Choosing A Kitten From The Litter:
A Few Basic Tips

By Teri Champigny

Choosing a kitten from a litter is a very fun process.  Not only is it exciting to know that you're about to take home a brand new kitten, but the process of looking at a litter and finding out which one is right for you is a great experience. When you view the litter, look at their behavior, how do they react when they see you? Are they playful, confident, and bright? Or did they all seem shy, withdrawn, and sluggish? Be sure to take mental notes. 

After you have taken stock of the entire litter, and got a sense of the kitten group as a whole, it is now time to search for the one that has the right personality to fit your desires.  Do not rush this process.  Take your time, have fun, and enjoy playing with all of the kittens.

Make keen observations of which kittens seem to be the most active and offer the most attention towards you. If you enjoy a pet that has abundant energy and will give lots of attention, then try to look for the kitten that seems to never want to let you go.  These little balls of energy end up making great companions for cat lovers that appreciate an animal that seeks attention, even as they grow into adulthood.

If all of the kittens in the litter seem to display a sluggish behavior, talk to the breeder and ask him or her what may have caused this behavior.  Was it something they ate before you arrived? Have they been up and awake for a while?  If they are tired and are slow because of a previous feeding, then you may want to check back at a later time when they are most active.  I am sure the breeder will understand because you can only properly assess a kitten's personality when they are awake and full of energy.

There will be times when you may not have the opportunity to evaluate an entire litter in one sitting.  For example, you may be looking at what is left of a litter after the other kittens have been sold. Or you may be visiting a shelter where there are only one or two choices and those kittens are not related. However, even though you might not be able to experience an entire litter together, you can still sit and enjoy a kitten's personality and determine if you like him enough to bring home to your family.