What should I look for when choosing a kitten?

When selecting a cat or kitten to bring home, you’ll need to consider how much time you have in raising a kitten, what you’re looking for in terms of personality, and how to balance the needs of other family members and pets in the home. Kittens should be a minimum of 9-12 weeks (12 weeks or older is ideal) of age before being adopted since their immune systems are stronger after 12 weeks.

Observe how “your” kitten interacts with siblings because hissing and/or hiding indicate a kitten is not well-socialized and may have trouble adjusting in the home. Most kittens will purr when held, some will instantly cuddle into you, others will attempt to wriggle free and still others will endeavor to use you as a climbing post. Decide if you’re looking for a lap cat or one with more energy and choose accordingly.

Getting a look at mom means you’ll have the chance to inspect the environment where the kitten has been raised. The more kittens are handled when young, the friendlier they’ll be. Many people swear their cats picked them so you want to be sure to be on your best behavior.