Advice for Prospective Cat Owners 137
● You should be allowed to interact and handle the kittens. The breeder or carer
may ask you to clean your hands first and/or may instruct you as to how to handle
the kittens. But be wary if you are only allowed to view the kittens without inter-
acting with them.
● It can be an additional bonus if there are other friendly adult cats around with
which the kittens are able to positively interact. Kittens that have had positive
experience with other cats when young are more likely to be tolerant of other cats
when they grow up (Kessler and Turner, 1999).
● If you have a dog and/or children (or if there is a strong likelihood that both or
either may become a part of your family), it is advisable that the kitten you
choose has also had regular positive experience with dogs and/or children. It is
also advisable to witness the interactions between the kittens and the dogs or
children, to make sure that the kittens are not fearful in their company, and
that the kittens are not being handled excessively or roughly. However, it is also
important to be aware that, because of the tremendous variation between dif-
ferent dog breeds and types, the kittens are likely to only be accustomed to
dogs of a similar size and breed type as those encountered at an early age (Fig. 9.2).
● It can be a good idea to visit your potential new kitten more than once. This is
because there can be a lot of variation in a kitten’s behaviour during the first 2–3
months of its life. At around 6–8 weeks of age fear and escape responses start to
develop and a kitten may appear more timid at this time than at other times in its
development (Kolb and Nonneman, 1975). Seeing the kitten on more than one
occasion can therefore provide a more accurate picture of its personality and
temperament.
Fig. 9.2. If you have a dog, or are considering getting a dog, it is advisable that your new
kitten has had regular positive experience with dogs. But because of the tremendous
variation between different dog breeds and types, the effects of positive socialization might
be limited to dogs of a similar size and breed type as those it has become accustomed to
at an early age.