Buying a kitten

Question
Hi Rosie.

I am in the process of buying a kitten
The problem i have is that i have never owned a cat before and was wondering if there is any web site or any information u can give me where i can find info on how to train a cat/kitten properly.
Also if there is anything i need to be wary of or look out for with kittens?

Simply the fact that i have never owned one before im not sure where to start?

What also is a good age to buy a kitten where u can start to train it to how u want them to be?

Danni

Answer
Hello Danni!

Well, my congratulations and love your way for wanting to get a kitty!  They're such wonderful and sweet animals, you'll LOVE being a kitty parent!

My best advice is to go to your local shelter and spend some time with the kitties (and it doesn't have to be a certain age...there are lots of kitties that aren't kittens anymore that are so sweet and loving and wonderful).  My recommendations for best personality would be kitties that come right up to you and are ready to just receive some love.  I would say go in a few times before making your decision, and believe me, you'll know pretty definitively which kitty is for you.  Kitties choose their humans just as much as we choose them, so watch for those signs, too.  Kitties that choose you are much better in listening in general in teaching them the various rules of the household.

As far as training them, my best recommendation is to work with a cat's natural instinct on things.  They will NOT change their basic personality and their basic reactions, doingnesses, and instincts, so you have to kind of take things more from their perspective.

For instance, if you have a kitty that just WON'T stay off the table, counters, etc., the best thing you can do is put things at the place their paws normally land when they jump up (which is normally about two or three inches in from the edge) that make a LOT of clatter when they're knocked over, like empty soda cans that have about a handful of raw beans inside.  Kitties like to be silent, and thus will naturally shy away from any action that will cause a great amount of noise.

So, let me ask: is there anything specific you want to train your kitty to do/not do?

As far as getting a kitty to recognize his/her name, the best thing is to talk to them using their name over and over, at the beginning, middle, and end of the sentence you're saying to them.  The more you say it, the more they'll understand that you're addressing them with their name.  Of course, you're totally free to keep the name the kitty had in the shelter (which they'll probably already respond to), but that's completely up to your preference.

Let me know what else you were thinking of, and I'll give you a good way to train Kitty about it.

Now, I have to state that you should completely stay away from using a squirt bottle to train a kitty.  It does not do anything but make a cat more obstinant, and they will instead decide to do it while you (and the spray bottle) aren't around.  It WILL NOT teach them anything.

So, let me know about what exactly you had in mind.

As far as age, there really isn't any specific age that is the best.  If you're going with a shelter kitty, and you find one that is just COMPLETELY smitten with you, no matter what the age, you won't have a problem.

As far as things to be wary of, try to only focus on the kitties that come up to you and are ready for interaction with you.  I recommend avoiding (since this is your first time) kitties that have health problems or are shy just because it would be easier for you on your first go-round to have a friendly, interactive kitty.  Also, be sure the kitty is spayed/neutered and completely healed before bringing him/her home.  Most shelters won't adopt out kitties that aren't already spayed/neutered, but I have heard from people that adopted non-spayed/neutered cats, so it's worth saying.

So, go "hunting" around at shelters, and see what kitty friends you can make!  If you go, and find a certain one that you have questions about, feel free to write me again, ok?  I'm here for ya!  :o)

Good luck on your search!!  :o)  How exciting!!!

Let me know how it goes!!  Also, let me know any other questions you might think of...I'm completely here for you!  :o)

Rosie*