I also had no experience in actually looking after/ being fully responsible for a pet until I acquired my late Tabitha. We had lots of pets at home when I was young but my parents had the responsibility of actually looking after and paying for their care, I just loved and played with them.

I really wanted a kitten (kittens are so very cute) so I got my Tabitha when she was about 9 weeks old. She was lovely but destructive and it was a complete shock to me to have my lovely flat (at the time) wrecked, carpets and sofas scratched to pieces, curtains climbed, electrical wires chewed - and she was constantly demanding attention when she was awake which was mainly when I came home exhausted after a night shift. She fell off the TV when she was about 12 weeks old and broke her leg which meant 'cage-rest' which was almost impossible as she was so active. I even found myself looking forward to going to work so I could get a bit of peace away from her.

However, I realised how much I had grown attached to her when she went to be neutered. I missed her presence at home so much that day. The older she got, she calmed down and the bond between us really developed as she grew into adulthood. I really loved her, her whole life, and was completely devastated when she died at almost 16.

I don't think I would ever take on another kitten. I prefer adult cats. I just don't think I could cope again with the destruction kittens cause and attention they require, at least while I'm at work full time.

So true-I work for Cats Protection and you need eyes in the back of your head with the very young kittens -when I adopt it will be adult cats only!!

To OP: Two cats is not really that much harder to manage than one... apart from sibling rivalry, but they can offer each other companionship when you're out of the house. Just food for thought.

We recently got another kitten to keep our 3 ry old happy - she wanted to play with us but there's only so much "chase" a couple of 40+ year olds can offer a young cat, and I could see she was getting fed up and bored. Now she's got a whole new lease of life playing with her new "brother".

Oh, and advice?, learn to shut the bathroom door.

Now I want to know what your 2 get up to in your bathroom?

It just depends on the cat, you may be very lucky and get one that doesn't scratch everything. If they are able to get outside and hunt then they are less likely to become destructive towards your furniture. Don't let anyone on here put you off, if you know you can offer a cat a loving home forever despite the furniture destroying then go for it.