[Brooklynbound]

I want to get a kitty cat, preferably a kitten. Does anyone know where I could find a shelter or store that sells kitens?

Thank you.
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[LongTimeSloper]

Please do not buy a cat from a store!

That being said, try calling around to the many vets in the area, a lot of times they will have kittens looking for homes. I know my vet (Park Slope Veterinary Care on 5th Avenue) has had kittens from time to time looking for homes.

[Mamacita]

Don't have the website addresses of hand but they are easily google searched.

Empty Cages Collective
Brooklyn Animal Foster Network
Urban Cat League

and of course the amazing Kensington Kitties. So awesome.
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[Flexichick]

[Mamacita]

I do have a big plump kitty for adoption, he's well fed and spoiled rotten. But he's a big boy probably not what the OP wants.
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(”)_(”) "Gentrifire Extinguisher"

[Flexichick]

[bklynpetunia]

Also try Sean Casey Animal Rescue - they seem to have quite a few cats/kittens right now:
http://scarnyc.org/scaradoptions.html

and the 5th Ave. Cat Clinic (5th ave at President) often seems to have adoptable kittens in its front window. Prospect Park Vet sometimes fosters cats for adoption too.

There's really no reason to buy any sort of live animal, except fish, from a pet store. You can find a pet of pretty of much any species through rescue, it just takes a little hunting on the internet...

[Brooklynbound]

I've been told that shelter kittens have emotional problems, but I'd rather adopt a cat who needs a home. I want to go visit a place on Wednesday.
_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[Brooklynbound]

Also, I am asking here because it is better for me to get a firsthand account than to go blindly to a random site I know nothing about.
_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[FurryGreyBOy]

If I had my chance over again, I'd definitely get two kittens at the same time.... great company for each other.

AND my shelter kitty is awesome!! Personality in spades! The pedigree "pet-shop" (I know, I learned my lesson..) - ok, but has his own issues...

[Flexichick]

[vidro3]

[RockerGirl77]

[VoodooNYC]

All of my kitties have been rescue/shelter kitties. And they have all been emotionally perfect. Other than the fact that they are selfish, greedy food hogging piglets. There is that.

Animal Kind at Petco in Union Square often has rescued kittens if that's what you're after.

Edited to add: Definitely get two!

[Slope4-35Yrs]

The woman clerk (with blue hair) who works at Shawn Liquors on 7th Avenue is involved in the animal rescue movement and often has cats and kittens available.
Many of these adoption groups allow you to take an animal for a temporary period to see how well you mesh and then, return it if it doesn't work out. They wouldn't kill it in any case.
My two boys are rescue cats, abandoned when their owner died. I couldn't be happier.

[Idlewild]

The animal hospital on McDonald by Ft. Hamilton has kittens. I keep forgetting their name. My three cats are from their and are in great shape. I believe they charge a fee but don't quote me.
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[Retag]

[Aenigma]

I would also like to adopt a kitten, maybe two. Someone should please correct me if they know better, but it is my impression that shelters try to save (i.e., not euthanize) animals with more "adoptable" personalities -- whatever that means -- and that rescue organizations, whatever the animal, work very hard to socialize their animals before adopting them out. So unless you're a stickler for breed, you're probably better off with a shelter cat than some inbred cross-eyed foofy effete European-elite aristocat with a lacy collar and a gurgly voice.

Just thinking out loud here.

As for adoption, I've done some searching on the interwebs, and the following look promising:

http://kensingtonkitties.net/index.html
http://www.brooklynanimalfosternetwork.org/index.html
http://www.barcshelter.org/home/index.html

Sometimes I also poke around PetFinder.com to see which kitties are up for adoption in the borough.

I love the Kensington Kitties cattywagon that sits outside Key Foods on 7th Avenue. I think it's been too cold for them lately, but normally they bring the van o' kitties out on Saturday afternoons. The thing is, I'd like to have the opportunity to observe and play with at least a few kittens before adopting. Has anyone gone to a local shelter like BARC? How did you decide on the cat you ultimately adopted? What do you think of fostering before adopting? And, finally, I know it's probably a better idea to adopt two kittens together (especially if they're young), but I have a pretty small apartment. Does anyone have insight as to how much space is adequate for two cats to play happily?

Thanks.

[Toadette]

Sorry to not be able to answer your cat-specific questions, but I will say that most adoption places will definitely let you look at and interact with the cats before committing. I went to several rescues/adoption events when looking for my shelter pup before finding "the one."

I also wanted to add to the list of local places with kitties for adoption. My vet in Boerum Hill also has cats for adoption - http://hopevet.com/adoption.html

[poochandkitty]

If you go to petfinder.org http://www.petfinder.org , there are ALOT of local rescue organizations that have kitties, and you can specify the age, gender, and maybe breed you want.

Yes, it is definitely better to get a pair of kittens (great for them, and you'll have a great time....I did this a few years ago).

Young shelter cats shouldn't have emotional issues (and ANY cat could have problems, depending on their background).

Aside from HopeVet that someone already posted, the Vet on Hicks Street in Brooklyn Heights frequently has cats/kittens for adoption.

Phyllis
Pooch & Kitty
http://www.poochandkitty.net

[Flexichick]

[hitokiri]

craigslist my friend.


select your area, type in "kitten" and there ya go!

I believe a rescue operation constantly posts there as well. I've been thinking about getting a little sister to the terror of a cat I have now So I've been looking myself.

[mersy]

Fostering is a great way to go. I've done it a few times, and the kitty I have now started out as a foster. Chances are you'll fall in love and keep the little guy, but if you decide to adopt him/her out, you'll be saving a life.

I'd like to also put in a plug for adopting an older cat, instead of a kitten. Everyone wants to adopt kittens, and a lot of sweet, loving teenaged and older cats are euthanized needlessly. By older I don't necessarily mean a ten year old...I'm talking about a two or three year old, with a long life ahead. Kittens are adorable and fun, but they are also a lot of work and they'll keep you up all night! Older cats have usually mellowed out somewhat and grown into themselves, and the people at the shelter will be able to tell you a bit about their personalities so you can choose the right one for you (i.e lazy vs playful, super affectionate vs independent.) An adult cat whose owner passed away and who had to be taken to a shelter is going to be soooo happy to be out of its lonely cage and in your home.

Also, if you're planning on only adopting one kitty, an older one is a good bet. Its always better for (most) cats to have the company of another cat in the house. But with kittens its pretty essential if they are going to be properly socialized.

Always adopt! Don't buy animals!

[OpossumQueen]

And if/when either of you brings home a new friend, I expect to see pictures here!

I understand wanting a kitten, but I'll agree with some others that it doesn't hurt to consider an adult.

A 3 year old cat (that was a pet as a kitten according to neighbors) moved her litter of kittens into an apartment we once had. I'm a sucker so we let them stay until the ASPCA accepted them all (mom included) for adoption. The kittens were cute but destructive. The mom turned out to be amazing in the house--calm, but affectionate once she got used to us, and very well-behaved around trash and food and such. If we had wanted to keep one, I think it would have been the mom.

Good luck!

[Retag]

[Peanuts]

Agree with everyone...do not buy a kitten...use any of the shelters mentioned above but add www.barbarathecatlady.org. And Sean Casey's group has a truck in front of Willie's Dawgs on 5th avenue every so often (they were just there this past Sunday). You should also know that it's tough to get a kitten in the winter...not too many are born then
All of my cats have been rescues...would never go any other way!
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Peanuts

[Peanuts]

And I also agree with adopting an older cat...and 6 months to 2 years is still very kittenish (personally, I've been through kittens....an older one is the way to go...but if you've never had one I can see wanting a very young one)
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Peanuts

[LongTimeSloper]

Just to chime in about adopting an older cat. We have had cats for years and years and always adopted them as kittens. the cat we have presently (and have had for 6 years now), was 2 years old when we adopted him and he is just the best cat ever!

i understand about wanting to adopt a kitten, wanting that cute kitten phase and training the cat yourself (say, you have special circumstances, kids in the house, a dog already there, etc.). But, all those things can work well with an older cat too (we had a dog in the house and a 2 year old when we adopted our guy). Just something to think about.

[Peanuts]

I think 2 years is a perfect age....young enough to be playful but past the crazy kitten stage.
My current cats will of course, live forever, but if I'm ever in the market for another cat...I really want to know their personality...you really don't know with a kitten.
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Peanuts

[mersy]

I'm really glad that everyone agrees about the older cat idea. Its heartbreaking that so many of them get put down when they have so much life still to live and so much love to offer!

[Brooklynbound]

Hi everyone,

Thank you so much for your great advice and suggestions. I really appreciate it. A friend of mine suggested we meet up at a shelter in Windsor Terrace. Guess what? It ended up being Sean Casey.

I went in with the intention of getting one cute kitten, I ended up with two, both rescues, one has only one eye. I love them both already.

Thanks for everything*****
_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

PICTURES!!!!!!!!!
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Babies aren't meat! They're not even people!

[Peanuts]

that's wonderful...you'll love having 2!
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Peanuts

[OpossumQueen]

Congrats!

While we're all pushing adult cats, we can't argue that there's also (unfortunately) tons of kittens looking for good homes.

And yes, pictures!?!

[Brooklynbound]

How do I post pictures?
_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[OpossumQueen]

I think you need to upload the pics to a website first (Like flickr, which has free accounts and you can add pictures to the pool at the top of Brooklynian).

Then follow the directions in this thread
http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=30929

[dracomom]

Tomorrow there will be a "kitten adoption day" event in the NYC Pet located on 5th Ave between Carroll and President Street.

[Brooklynbound]

Thanks all. Here are my boys...

_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

[VoodooNYC]

Adorable!!!!!!!! Names?

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

Oh! They need their bewwies eaten!
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Babies aren't meat! They're not even people!

[Flexichick]

cuties! congratulations
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[mersy]

Awesome!

[Brooklynbound]

Lilo Tino is the black one and Jimmy James is the white one.
_________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain