Adopt Or Shop: Rescue A Cat or Buy a Kitten?

After carefully weighing the implications - perhaps by reading Things to Consider Before Getting a Cat - you've decided that a cat is the perfect pet for you. Now what? Bringing any animal into your home requires careful thought, commitment and dedication. Just like people, cats can have very different personalities and needs. Putting a bit of thought into which cat is right for you can help you to find a companion that suits your lifestyle and offers everything you wanted from cat ownership.

Here are some factors to consider:

Cat or kitten?

Kittens are extremely cute and widely available. Raising a kitten gives the rewarding experience of watching them grow and develop their personality. Kittens are full of energy and have a natural desire to explore, run, climb and pounce which can make the early months very full-on. Natural curiosity can get them into lots of mischief or even lead to damaging items in your home, especially soft furnishings. They will need help with litter training and being taught how to behave appropriately, as well as attention and supervision to keep them occupied and safe. This may mean initially not being able to leave them alone for very long.

In comparison, adult cats are often calmer and adapt to home life more quickly, though this does depend on their age and personality. A big advantage of taking on an adult cat is that their personality is already established, so you can choose a cat that suits your household - whether that is a playful, active cat, one that is more affectionate, or one that spends more of their time sleeping. Adults typically require less supervision than a kitten and, once settled into a routine, are (usually!) less likely to be destructive or cause chaos.

Another option to consider is adopting a bonded pair of cats. Some adult cats arrive at rescues with a sibling or lifelong companion, and rehoming them together ensures that they have the comfort of a familiar friend as they settle into their new home. Cats don’t always appreciate the introduction of a new housemate, so if you would like to have more than one cat, adopting them together is a good way to ensure everyone gets on.

Purebred or moggie?

Most pet cats are crossbreeds, affectionately known as moggies. This means it is hard to predict the size a kitten will grow to, or what its personality will be like. The most common types of moggies are domestic short-hair (DSH) and domestic long-hair (DLH), with common colour variations of black, white, black and white, ginger, grey, tortoiseshell and tabby. DLH cats will need regular grooming to ensure their long hair doesn’t become matted, with some even needing shaving occasionally. DSH cats need very little grooming.

In comparison, purebred cats come from a much smaller gene pool, so tend to have predictable appearance and, often, more predictable behaviours (for example, oriental cats are usually very vocal). Purebred cats are often significantly more expensive, and some breeds are uncommon so harder to source. If you have a specific breed in mind it is worth doing your research, as some have particular care requirements, and many have predispositions to certain medical conditions. As with all pets, it is important to choose a breed based on their needs and common traits, and not just on their appearance.

Rehoming

There are cats and kittens of a wide variety of ages, sizes, colours and temperaments waiting for homes in rescue centres all across the UK. Reputable rescue and rehoming centres ensure that cats are health checked, treated for fleas and worms, neutered (if old enough), vaccinated and microchipped before they go to their new homes. Many rescues have kittens due to taking in pregnant females, so wanting a young cat doesn’t remove rehoming as an option.

Rescue centres can advise on which particular cat would be a good fit for your home and lifestyle. One of the advantages of rehoming an adult cat instead of a kitten is that their personality is already fully formed, making it easier to find a companion whose temperament suits your household. The rescue will be able to let you know about any behavioural quirks or preferences the cat has, such as how they are with small children, as well as any specific healthcare needs. There should also be post-adoption support to make sure that your new pet is settling in well.

It’s likely that the charity will request a home check or vet reference to ensure that you are ready to take on a cat. Depending on the individual cat’s needs there may sometimes be stipulations such as homes with no dogs, no other cats or no young children; some nervous cats need a stress-free environment to be able to come out of their shell. With time and consideration the rescue will be able to help find the right match for your circumstances.

Leading rehoming charities include Cats Protection and the RSPCA. There are also many smaller local charities or volunteer-run shelters, which can be an excellent choice as long as they offer the same degree of good facilities, health checks and post-adoption advice. A small rehoming fee may be required; this goes towards the cost of care and veterinary services prior to adoption, and will help the charity continue to care for other cats.

Breeders

Buying a kitten from a breeder can be an appropriate choice if you’re looking for specific traits like size or temperament, and is usually the only option if your heart is set on a specific breed. If you do choose to buy a cat, it’s important to only financially support reputable, ethical breeders. For less common breeds of cat, breeders may be selective over who they sell to, or have a waiting list to prevent over-breeding the queens (adult female breeding cats).

Breeders should be able to discuss the health of their cats and reason for breeding, show evidence of any relevant health testing in their breeding animals, and evidence of any pedigree registration (for example, with the GCCF). Make sure that you see the kitten with their mother in the same location that they were born and raised.

Be wary of health concerns as pedigree cats can face a higher risk of some health conditions. Some are at risk due to being selectively bred for certain traits – for example, brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds like the Persian, or dwarf breeds like the Munchkin. Other breeds have a higher incidence of heritable conditions like heart disease.

Adverts

Buying from adverts in shops or online can open the door to unscrupulous breeders. Some people breed just for income, without necessarily having the pet’s long term interests at heart. Many litters of kittens are labelled “accidental”, due to owners allowing their cat outside without having her neutered first. It is likely, but not guaranteed, that these cats will also be lacking appropriate veterinary care, such as being vaccinated or wormed. This may increase risk to the kittens of being born with a large parasite burden, or contracting diseases such as cat flu viruses from the mother.

Always ask to see the kitten with its mum, and be wary of cats with obvious health concerns such as sneezing, nasal discharge, or crusty nose and eyes. Should you go ahead and buy, get an appointment with your vet to have the kitten checked over as soon as possible. Online adverts can also be scams - do not part with money unless you’ve visited the kittens and their mother in the home environment. 

If in any doubt, giving a cat or kitten from a reputable rescue centre a loving home is always a good choice.

Do cats choose their owners?

In some cases, you don’t choose a cat – a cat chooses you. This can include a stray cat showing up at the door and never leaving, a friend or neighbour asking if you’ll ‘temporarily’ take care of their cat, or being offered a kitten from an unexpected source.

The ‘cat distribution system’ is a fun way to describe this phenomenon, as if there’s a secret force at play that ensures people who need a cat end up with one. While the phrase is just a fun joke, there’s a grain of truth to it - many cat owners will tell you that they didn’t plan to get a cat, but the right one found them all the same.

 

Getting a cat involves making a lasting commitment to these graceful and curious animals. Whether you adopt a cat from a charity or choose to buy from a reputable breeder, it’s key to do it thoughtfully and having considered all of the pros and cons. In return, you’ll maximise your chances of gaining a happy, healthy and loving feline friend.

Disclaimer

Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.