I visited the breeder for my new Burmese kitten recently to see the kitten that I had agreed to purchase, but when I met the kittens, I ended up taking a different one. If you wonder how to choose a kitten from a litter then read on. And if you know that, but just like cute kitten pictures, then scroll on down.
On what basis will you make your decision?
I could have stuck with the idea of having a lilac Burmese kitten(pale grey) but I think personality is more important than colour. However, if colour is more important to you than personality, then that’s how you would choose a kitten from a litter. You’d find the colour that you like best. It really depends what you want.
This litter had only two kittens, so it wasn’t as difficult as it would have been had there been 5 or 6 – and sometimes there are. Still, unless you’re first to see them, it’s likely that some have gone, thus making your choice easier.
But no matter how many in the litter, the question you need to ask yourself is still the same: what factor is the most important to you? Whatever you decide will be the basis on which you will make your decision.
So it could be colour or personality, or if you have a wide selection to choose from, a combination of both. Other things may be important to you too, perhaps size. Whatever they are make a list in order of importance.
I chose mine on personality.
Here are the two kittens I had before me.
Clearly they are both adorable, so why did I choose the blue Burmese kitten (grey) over the lilac?
Making a choice on colour is relatively easy – just pick the colour you like best – choosing on personality can be more difficult.
How to choose a kitten from a litter on personality
I chose the blue because he had a more active and affectionate personality than the lilac. That doesn’t mean he’s a better kitten, just that I felt he was the kind of cat that my family wanted. The lilac would have been fine, but he was more reserved and less inclined to be picked up. He stayed away from us, whereas the blue happily climbed all over my daughter. Now, if you are a very quiet household, or perhaps the kitten is for an older person who doesn’t want to be looking after a rambunctious personality, then the lilac would be better for them. So it’s really a matter of what you’re looking for.
Watch the kittens for a while And note:
- Which ones come close and which stay away?
- Do they seem scared or are they comfortable around people?
- Try playing with them. Which ones like to play and which ones are harder to engage?
- Do any of them seem overly tired or unstable on their feet? This could indicate health problems, or just a placid personality.
- Do any of them seem to chose you or a member of your family – this is what happened to me. The blue climbed all over my daughter and she decided she wanted him.
- Try to engage the less overt kittens; they may just need some gentle encouragement.
- Ask the breeder if they have noticed anything distinctive about their personalities.
- Take some photos and video.
Then go away and consider the matter for a while before making your decision. I think the best decisions when it comes to choosing pets are based more on gut feeling than on logic. Take the one you feel you connected with best. It may be the shy little runt and that’s fine. If you connect with him more than the others, then he’s the right kitten for you.
Moderating family opinions
What if different family members have different ideas? Take the majority vote, and if you don’t have a majority – even after discussing it and waiting a day or so – then in my opinion, whoever is going to feed and clean up after the kitten is the person who owns him. That person should have the final say.
This is just one reason why you need to visit before the pick up date. It gives you time to consider this carefully.
Words of warning
- If the kittens have just eaten then they will be sleepy, so don’t assume that they are all introverted because they are sleepy. Ask the breeder when they ate and when they had their last sleep. Same if they’re just waking up from a sleep. Some will wake more quickly.
- Always ask the breeder if they have noticed differences in personality, because they may say that the one you think is very active is not usually like that, and it’s important to note what they say.
- Take a look at the conditions the kitten have been raised in. Is their litter clean? Do they look healthy? Is the mother healthy? If the answers to these questions are no, then don’t take any. Check their eyes in particular, any runiness from the eyes is not a good sign.
- Make sure you pick them up to see if they are happy with that kind of contact. If they don’t seem comforatable around people, then don’t take any of them unless you want a cat that never sits on your lap and spends most of its time away from home.
- And of course, don’t forget to ask about vaccinations and de-sexing and so on, and make sure you will get the paperwork to prove it. You need to know what you’re getting.
- Burmese kittens (if not all kittens if you want one that is well adjusted) should remain with their mother and siblings for 12 weeks. If a breeder says you can pick your kitten up earlier, I wouldn’t trust them.
I hope you find the kitten that’s right for you, but remember, whatever kitten you get, love it unconditionally and care for it well and it will thrive.
I’ll leave you with a photo of the lilac kitten and his mother – who is a delightfully relaxed lady.
Any comments? I love comments.
And don’t forget if you enjoyed this blog post and would like to read more, you can subscribe to new content delivered by email (see the button on the right side bar). You can also follow me on all sorts of social media by clicking the buttons at the top of my website.
And you can get the first book in my young adult fantasy series free on ebook by signing up to my newsletter.
Please share this post.
