How to Pick the Right Kitten

Choosing the Right Kitten

Picking the right kitten, especially for 1st time cat owners, can be overwhelming and fraught with mistakes. Learn how to go home with the perfect cat for you and your family.

Instructions

1. Before you go out to select a cat, think about what you want from your new pet. Do you want a "lap-cat"? A playful-cat?, an independent cat?

2. Visit your Local Humane Society.
   Once in the Cat area of your humane society, wash your hands and wash them often. The idea is to avoid spreading kitty-colds to other cats.

3. The best place to start is with the cat's age. Four to six months old lets you avoid the little kitten stage, which can be fun or exhausting depending on your point of view. Male cats seem to be prone to more health issues but also seem to make better lap-cats. But all cats are different so go with behavior over gender.

4. Look at all the cats, watching for energetic and attentive cats.
   Some cats will be watching "you". Some people say, "People don't pick cats, they pick you." Once you see a cat that you feel a kinship with, take him/her into a room and hold the cat. If you want a lap cat, you want to see if the cat will stay with you or try to get down. Some cats do not like to be held, others will lean into you and soak up your affection. Keep this in mind when picking a cat.

5. Narrow your choices down to two cats. Take them both into a room and see if they get along even a small amount. These 2 cats need to like each other which leads up to my last step.

6. 

   Take both cats home. Cats live happier lives in pairs. The cats will become a bonded pair and be playmates for life. If there is a way you can take on the responsibility of 2 cats vs one, do it. You will be glad you did.

Tips & Warnings

• Cats need vet visits and much of this may happen the 1st month of ownership. Don't despair; vet visits will become annual events, not weekly ones.

• Declawing is personal preference. But you need to know cats don't like it one bit and can be very upset after being declawed. I've been told, some cats are never the same afterward. If your new cat is a curtain climber, or has its claws extended often, declawing can be a must. But if you don't "need" to declaw, consider leaving the claws alone.

• Always neuter/spay your new cat. The Humane society should have already done this but if not, do it. It's the right thing to do.

• The Humane society in your area might give you a free vet visit. Be sure to you use this in the last few days of the allotted 2 weeks. By waiting till the last few days, you will learn of any issues your cat needs addressed by the vet.

• No Matter how hard you try to avoid it, cats can develop a nasty cough or repeated sneezing after you get them home. If this happens, be sure to take your cat to the vet right away. Catch it early and avoid fevers and a very sick cat.

• Cats need lots of love. Adopting a cat is a commitment that needs to be taken seriously.

Resources

• Humane society