Pros/Cons of adopting a kitten or adult cat

I am hoping today or the next few days to talk to my parents about adopting a cat. I have been debating whether I would like a kitten or an adult cat.

Kittens need more supervision than an adult cat, but I am not sure how well an adult cat from the shelter can grow attached to me. Kittens have a lot more energy than adult cats, and adult cats can be more mellow. Kittens usually prefer to be cuddled and held, but adult cats may shy away from affection and prefer to be by themselves. I do feel bad for the adult cats because they do not get adopted as much as kittens. Of course, kittens offer undeniable cuteness and I do enjoy watching the kitten mature into an adult.

When choosing between a kitten and an adult cat to adopt, what are your reasoning behind your decisions? Does anyone here opt for adult cats over kittens and why?

As you said kittens are a lot of work. You might have to supervise them (or kitten proof your home) because they tend to get into dangerous situations. Then you need to train them (litterbox etc) They also are going to cost you more money, because they need certain sets of vaccinations.
If you don't have that much time to dedicate to supervising and training a kitten then maybe an adult cat would be better. Considering that shelter cats have little chances of being adopted compared to kittens, you would be doing a really good deed to give a cat the chance to have a nice life. The downside would be that there is always a risk that the adult cat could have health or behavioral problems. Though a good shelter should give you all information on a cat.
I also wanted to add that each cat has its own unique personality. For instance, my cat was never really attached to anyone, not even when it was a kitten. My neighbor's cats are more happy to cuddle me than my cat is : ] So I would go to your shelter a couple of times and get to know the cats in order to be sure your personalities match.

You should consider adopting an older cat from the humane society or local shelter, because they are the hardest to get adopted. Many of them grow old and get put down. You could save a cat's life by adopting an older cat. Please consider this. Some older cats can be very affectionate and loving and they are less maintenance too. Some will play just like a kitten, and others can be great companions on your lap.

I am definitely considering an older cat. Kittens have too much energy and as chocmouse said, they can get into mischief. But I think once I get to the humane society and look at the cats I can better make my decision.

I can promise you an adult from a rescue centre will be a loving soul. All cats when shown real love and care bloom. My own kitty was abandoned, lonely and hungry, he would go back to his home each day and wait for his so called family to return, they never were to return as they moved and left him behind. When he came to live with me, he was unreachable. Not a purr, a meow, a look for 2 weeks. No response. I thought he was gone. Not long after he started to evolve into the beautiful, proud, loving boy he is. He is so fantastic and full of character, he should be on tv (joke, I would never subject him to that nonsense)Though kittens are `cute' all cats retain their kitten behaviour to some extent. I have had kittens and as long as you can put the time in to watch over them and socialise them then fine. I do look at my little one and think one thing, I wish Id known him all his life but Im so glad I was the one that got him in the end and gave him the love he always should of had. Please consider an adult, everyone wants kittens and those that are open to adults, will not be disappointed. I would always have an adult over a kitten as I know there are so many sitting waiting.

I think it is lovely that you are even considering an adult cat...most people throw the idea away. My first kitteh was found in a ditch abandoned by her mama. She came home to me. I cant tell you how much those 20 years together meant to me. My second little monster was 3.5 when I adopted / rescued him. It took us awhile, but I wouldn't give up on him and he became my boy. I am his mama. He still has kitten-like attributes, too.

If I were to get another, I would definitely consider another adult...and if he/she came in a pair, all the better. They have each other for company.

Also, it is really important whatever kitty you adopt to make sure they are screened by a vet for the usual suspects (feline illnesses) and that they are the right kitty for your lifestyle (for instance, I have indoor only kitteh, so he is a short hair. Which reduces our brushing time and helps re: shedding).

Bless you. I wish you and your (new) furry family member all the best. There is nothing like coming home to lovies and furry fun

Shelters don't really have "adult" cats; they will only take cats that are not more than 4 or 5 years old because too few people want an older cat. At shelters you get to "try" before you buy and any cat that would let you pick it up and sit in your lap, etc. will "bond" with you fine.

Cats grow up to be who they are as kittens; I have two that I got as kittens, and as adults they still have the same personality they had as kittens but are "adult" now (they're both 12) so act like adult people do with their own interest in sleeping/eating and less in playing or interacting when the human wants to and more when they want to; we all have patterns and they come to me at their own specific times to talk to me and sit on my lap, cuttle, etc.

I would not mind getting adult cats, I only got kittens because the first was a stray and I needed another to help educate/calm her (she was very needy) and would not have any trouble giving mine away, if I could find them homes (I'm allergic, asthmatic, and getting too old to care for them adequately). My well socialized when I got him male use to turn somersaults on people's feet when they came in, he was so desirous of attention and now he still comes in the room and checks them out but is not "silly" about it anymore

I have a British blue rescue cat that was 5 when I brought him home, he absolutely follows me around and is the most affectionate of all the cats I've had. When you go to the Humane society talk to them and let them know what kind of temperament you are looking for, many places now have that kind of info on file. Just google the attributes that you are interested in; like, first time cat owner, loyal, affectionate, think about how much grooming you want to do. Matching temperament is much more important than picking a pet by looks.
Main Coon cats, British short hairs, Ragamuffins are some of the easier going breeds. There are pro's and cons for each although all of those are large cats-there is more to hug that way! .
I was a volunteer for a few years at our shelter and we had a space where people could go spend time getting to know the animal they were thinking about adopting, that helps you get acquainted. We loved people who asked questions and wanted to pick the right pet for their home life not just the cute babes cause it was a whim. You're asking all the right questions.

Dr. Skipper, I'm probably going to end up repeating what others have already said. Bless you for considering a "mature" cat. Most people want kittens so the older cats at shelters end up being put down.

Perna, I've seen some very senior citizen cats at our local SPCA. This is a large retirement area. Some times older cats end up there when their senior citizen owners die.

Dr. Skipper, you were asking about how to talk to your parents about letting you have a cat, perhaps they would be more open to the idea of a mature cat because it would be more settled? Maybe you could offer to have them go to the shelter and meet the cat you are considering adopting before finalizing the deal?

Finally, I have to admit my cats have all picked me. On only two occassions have I actively sought out a cat. In both cases they picked me, not the other way around. For the most part they just seem to show up in my life.

Yeah, I went through training at the Humane Society to take care of the cats and dogs but never went through to it due to my schedule. I was given a tour of the facility and it is very nice and modern, I think the facility was around $5 million. They have their own hospital and vet clinic, behavior training, the rooms are very clean and sanitary and the animals that are sick are kept in separate rooms or cages in the back for the contagious animals. When I came to visit the majority of the cats were adults and many of them were between 10-13. I don't even recall if there were kittens at that time. What was nice was that there were two cat "couples" that the humane society wanted to adopt out together to avoid separating them. They have a system where the cats are put through basic "tests" to screen their personality and behavior to better match with the owner. The humane society also updates the new cats's shots for free and identifies any illness or disease before allowing the cat to be adopted out. I know that any of the cats that are from the humane society near me will be very healthy cats.

This sounds so very much like the one where I volunteered! Except we had tons of cats of every age. Strangely the three legged cats always went the fastest no matter what their age. We also had a foster program & limited help for people who were willing to adopt sick pets and give them a loving home. Out shelter is a no kill shelter so every animal that can live a pain free life is given a chance. The animal behaviorist also worked with traumatized pets to re-adapt them to be safe for adoption. Huge thumbs up to you for getting that training.

I too have to admit Sir chose me, I didn't pick him.

All the cats I have cared for permanently came to me. Most were adult strays. One was taken in from a woman who had a really sketchy reason for needing to find her cat a new home. If I didn't take it in she was going to take the cat to the pound/shelter. Most of out pounds/shelters are not no kill facilities so I took it. That cat was one of the most mellow, loving cats I've had.
How is your schedule now?

I am in the middle of changing jobs to an after school day care. I am going to take a couple of college classes in the fall.

A question I have about adopting an adult cat is about whether the cat can respond to a new name or if I should stick to the name they had when they came in to the humane society, because when I was there they renamed a cat because the original owner named it "Monster", so I'm not sure how well a cat can respond to new names.

There are animal societies that may take in older cats. Any older cat knows that he/she wants a forever home. I can't volunteer at such places because it's too hard on me. I can sense their depression and despair at feeling unwanted and having to be at a shelter. I adopted an older cat that was so happy it had a home. Now she thinks she trained me very well and is occasionally disappointed with me.

Sir's (full name now-Sir Lawrence Knight of the Crescent Moon-he is a very dignified blue w/ a crescent moon on his belly. ) original name was Lefty---completely wrong for him! He was only 5, but traumatized and had no problem w/ the name change. Many times when we got strays we would give them names based on their looks or personalities or even the most popular movies (for a long while there were a LOT of Harry's, Hermione's and Ron's, not to mention Voldermarts , Bellatrix's, Luna's and Lavender's). This was so we could put something on their cards, almost always folks will change the names. I'm not sure cats really pay attention to that much. Sir knows when I'm saying something to him that he wants to hear.

I used to volunteer at an animal charity, in the cattery, and my kitten was rescued. I wanted to get a kitten because, over the past couple of decades, I've had a series of older, rescued pets who I've lost comparatively quickly. So, for once, I really wanted to get a baby animal and have it for most of its life.

Adult cats from shelters can absolutely get attached. I think the really important thing is to spend some time getting to know your chosen cat - don't go in and make the decision in just a few seconds. Shelter cats often have really lovely personalities, but you do get the odd one that has to be approached with great care. Also, they may be reluctant to let you adopt one kitten unless someone is home all day - we were only able to take ours because I work from home. From your schedule, it sounds like you'd be better suited to having an older cat.

As far as names go, I honestly don't think cats care that much. They tend to respond to tone of voice more than anything. My husband recently saw a black cat on the street and absent-mindedly called it by our cat's name, and it responded! If the cat does know it's name, you could start out by using both, and gradually just use the new one.

I changed my boys name straight away and he picked it up in a few days. They know that the louder word you shout preceeding anything is their name. I like to credit animals with more brains than this though.

Another thing is though my boy has his actual name I continuously make up cutesy nick names for him, all of which again he responds to, how I dont know. A bit like you calling someone honey or bud or love, he knows that beau, ja-ja and bb are his other names. Animals can also learn other languages simultaneously... so Im sure you will be fine changing the name of any cat. A rescued cat will be so glad he has someone to call his/her name too!

Hah! That is so true and funny regarding kittehs responding to new names! I call my Kitteh all sorts of nicknames and he responds to them. If he feels like it

I know alot about cats (its the ONLY thing I know a damn thing about ) so I will try and keep it brief but I doubt it will be...

If you are adopting from your Humane Society, and it sounds like you have an awesome place nearby, I am assuming they seperate the cats with URIs from the others. Many shelters near me don't, and then ALL the cats nearby in the cages end up with feline herpes that effect them for the rest of their lives...often in the form of flare-ups that include ocular symptoms like runny eyes and also sneezing, etc, and they can infect other cats. I have one right now who had a TERRIBLE URI when I got her as a kitten and I had to keep her seperated for weeks when she was little so my other two cats did not get it. She still has ocular flare-ups (her eye gets squinty and runs) once in a while and I have eye drops I have to give here (and she will be 7 years old next month). Of course, adult cats have immune systems that are more developed than a kitten...another plus for an adult cat.

Also it's nice to think of adopting an "older" cat (10+) years, but as someone who has lost two cats (heart disease and acute kidney disease) I would have to look for a young adult in the 1 to maybe 3 year old range. My cats were only 8 and 13 when they had to be put to sleep. I recommend this to save yourself emotional pain in the near future and also extremely high vet bills. I paid for my vet's first daughter's college tuition, I promise you.

It's hard to tell a cat's personality in a shelter. A kitten's, too, because they are going to develop as they grow and can completely change as they become an adult cat...case in point, my calico was a NUT as a kitten and used to scare me to the point where I thought she was going to burn my house down when I was out running errands...and now she is such an awesome cat with a great personality, much calmer, and really loving.

So I was going to say, oftentimes humane shelters have no history on the cats unless they were surrenders (and then I would still find THAT history suspect, because those people surrendered the cat, how trustworthy are they??) except for maybe how the cat was found, etc. So all you might have to go on is how the cat greets you or if they let you visit with the cat in a room. Any cat willing to greet you in a shelter happily and come forward to be petted is most likely to be very friendly at home. Because even in an unknown situation they are still willing and ready to be handled and be friendly. I feel bad for the cats huddled in their litterboxes, but unknowns scare me. I have had to return a few cats to a fairly nice (but still crowded) shelter, and I cried the whole time because I didn't want anything to happen to them...but things were NOT working at home with my other cats, and I had given it a lot of time. It was under advice from my vet that I return them after we had exhausted all options. (Luckily I was informed by staff I could check back and was told they both found new homes). You seem to be on the one-cat train, I think, so that makes it easier.

Changing a cat's name is no biggie...the first cat I adopted was actually dropped of at the vet to be put to sleep at a year old, but they signed a form to give her over to be adopted (she was definitely abused and about 3 lbs underweight...6 lbs when she should have been 9). Her original name was Noel (terrible for this cat) and I renamed her Pepper, which she always seemed much happier with. And cats sometimes respond to their name, while others don't. All of mine do right now, so I might be lucky.

Last thing (told you, I could go on and on)...in my experience, and this is a generality, female cats tend to be more independent while boy cats are the one more likely to be lap cats (not saying all will, some are not and never will be lap cats). But I have noticed a definite difference in personality in my experience.

I wish you well in your search and hope you find the right cat for you!

So I still haven't had the conversation yet because my parents are working weird shifts, but I think I'll talk to my dad first and get him on board, because my dad can persuade my mom better than I can.

My parents are both off work tomorrow so I can talk to them then.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Good luck! I hope you can get a cat. Petting them is such good therapy.

As for the name, you could change the cat's name to something that sounds similar. And maybe the cat will pick up the new name quicker.

Other posters here are right: let the cat choose you. I can't imagine you'll regret that. Tiger, the cat I had when I was a kid, came from the pound. I didn't see him in the bottom row of cages. He nabbed me by hooking his claws in my skirt. He turned out to be such a lover! A total lap cat.

What does it mean for the cat to choose me?

If I get a black male cat I would name it Elwood after Elwood Blues from the Blues Brothers since they wear all black outfits.