My partner and I have decided to get a kitten. We have found an adorable little silver tabby moggie in our local area and would love to pick him up today but we have a few concerns.

He is 9 weeks old and has yet to have any vaccinations and I have done a lot of research and I have found that he should of had his first around 8 weeks. I would like to know is this something we should be concerned about?

He's been brought up around a busy house and small children and he is a playful little bugger .

The breeder has told me he has been feeding him a mixture of Whiskas and Supermarket brand kitten food along with a very small portion of canned tuna as a treat. We have again done a lot of research and we have decided we want to feed our bundle of fur Nature's Menu cat food as it's meat content is 71%.

Overall we are unsure what to do. He needs a loving home but we are a little concerned for the little guys health.

Hi there

Really, a cat shouldn't leave his mummy until 10 weeks of age, bear minimum. It's better to keep them until they are twelve weeks old, and most reputable breeders will do this.

When you say he's playful, do you mean that he bites and scratches? If so, this is due to inappropriate handling most likely. You can put it right, but it will take time and patience.

If you want a high meat content food, then Grau, Anamonda and Bozita are all higher than Nature's Menu. I wouldn't feed supermarket food to any of my kittens, but I can't say that it will cause problems, as many kittens do eat it and survive just fine. I just think th emeat content is very low, and I've heard too many reports of bowel problems when this is the preferred diet.

All in all, except for the playfulness and particularly the age of the kitten, I'd say this little one would be all right. you need to be aware that he will not have been health tested for any diseases as pedigrees will, so you need to work out whether this concerns you or not as it will be the case with most moggies.

Vaccinations: The first is given at nine weeks, so you'd need to do this pretty much as soon as you get him home.

Thanks carly87,

10 weeks you say? Is this something we should be concerned about?

By playful I mean he runs and pounces on his little siblings and just rolls around playing with them.

As for the vaccinations, I believe he was 9 weeks yesterday but I'll check with the breeder.

Kittens REALLY shouldnt leave home until 12 weeks. However, moggy 'breeders' (ie people who let their pets get pregnant, not professional breeders) often let their kittens go at 8 weeks, which is very bad for the kittens.

However, the concerns you speak of regarding food, well a lot of kittens are brought up on shoddy food. A lot of cats are fed on shoddy food all their life. That would not personally be something that would put me off getting the kitten.

I certainly would not pay a penny for him, as with a moggy I would only pay for the vaccinations they received, and you say they havent received any vaccinations. I dont agree with people recklessly making money off animals so I would never pay for a moggy more than vaccinations cost. (around £50 ish) Vaccinations should be given at 8 and 11 weeks, or 9 and 12 (hence why I believe they should stay at home until 12 to allow them to have the vacc and recover)

It is completely up to you, I would personally not pay for a unhealth tested moggie, as you have no idea of his genetics or the health of his parents. I might adopt one, sure, or buy one with only paying for the money paid for his vaccinations, but I am not lining peoples pockets.

So in a nutshell, the food thing wouldnt bother me. The fact he isn't vaccinate wouldnt bother me either in this situation (though I would be booking him in immediately for them) but I would be seeing this as a rescue adoption rather than the purchase of a pet from a 'breeder.'

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Stressing this again for importance.

The "breeder" should really be made aware that what they're doing is not OK, too many cats are abandoned every day and too many kittens in shelters need homes.

As for the importance of vaccination, I doubt that the kittens are kept isolated and protected from germs so they should really be vaccinated as soon as possible. When precaution measures are taken then it's not a problem to vaccinate them at 10 and 16 weeks. But I wouldn't trust a person who lets their moggy breed with health of any cat or kitten.

Here is more info on why kittens should not be given away before they're 12 weeks old:

FBRL: Resources: How young is too young?

Well that is just it. I want to take him home and give him a good home. Good food etc. I'm going to go get him tonight Thanks everyone.

Are you not going to ask if he can stay with his mother longer? That will give him a better start.

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He won't I wanna save him.

Welcome back, great advice as usual, you've been a miss

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Fairy smiling, smokes cheroot ...
Simply doesn't give a hoot.

Okay then. But please tell me you are getting him free? If you are paying money you may be saving one kitten but you are encouraging the breeder to breed even more kittens which won't be saved.

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