What are the advantages of adopting a full-grown cat instead of a kitten?

It can be harder to bond with them, but it isn’t always. It depends a lot on the pre-existing personality of the cat, and if they are open to new people, and if they can sense that this new person is saving them. Some are just really grateful and awesome, and others are kinda pissy about it.

Bonuses: If you can get one that’s already been declawed, that can save you money and some ethical dilemma on your part. And it’s nice to think that you’re taking in a cat that might otherwise go to the shelter; kittens are much more likely to get a home.

Every cat I’ve ever had was a kitten when I got it, so I can’t answer parts of your question. But, I can tell you some of the good and bad you’d miss skipping the kitten stage. Kittens are generally hyper (often in the middle of the night.) They bite and claw things until you teach them not to. If they’re not ‘fixed’ early, female kittens go into heat. I am experiencing the ‘thrill’ of this right now, and it is not fun… for me or the cat. As for the good, they are incredibly cute and often very affectionate (but not always). You can teach them your rules, too.

If I were you, I’d spend some time with adult cats at your shelter and see who is loving and affectionate. Declawed and fixed would be a huge bonus, but really… pick the one that likes you. You won’t be sorry!

I got my cats when the were a couple years old…Does that make them cats or kittens? They were still growing but not super young. Anyway, one of them I think was just stoked to not have to live at the pound any more because he loves the outdoors. The other one was super skeptical about all human contact for a couple of years, but comes when I call her now. They were cute when they were younger and they are still adorable now. I am amazed at how smart one of them is. He knows how to open doors, he knows how to wake people up and get what he wants, and one time I trapped him in the house and he found a way out. Old cats are great! Go for it :)

I have some experience with taking in stray adult cats, but most of my cats were kittens when I got them. It depends on the personality of the cat, as well as any previous trauma the cat might have suffered from. Adult cats (especially the older adults) tend to be set in their ways, so you kind of know what you’re getting at first sight. If it is a people type of cat then you will know immediately. An adult cat can still bond with you, especially if they were not close to any other person/s that maybe owned it at one time. Cats can learn to trust again if they’ve suffered from previous trauma, but this becomes more difficult the older they become. I have some experience with taking in abused adult cats, so I know this.

There is always a bit of a question when adopting an older dog or cat. But I think you can tell a lot by studying the animal before you take them home. If you walk past the cage and the animal hangs in the back corner looking suspiciously at you. Then you know it is going to take a lot of love and patience to get it to come out of its shell and it may always remain aloof, it is hard to tell. But if a cat comes up to the front of the cage and rubs against your hand and wants to be friends, then that would be a good indication that it will be more of a friendly cat.

I would go to the shelter, look into their eyes and see which one connects with you, and that is the one I would take home regardless of its age.

You have a better idea of their personalities if they are already cats. Whether they come up to you to be pet, are stand offish, meow a lot, are playful. Kittens are almost all hyper, get behind furniture, might not readily use the litter box, and you don’t know for sure how they will be as cats. Kittenhood only lasts for about a year, but you will probably have the cat for 15.

Everyone wants kittens because they are cute. So many countless adult cats are killed in shelters, because they don’t get adopted.

So saving an adult cat’s life is an advantage. That’s what I will do when I am able to have a pet again.

Best of luck.

Kittens are a handful. They’re super energetic and love to run and jump and climb. My sister got a kitten a few weeks ago, and I got frustrated trying to play with him because he wouldn’t stop running around for long enough for me to pet him or anything, and when I did manage to pet him all he wanted to do was gnaw on my fingers. xD

I also agree with @JLeslie that you’ll know a lot better what sort of personality you’re getting when you get a cat. There is such a huge range of cat personalities, from the stand-offish and shy to the ultra-friendly in your face. You won’t really know what kind of personality you’ll end up with when you get a kitten. Kittens generally have one setting: hyper. On the other hand, if you interact with an adult cat in a shelter and it doesn’t seem afraid of you and is affectionate, chances are what you see is what you’ll get. Helps to avoid the chances of ending up with a snobby cat.

I mean….kittens are super cute. It’d be kind of sad to miss out on the kitten stage. But there are definitely pros to getting an adult cat. @bookish1 mentioned a very important one too!

Though kittens are super cute, they’re mostly brainless balls of fluff, and I think it’s often easier to interact in a meaningful way with more mature cats. I have had three kittens, and didn’t really bond strongly with any of them until they were a bit more mature. I have adopted a one year old, a two year old, and fostered a three year old and a cat they estimated at eleven years old. The adopted adults bonded strongly very quickly, and so did my three-year-old foster kitty (this last was actually kind of remarkable – we even thought she might be feral at first, but then after a week or so she blossomed into an extremely affectionate and playful kitty.). The older male was very sweet and intelligent but I only had him for a few days, so I can’t really speak to what it’s like to bond with an elderly cat. But I absolutely think you’ll be happy if you adopt a young adult.

I suggest that you go through a rescue society rather than going to your local pound – rescue organizations often get calls from pounds about especially sweet adult animals that are about to be euthanized and will adopt them. So you will have a higher chance of finding a sweet adult through one of these, plus they usually have them in foster homes where the caretakers know the cat’s quirks and the cat’s personality is much more evident than in a cage.

I adopted an est. to be 5 year old male bicolor Ragdoll from my local shelter in Dec.
“Myles” is fabulous! He has completely bonded with me, LOVES his new home, gets along great with my 3 yr. old female Siamese. He is the BEST guy ever, beautiful, sweet, playful, and purrfectly behaved. He was at the shelter for 2 months and I can’t believe nobody adopted him, good for me, because Myles is mine now! :-)

I think the major advantages of getting an older cat (or dog) is you pretty much know their personality already. It may be hard to get a good gauge of what a pet’s personality will be right away but usually the people at the shelter will give you an honest assessment. Another great thing about getting an older pet is that they are FAR harder to adopt out. Kittens and puppies usually go within a few days while an older dog or cat can take months. I’m more of a dog person, but I can honestly say that my most affectionate dogs were the older ones. I think they were able to appreciate being in a loving home more. I would think cats would be the same.

Thanks guys. Based on the many reasons listed in this thread, I think I’ll start looking for an adult cat now instead of a kitten.

Really excellent advice all around. Thanks again!

@FutureMemory Update us.

Again, I haven’t read other people’s comments but I am surprised that you are having trouble finding kittens. It is usually adult cats that are harder to place. Everyone wants a cute little kitten. When you get kittens, kind of like children, some of how they end up is how you raise them and some of how they end up is the result of their innate temperament and personality.

When you adopt an adult cat you kind of know what you are getting yourself into, more than you might if you were adopting kittens. An adult cat’s personality and temperament is already pretty evident.

I have recently adopted a 3-year old cat and I have absolutely no regrets at all. She comes litter-trained and spayed, she’s a little timid with people she doesn’t know but once she’s comfortable with your presence she’s very affectionate, she likes to be close to me all the time. Yes kittens are cute but they’re a lot more hard work.

@lillycoyote I think that that’s why I haven’t been able to find one – because everyone wants a kitten. For example on Petfinder.com, the same adult cats can be listed for months, but kittens sometimes are only up for 24 hours – they get adopted immediately. At least, the ones in my area do.

@FutureMemory Have you looked at your local PetSmart store if you have one in your area? A couple of the local cat rescue/humane associations have cats for adoption at the store. They always seem to have at least some kittens.

And have you tried this site?

I typed in my zip code and it was Kittens Galore!

My daughter adopted Milo from a shelter when he was about a year old, give or take. Four years later she moved 3400 miles away; a friend of hers then fostered Milo for six months.

Finally and reluctantly (remember?) I relented, after my daughter brow-beat me, and he moved in here. Granted, he had visited on several occasions but still, he adapted amazingly quickly. One missed poo in the corner of the room, one mistaken pee in a large flower pot filled with loose dirt and the rest was fine. The few occasional accidents were my fault when I shut him in a guest room once over night and on another occasion in the garage.

I have friends who have found lovely adult cats at the local Humane Societies and bonded immediately. He and I suit each other well; we both like to nap and have some quiet time and then a bout of frenzied exercise.

My only complaint is his unwillingness to let me clip his nails but I cart him to the Humane Society monthly and they do it.

Any shelter worth its salt will let you meet and greet one of their cats in a private room. Try a few on and see who fits.

I know you’ve got a new kitten now. Yay!

For future visitors to this thread, don’t discount the older cats.

My cat (and he is mine) was 7 when his owner died and I took him. He fought me, tooth and nails, when I took him home. Two days later, he would not stay in his “safe zone”. 2 days after that, he was lying on my neck and would never leave me if I moved.

He adjusted and transferred his loyalty. I’m still his queen. It’s comic and almost obscene, the lengths he will go to in order to get my attention away from the dogs. The cat union would certainly boot him out.

I ended up getting a kitten after meeting far too many ‘damaged’ adult cats at the shelters. I just don’t have it in me to rehab an animal that’s had it rough. If I was an experienced cat owner it would be different, perhaps.

Here’s my little guy

It’s been more than two months and I still haven’t named him. Everything I’ve tried so far just doesn’t seem to suit him. Open to suggestions :)

What have you tried so far?

Oh god, he’s positively adorable. I’m drooling. Haha

My sister has a kitten that looks lots like him. His name’s Pickle.

@chyna You know when someone pins you down by asking “what are your top 10 favorite movies?”, you suddenly can’t remember the vast majority?

I’ve tried Charlie, Oscar, Max, stuff like that. Zachary. Tons more that I can’t remember now.

MIlo here; My buddies are Teddy, Rex, Bentley, Henry, Leo, Sydney, Lola, Nutmeg and Loretta.

Cats like two-syllable names that start with a hard consonant and end with a “y” sound. Gail keeps slipping and calling me “Miley,” which I really don’t like.

Rocky?

@gailcalled You are right! I keep calling my cat Blaze “Blazey.”

@FutureMemory Did you find a fitting name yet?

I thought I updated this when I settled on a name.

Rosco.

But since I named him months after I got him, he still responds to “Kitty” more than ‘Rosco’.

@FutureMemory: “Rosco” evokes a guy with a swagger and possibly a mustache who does a mean tango.. Good name.