Our vet has a cage next to reception, where they keep kits needing homes. It's very hard to leave them there

I couldn't work there cos I'd be bringing all the homeless animals home

we got our kitten going shopping. she was dumped and far too young to even be out, no micro chip or collar and was starving and thin.

she's called Aldi

Ours were all rescues. They have issues, especially the two that were hand-reared (so needy, but then so loving too) and you never know what future health problems they may have, but IMHO rescue is the only way to go.

took the kitten to the vets to see if they could find a micro chip and return her to her owners, turns out she'd been abandoned and its not rare

coupla hundred dollars later we took her home. Turned out to be a good choice - she rules the roost including the dog

Try to get a kitten that hasn't been taken away from its mother too early. I've had one of those and it was a bit confused.
Prepared to have your toes eaten. Especially in the morning... god knows why they do it, but they do.

yep in UK we got given a kitten cos it was about to be put to sleep and we'd no idea what age it was. Turns out it was too young and it used to have strange habits including sucking on cloths and padding the cloth like it was suckling its mum. it never really settled and was a bit feral like it didn't have social skills

This one although also young has turned out much better and is happy to be part of the family, has none of these strange behaviours and seems to love living here (poor sod) Only this morning the OH went to take the dog for a walk and the cat stood at the door crying to go with him - she follows them on their walk and talks along the way

Thanks for the advice and tips people. We definitely want to do it properly if we get one. We both had cats when we were kids but haven't had one as grown ups yet

Eddie - we don't have curtains so that's one less thing to worry about...

You could borrow mine, stick her in one of those digital photograph things and just watch her dance all the time? She doesn't eat much

This is Indi, she came from the Animal Welfare League at the top end of the GC.

Oh how sweet MP. She looks as if she trotted across some white paint. Long whiskers!

Hope you have a very happy 2012 TC. xxx

We got 2 from Lort Smith here in Melbourne. If there is a similar animal Hospital in Brisbane it might be worth a look.

It cost about 160-190 Dollars fro chipping de-sexing etc.

The wife also took a wee black kitten off some bogan trying to give it away at a shopping centre. As we already had two I intended to gumtree that one. I got this one de-sexed, micro chipped and vaccinated myself it cost about 400 dollars. So avoid taking someone else's kittens that are untouched.

No one called for a month at that stage I was not prepared to tell the wife she was losing the little one so she was kept. She was de-sexed to early and as a result is like a toy cat she is very small.

Another thing to watch for is if the cat is going to be outside avoid a pink nosed cat. It cant get sunburnt very easy so the hospital said. I also concur with what Eddie said on the food. Plus if you are buying cat food buy in bulk its far cheaper.

If it looks like they like to go after birds increase the bells on them, it weigh the odds of the bird escaping.

Get a turkey like everyone else!

Aww she's gorgeous!
Thanks for the advice

Easiest is to get one from the neighbours. If your foods better the cat comes and stays at your house till you get bored with it and send it back to the neighbours...

Our latest guinea pig is a rescue pig. He'd been abandoned in a cardboard box in the park along with his litter mates.