Free Kittens - Where?

[AB Editor]

Dear All,

Just wondered if anyone knew the best way to procure a free kitten.

One of my grandmother's cats passed away recently (after what is assumed to be a stroke - very sad last few days) and my auntie would like to find her a new kitten.

We did intend to get her a rag-doll (same breed as the old one I think?) - but the breeder wants £400! A little beyond the pittance I am paid for pedal-powering AB. Also I've always been wary of breeders - I wonder what happens to the "left overs"...

So, a free kitten would be appreciated - how do you find them? I've looked on the Wood Green site and that seems like an option. But where else can I look?

All the best,

Spare Ed

[woofgang]

even kittens from rescues aren't "free" there is usually a fee although much less than a purchase price.

[milly143]

My boss got a kitten a few weeks ago. I think he said there was an ad in one of the local rags.

[ummmm]

I got mine from FaceBook...lol.

My MIL still hasn't got her kitten speyed...she also has a male. So I might know someone pretty soon :-(

[mccfluff]

if you go to cats protection they do charge but i think its around £50.00 - and the kitten would of been spayed and inoculated

sad news for you gran :-(

[tiggerblue10]

I would agree with the rescue centre advice. They may not be free but at least you are giving something towards the other rescue animals left in the centre. You shouldn't pay more than around £50 for one also. I got Tigger and Blue from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and they were £40 (Blue) and £20 (Tigger).

[ummmm]

I got my little man for free...but had to get him neutered, inoculated, wormed and de-flead. And chipped.

[ChuckFickens]

does ginger mind you calling him "my little man"?

[tiggerblue10]

My 2 had everything done which they do at Battersea before they are put for rehoming.

[ummmm]

I call him much worse :-)

[JonnyBoy12]

I would give you one of mine, but I do not have any spare. Who on earth wants £400 for a cat? I would expect a car for that amount! My advice to you if I can give it to the Editor is to go to the Cat's Protection League, as they are the largest cat charity in the United Kingdom, and they can find you one for (almost) free. See the link below:

www.cats.org.uk

Hope this helps, AB Editor.

[AB Editor]

So the 2nd hand ones come with pre-loaded investment (chopped/snippet/chipped etc) - sounds like it is worth £50.

Looks like the local paper will be used for something other than papier mache...

[AB Editor]

Thanks everyone.

Has anyone else experience a cat who has had a stroke or similar? It is like they're a "different person" - all very sad.

Spare Ed

[tamborine]

Phone Pet Smart, lots of adverts on their pin boards.

[ummmm]

No...but it's really sad. When I was younger we had an obese cat called 'tinker'. She was so fat that she couldn't jump up on the work surface to get out (upstairs in the pub) we had to leave a chair on the kitchen side and a crate on the other side. She was so fat because she ate the other cats food and the dogs...she was the loveliest thing ever though. You only had to say hello to her and she'd start dribbling.

She was meowing at my Nans bedroom door one night. Nan got up to her and followed her to the bathroom where the cat layed down. She knew it was her time so Nan got a pillow and blanket and layed down next to her...and stroked her until she died. Very sad :-(

[lankeela]

I take offence at your comments about breeders - they certainly don't dump their 'leftovers' as most will have a waiting list for kittens. They will have studied pedigrees and carefully bred and reared the kittens and they will have been properly fed, wormed and had any treatment needed. You would also have to meet their criteria for giving a kitten a home and buying one as a present would probably be a no no unless the new owner was in agreement and the breeder had met them. Most Pedigree cat breeders are a different kettle of fish to dog breeders as they are usually very particular about their breeding.

[mazie]

Hi Ed. I had a rescue cat, she was 4 when we got her and she was amazing. We lost her on the 22nd December. She had a stroke a few weeks prior to passing. After the stroke, her personality didn't change bit she couldn't lift her head up properly and wouldn't leave my side, she followed me everywhere, with difficulty. She had trouble eating so we gave her lots of cat milk and mashed up food. She seemed to be getting better and after about 10 days she was able to hold her head straight. She was Okish for a couple of weeks and then just fell to sleep in her bed and never woke up. She was 21 years old and I got a lot of stick for not having her put down but she wasn't in pain and she died at home with me and the daughter next to her...Now I'm crying........... Good luck with your search x

[tamborine]

lots on gumtree

http://www.gumtree.com/london/03/74172803.html

[wolf63]

I am not sure how old your grandmother is but are you sure that a kitten is the animal to get? Maybe a slightly older moggie would be better - kittens are turbo charged and drive you nuts.

Cats Protection are a brilliant charity and they will try and find a cat that suits your gran and her other cats.

My two were 18 months old when I got them and they were still young enough to be fun but they weren't trying to destroy the house.