When you are first choosing a kitten, take a piece of string, cat toy, or anything that a kitten would find amusing. Play with every kitten before choosing a kitten. Pick a kitten that fits your personality. For example, if you are a really energetic person, then find a kitten that is equally energetic. Chances are, you will find your best friend this way. Also, if you have another pet, consider getting a friendly kitten.
When you get your new found friend, you want to make sure that it feels comfortable with it's new habitat. Your kitten will be nervous at first, but soon it's curiosity will overcome it an it will explore. First make sure there are no sharp objects that may be considered as "toys." Then let your kitten explore. DON'T PICK IT UP!!! Let it come to you and make sure that you mean no harm to it. Let it explore you as well. This will help the kitten settle in. In about a week your kitten will be able to parade around its new home with pride.
Cats have different opinions about different kinds of food. The first time you are trying to figure out what your kitten likes or dislikes buy small amounts of different varieties. If your kitten is up to four months old, feed it four or five times, one teaspoon each time. If your kitten is six months old feed it 2 or 3 times each about 4 spoons of food. As your kitten gets older, start feeding it less times but put more food in each time. Also remember to put a bowl of water by the food and leave it there. (Make sure that it stays full at all times, so your kitten doesn't get thirsty.)
After your kitten eats, it will usually have to go to the bathroom. All you need to make a litter box is a good sized tray, kitty litter, and some newspaper. All you do is take the tray and pour some kitty litter in it and put down newspaper in a corner where your kitten can do its business without being bothered. Spread out the newspaper and put the tray on top. Now you have a litter box! Your kitten will not naturally know to use the litter box. You will have to train it in order for it to use it properly. You will notice when your kitten needs to go to the bathroom because when it has to go, it crouches down low and sometimes shake. Quickly take the kitten over to the litter box. After a week or so, the kitten will start to use the litter box by itself, and it may be a good idea to give it a treat of some kind to reward this behavior.
Playing is the most important thing kittens need to do in order to learn. When kittens play they learn how to hunt, use their motor skills, and test their senses. Your kitten can find almost anything amusing but they may play with sharp things and get hurt. So its your responsibility to watch out for your kitten and not let it play or chew on anything that they could get cut on or choke on. You can buy or make safe toys for your kitten. You can use a box and cut holes in it for a kitty palace, or sew two pieces of cloth together and put some cotton in it for a squishy chew toy. But remember, your kitten may scratch you so watch out for those flying claws!
When you get your kitten you may notice that some kittens have long fur, and some have short fur. Your kitten will need a bath and grooming about every week. (Long haired cats need to be brushed more often). Grooming helps the kitten not have access hair that it could swallow and make it sick. Your kitten may be a little bit nervous the first time you groom it. To calm it, just talk to it gently and don't push very hard when you brush. If you get your kitten into the habit of liking when they get groomed, then you shouldn't have any problem when the kitten get older.
All kittens have a natural instinct to do what I call "Cat Language." They "speak" in a way that other cats, including their mother, would understand. So it is important that you understand it too. When your kitten is happy it will put its tail up and put its ears up. When it feel comfortable and safe it may show its stomach by rolling over. If it is either happy or feeling safe it may purr. The easiest emotion to recognize is when your kitten is scared or angry. Its fur will fluff up to make it look bigger, it will arch its back, and it will show its teeth and hiss. If your kitten looks like this, I'd advise you to leave it alone and let it cool down. When your kitten has its fur fluffed up, but has its ears are put forward, it is most likely playing with something. Your kitten might meow or circle its food dish if it is hungry.
You should make sure that you know where a good veterinarian is close by so if your kitten has something wrong you should go there. If your kitten is twelve weeks old it needs to go to the vet and get a check up and some injections. When your kitten is six months old your kitten can be neutered. Every year your kitten/cat needs to visit the vet to get a check up and get a few more injections. Cats can live up to 14 years old or older. Keep taking it to the vet every year. As your cat gets older, it will need much more rest and you must groom it more often because it can't reach around to groom itself.
There are a few common problems that cats and kittens run into, and the most common are fleas and tapeworms. Fleas live in your kittens' fur and make it itch a lot. Even if you keep your cat very clean, it is still possible for it to get fleas. If you see your cat itching itself a lot, then it might have fleas. To get rid of them, just tell your kittens vet and he or she may give you some flea spray. Follow the instructions carefully! Tapeworms live inside your kittens stomach. The tapeworms eat what your kitten eats so you may see your kitten getting hungry more often and eating more each meal. If you see something white near your kittens bottom, it may have tapeworms. Tell an adult and take your kitten to the vet as soon as possible.
If you see your kitten eating grass, don't worry! This is natural behavior. They eat grass because it helps them vomit to get rid of any fur they have swallowed. This will help your kitten not to get sick as often. If you see your kitten eating a household plant, don't let it unless it is a special plant called catnip. Some household plants are poisonous. Some of those plants include Crocus, Poinsettias, and Hyacinths. If your kitten likes these plants and explores them often, then put a orange or lemon peel at the base.
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