If you are choosing your kitten from a litter, a few simple tips can help you pick well.
Take your time and ask lots of questions. Have the kittens seen the vet, had health screening, been vaccinated and wormed?
What sort of environment is the litter being kept in? Be wary of choosing a kitten who has had little human contact, for example, a kitten who has been raised in a shed or pen far from the house.
Cats have a very short socialisation phase between 4 to 16 weeks of age. Ideally, a kitten should therefore get used to being handled by people very early on, preferably several people so they don't just learn to accept a single carer. A kitten who doesn't become used to the sights, sounds and smells of normal life may have problems later on.
Tasty Tips
However heart rending the sight may be, be careful about choosing a kitten that seems particularly nervous. This can be a sign of poor early socialisation. Equally don't be tempted to take the smallest, weakest looking kitten out of pity. This could be a very expensive mistake.
You should not take a kitten from their mother or litter-mates too early. They need to be at least six or seven weeks of age.
Related products
Feline Kitten
Hill's Science Plan Kitten Wet Cat Food Premium Chunks in Sauce with Ocean Fish is a complete pet food for kittens and for pregnant or nursing cats
Sterilised Cat Adult Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition with a unique weight management formula and clinically proven antioxidants to help keep neutered cats in great shape.
Mature Adult 7+ Cat Food
Hill's Science Plan Mature Adult Cat Food with Salmon is a complete pet food, specially formulated with ActivBiome+ Multi-Benefit Technology.
This food supports graceful aging in cats, providing a synergistic ingredient blend to help support energy & activity levels.
STERILISED CAT ADULT CAT FOOD
Precisely balanced nutrition with a unique weight management formula and clinically proven antioxidants to help keep neutered cats in great shape.
Related articles
Cats Need Good Nutrition In Order To Stay Healthy
Good nutrition is about the right balance of nutrients. Learn more about health issues when feeding a cat food that has an improper nutritional balance from your friends at Hills Pet Nutrition.
Caring for Your Cat Through All of Life's Stages
HillsPet Nutrition provides information on proper nutrition, fitness and special needs in keeping your cat healthy and happy.
Hill's Cat Foods: Nutritional Balance Just for Indoor Cats
Find the right Hill
Cat Training: How to Train Your Cat the Easy Way
When learning how to train your cat, you'll start with very basic first steps that both reward good behavior and discourage the bad.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.