Opinions-kittens or young cats?

[Blueberry]

We adopted kitties from a no kill rescue group that pulls from high kill shelters (that are within a couple hour drive of us). Kitties in these shelters have about a zero percent chance - and I could look at kittens without thinking that they would be put down if I didn't take them. When we did adopt, we made space for more kittens who otherwise wouldn't have a chance.

It took me 6 months to be able to look at a kitten after we lost our Garfield. We lost him Memorial day weekend last year, and it was late October before I was looking. I was browsing one day and happened upon a Maine Coon look alike. He was going to be at a meet and greet, so we stopped by. I held him, I really liked him. Then, there was an adorable orange kitty - they put him in my lap, and I cried and cried. We thought about it. We talked about it. I was afraid I wasn't ready, but we kept thinking. My other half picked out a little white Siamese look alike that he wanted, and thanks to some foster parent confusion (the orange one might not be available), we ended up with the Maine Coon and the orange kitty. They were all in the 6 month range (the Siamese might have been younger) - and we could tell a lot about their personalities already (in fact, I thought the foster was wrong about a personality and I was right - the kitty just reacted differently to me). They're all special in their own ways. I'm glad we got them.

Just another thought and another perspective You're looking to adopt - whatever age you get, you're doing a great thing!

[7rider]

We recently took a pair of 7 week old littermates from my SIL/BIL who had taken in a feral momma cat who had 4 kittens.

Cute, fuzzy, who love a good snooze on a warm lap, but absolute terrors on paws. They charge up and down the house like a herd of elephants. I don't know HOW a 3 and 4 pound animal can make such a racket! They have destroyed plants, the leather couch is looking increasingly more "distressed" with each passing evening - even as we blast with squirt guns, air dusters, and have sticky-tape all over the house. We can't watch them 24/7 and it's those times when we ... oh, try to sleep, go to work, that they seem to wreak the most havoc. They've gotten better about sleeping on our bed with us (something DH is trying to foster), but by 3:30 a.m., they've woken up, get their "ya-yas" on, and start with the wrestling matches. So, it's out the door they go, into the hallway, and they stay out there and cry for the rest of the evening.

Kittens are darned cute...but they're exhausting. In the future, I'd definitely adopt a more mature animal companion.....

[badger]

we've only ever had one kitten in probably 20+ cats that have come and gone in my family's lives. He was the first and we got him from someone wanting to give away kittens at the County Fair type deal. All the cats since have been rescues.

Older cats will definitely present chances for issues, but we've never really had any horrible ones we couldn't deal with. In time they always came around.

Please give older cats a chance, especially the black ones that get passed over.

[zoom-zoom]

Please give older cats a chance, especially the black ones that get passed over.

Our nearby no-kill shelter has SO many black cats...I was surprised when they told me that black cats are the hardest to find homes for. I love black cats...they are so sleek and sophisticated-looking. We vowed that our next cat would be a black cat from the shelter.

[Velocivixen]

Yes, it's true. I volunteered at our local animal shelter for 14 months in the, what was then called "Cat-Nip" program, helping potential adopters find their forever friend. Black cats and even dogs do not get adopted as much. At Halloween time the shelter intentionally will NOT adopt out a black cat, for fear of someone adopting one and intentionally harming it for superstitious & Halloween related stuff. It's sad but true.
We will likely adopt two at the same time. If they're related that would be great, but not absolutely necessary. If possible I think one should be black.

[Brandi]

My last 2 cats were both about 4 months old. Perfect age I think. Not to young to worry about leaving at home and not to old to have bad habits yet. Young young kittens you have to worry about so much. not that bonding with them isn;t great. Getting 2 at the same time is a great idea too. It's fun Whenever I have had a cat pass it always seems in the spring and we wait till fall or winter too. Morning was really hard on one we lost. But we also feel our home open's up to another that really needs a home. But I do advise going with a very open heart. We had adopted our cat Bo when he was 4 months old and had a broken femur. Now why would we take an injured cat in? He was that special and the shelter paid to have his leg fixed so what they paid the vet was our donation. And he is the best cat EVER!

[Velocivixen]

I agree with what every single person has said here. So, you can see it's difficult. There is our local shelter, which is not "no-kill". The volunteer in the cat section said that kitten season is late here and the little kittens are all in foster homes and will come to the shelter when they're bigger/older. That might be a good time in the fall to get a cat that is maybe 4+ months old.
However, there is a "no-kill" shelter that does this testing on adult cats called "Meet Your Match (trade marked) Feline-ality (trade marked)" program for all cats nine months and older. Read more here: http://catadoptionteam.org/adopt/adoption-process/

So DH and I answered the questionaire and we could do best with either a "Sidekick" or "Personal Assistant" based on our answers.
The only challenge that could pose itself at this no kill shelter is that some of the adult cats that have been there awhile have been "returns" due to "issues", which they will openly tell you about. As much as I like cats, I really don't want to adopt one with a lot of behavioral "issues". So if we adopt a 9+ month old or so cat from there it can't have been living there for years. I know that sounds mean, but there are just some people who are better at that sort of thing, and I am probably not one of them.

So...this isn't something that we'll do soon. I'm mostly just wondering out loud.
Thanks for all your responses.

[Biciclista]

I agree with what every single person has said here. So, you can see it's difficult. There is our local shelter, which is not "no-kill". The volunteer in the cat section said that kitten season is late here and the little kittens are all in foster homes and will come to the shelter when they're bigger/older. That might be a good time in the fall to get a cat that is maybe 4+ months old.
However, there is a "no-kill" shelter that does this testing on adult cats called "Meet Your Match (trade marked) Feline-ality (trade marked)" program for all cats nine months and older. Read more here: http://catadoptionteam.org/adopt/adoption-process/

So DH and I answered the questionnaire and we could do best with either a "Sidekick" or "Personal Assistant" based on our answers.
The only challenge that could pose itself at this no kill shelter is that some of the adult cats that have been there awhile have been "returns" due to "issues", which they will openly tell you about. As much as I like cats, I really don't want to adopt one with a lot of behavioral "issues". So if we adopt a 9+ month old or so cat from there it can't have been living there for years. I know that sounds mean, but there are just some people who are better at that sort of thing, and I am probably not one of them.

So...this isn't something that we'll do soon. I'm mostly just wondering out loud.
Thanks for all your responses.

how can you tell if you pass the test?

[Velocivixen]

@Mimi, haha....you're so funny. No, did you click the link and look at the "questionnaire"? I think it's a really good little quiz to take and would potentially help match the right person/family with the right kitty.

I guess I'm just fortunate that my little kitties got along so well and didn't do anything like tear up my tiny apartment that I had at the time.

[Koronin]

I volunteer with a cat only rescue and yes black cats have the hardest time getting adopted followed by tortishells. Actually around Halloween not only will they not adopt out black cats, they also will not adopt out orange cats for the same reasons.
Personally I'd go for an adult cat, but that's just me. Hubby would rather get a kitten. (someday when we get a new cat, not sure which way we'll go, but it won't be while we have our current three).

[Becky]

The only challenge that could pose itself at this no kill shelter is that some of the adult cats that have been there awhile have been "returns" due to "issues", which they will openly tell you about.

I have previously volunteered at a shelter, and some of the reasons that people give for returning a pet are unbelievable.... That's not to say that there aren't legitimate reasons, but sometimes it's worth digging a little deeper to get the whole story.

I'm a big fan of asking the shelter staff/volunteers which particular animals they like most and why, and who they would recommend for our home. They get to know the animals so well, especially those who have spent some time there, and can offer some really good insight.