When choosing a kitten, you should check the animal for signs of ill-health, such as runny eyes or nose, dirty ears, a dirty or sore area under the tail which may indicate the cat is suffering from diarrhoea. The kitten should look well, with bright eyes, a good coat and be able to move easily.
To pick up the kitten, people should gently pick them up with one hand supporting the front/chest area, and the other under his back feet/bottom. “Bring them close to your body – they're fragile and you don't want to drop them or have them jump out of your arms if they're scared by a noise.”
Spending time with a kitten helps potential pet owners decide if the kitten has a temperament that fits well with their expectations (e.g., playful, cuddly, inquisitive.) Signs of a healthy kitten are alertness and curiosity, as opposed to listlessness or lethargy. The kitten should be approachable and easy to handle.
You can tell a lot about them by the ways they interact. Kittens who are perpetually stalking their siblings' tails and generally horsing around will be the most outgoing and playful. Kittens who are willing to play but don't initiate a lot of games on their own will generally grow up to be more laid-back.
The most sensible choice is to pick the kitten who is interested in meeting you. Also look out for a kitten who is confident and playful with its littermates. Things to avoid are kittens who seem overly aggressive to their littermates or seem overly shy and timid.
Make Sure Your Personalities Are Compatible
To determine if you're a good match, get down on her level — literally. Sit on the floor, hold her and pick her up if she lets you. Ask the shelter or her previous pet parent questions about her temperament and how she gets along with other cats and people.
Male cats tend to be more social and affectionate with both humans and other cats. They commonly form strong bonds with other cats in the home, even when they are not from the same litter. Females, on the other hand, are often more standoffish. If you are looking for a cuddle bug, adopting a male may be your best bet.
Mummy's boy vs ice queens
Myth: Male cats are more affectionate towards humans and bond really well with their owners. Female cats are aloof and, because of their mothering instincts, prefer other cats to humans. Reality: This usually comes down to your cat's individual personality.
Six to eight weeks is the optimal age to take the kittens from the mother for socialization and adoption placement, and any time after eight weeks for Trap-Neuter-Return (spay/neuter, vaccination, eartip, and return to their colony).
In addition to being petted, do cats like to be held? Sometimes. Most cats love to snuggle, and they're typically responsive to being held if you introduce them to it gradually. The best way to approach your cat for a hug is to start with a few soft pets, then carefully pick them up.
Gently pet and hold newborn kittens for just a few seconds several times each day. At 2 weeks of age, pick up and hold the kittens in different positions for brief periods every day. As they get older, it is okay to handle them more frequently and for longer periods of time.
Your kitten's personality
Once you have found your litter, choose a kitten that seems happy and confident and that wants to meet and be cuddled by you keeping an eye out for aggressive or timid behaviour. If you've had pets before, you'll know they come with their own patterns of behaviour.
By about two years of age, a cat's personality is fully developed, and it's easier to be sure what you're getting.
No Yelling, Threatening, Or Physical Punishment.
Punishment teaches a kitten nothing, except how to avoid the punishment. It is far better, and far more humane, to teach the kitten what to do rather than to punish it for something it is doing.
Kittens under 4 months old should not be left on their own for more than 4 hours at a time. If because of your lifestyle, your cat will need to get used to time alone, begin training your kitten by gradually increasing the amount of time you are out of the house.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
According to a new study, cats experience the greatest fondness for female owners. Cats attach to your veterinary clients—your female clients in particular—as social partners and it's not just because they want to be fed, according to research in the journal Behavioral Processes.
In order to prevent unwanted pregnancies, it's recommended that cats are neutered at around four months old, after they have completed their primary vaccinations. Some vets still recommend spaying at five or six months and it's quite safe to neuter older cats.
All cats, male or female, entire or neutered can spray. Usually this occurs outdoors as a part of the scent communication system. They also leave scent signals by rubbing, scratching and bunting (rubbing the glands around the mouth onto twigs or other objects).
Spraying behaviour is seen commonly in cats, and refers to the habit of spraying urine up or across surfaces. It's more commonly seen in male cats but both males and females are able to spray.