some cat/kitten advice please!!!

[snowboarder]

Hello!

There seems to be a huge number of cat owners on here - I just want a bit of advice please! We have bought our first kitten, and she's coming to live with us next weekend.....but some people have told me we should have bought 2 (she is from a litter of 5 so this is not out of the question) so that she will not be lonely whilst we are out at work. I can see this.....should I get 2?? Any advice would be great - also advice on local vets etc.

Thanks so much. I will post a piccy of the lovely kitten when we get ther home in return!

[Ladygooner]

I think 1 kitten is Ok - after all they sleep most of the day so why would they want any company?!

[snowboarder]

Really? Not lonely then. Suppose 2 might gang up on us....

[Ladygooner]

To my mind it would be like having twins when one baby would do!

[Carrie]

Nothing wrong with having twins - I've got twin girls and twin cats - wouldn't have it any other way - always someone of your own age to play with and to snuggle up with - as well as fight with - goes for the girls as well as the cats!

[Ladygooner]

Absolutely nothing wrong with having twins!

[snowboarder]

OK it's a bit of a dilemma. Maybe 2 is good after all. Does anyone have any experience of local vets for jabs etc.?

[Ant]

There's one just opposite the Harvester. We took our kitten there for her second set of jabs. (She'd already had her first lot when we got her from Battersea.) Mrs Ant reports that the vet seemed friendly and efficient. Not that you can tell much from a five-minute jabbing, but still...

[snowboarder]

Thank you that sounds nice and convenient!

Ant I saw your kitten pics - does she have a name yet?

[Ant]

Looks like it's going to be Mog. (I'm unimpressed, but the oldest daughter's taken to it.)

[sakwhita]

When you have two animals esp. litter mates they tend to socialize with each other more than their humans. I would stick to one....

[annaj]

We've got two cats and they're wonderful, but I would say two cats is twice the mess (hair, litter etc) and it takes a bit of extra work to stop your house becoming a cat house. I think most cats are equally happy on their own or in pairs.

We use the vet near the Harvester, Lomax and Partners, and really like it. It's sometimes a bit chaotic when you phone or call in, but the staff are lovely and they work really long days so you can always get a pre- or post-work appointment. We've also used the emergency vets on Streatham High Road, when the now infamous Audrey http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?20,32170 tried to eat a toad late one night with slightly alarming results, and they were very good although not cheap.

Enjoy your kitten(s)!

Anna

[snowboarder]

Thankyou - I think I'm edging towards having 2!

Can't wait. Will post a picture because they are SO cute.

cheers.

[Ko]

Snowboarder - sounds exciting (and fluffy!) When do they arrive?

Anna - I too wondered about Audrey's name. You're right, she really does look like Ms Hepburn!:))

[snowboarder]

Sunday. Have now discovered a whole new world of online pet retailing to distract me at work!

[eccentric]

2 is best IMHO , we took in two baby sisters from a rescue centre and they are super together and apart.Just before we got them to Lomax for the snip, one, Treacle had a liaison with a local tom and subsequently produced a litter of 4. We now have 4 cats in total (rehomed 2 of the litter). All 4 cats live together harmoniously and all are very individual. Take 2 in and they provide company for each other when the family is not around.

[snowboarder]

Yep - sisters Molly and Meredith have now been with us a week and are definitely keeping each other company (and encouraging each other into trouble!).