's an important and lifelong decision, so you really want to make sure you are choosing a kitty that will be the right fit for you. You will be a great and loving "pawpaw" for some lucky kittens.

Thanks guys and gals for all the replies!

I have considered getting two kittens, but my roommate does't want two cats (and I know he is bending to allow me to have one, so I don't want to push it). On top of that I do travel a bit and when I want to bring my cat it will be much easier (and cheaper) for me to travel with one cat, not two. I just think two at this point will create too many headaches.

I'm really set on wanting a kitten... I want an experience similar to sumosmom. I want a cute cat, but I just want to visit them at the shelters and find the one that wants to be with me, not me wanting to be with it only... Sounds like such a cute story sumosmom!!!

I called the NY CACC and they told me they have 9 kittens in so I'm going to go pay them a visit today and hopefully come home with a new friend.

Thanks again for the replies and keep the suggestions coming! Is there anything I should look out for when adopting from the CACC? Any questions I should be asking that they may not voluntarily tell me upfront?

Thank you,
Keith

There's this website for Last Chance Kittens:

http://members.petfinder.org/~NY413/pets.html

I believe they are based in NY, if memory serves. What they do is post pics of kittens in high kill shelters in the southern states. If you see a kitten you want, they go a pick it up for you. These are kittens that are going to be euthanised within a short period of time and, unfortunately, for this reason, they post new kittens frequently.

I don't know what the fee is, I can't stand to look at the site myself, but it's probably listed on the site somewhere, or they'll let you know.

Either way, good luck!

Hi guys. I got a cute 3 month old white and black female from the CACC over here in NYC. She's adorable. Pictures soon to follow (as well as a name for her)!

-Keith

Congratulations! Look forward to the pix and name.

Aww...congratulations! Can't wait to see the pictures!

Congratulations!! Enjoy her!! And I look forward to the pix!