If you’ve decided it’s time to adopt a new kitten for your family, there are a few considerations you should take into account first.
Pets are a big responsibility, and a new kitten will require a lot of time and attention. Do you have the energy to put into a new pet? What about in five, 10 or 15 years?
When looking for a new kitten, it’s a good idea to start at an animal shelter. If you are wary about adopting an animal shelter pet because you’re worried that they might not be healthy or sociable, remember, many animals from shelters aren’t there because they have been neglected, and these pets are usually checked for medical and behavioural issues before they are moved on to new families.
If you have no luck finding the pet that is right for you, you might decide to go through a breeder. When researching breeders, go out to the breeder and visit where the kittens are born. Ask how long the kittens stay with their mothers and how often the mother is used to breed. A good breeder will keep the kittens with the mother until the kitten is at least eight weeks old, while some will keep the kitten for the first 12 weeks of life. How often the cat breeds depends on the cat – some breeders will have the cat breed just once a year, other cats will be healthy enough to breed two or three times a year. Check out the facilities at the breeders – are they clean? Is there plenty of room for the cats and kittens to play?
A good breeder will ensure their kittens have had a vet check, and are vaccinated, wormed and micro-chipped before they are passed on to their new owners.
And remember, it’s never a good idea to buy a kitten over the internet or from a pet shop.
