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How To Choose From A Litter of Baby Kittens
Looking at a litter of baby kittens can make even the most hardened say 'awww'. However, if you are looking to include a kitten in your family from a litter, it's best to follow some sound advice for choosing the right kitten for your family.
Decide on a breed of kitten
The first step to choosing the right baby kitten for your family is to choose a breed of cat. Remember, your kitten will quickly turn into a cat and each breed of cat offers its own idiosyncrasies and personalities. Do a little research on kitten breeds before you head out and get overcome with how cute the baby kittens all are. If you don't want to choose a specific breed and you're just looking for a household tabby cat, keep in mind that household cats, even tabbies, can have a variety of other breeds mixed in that can affect their personalities.
Decide on the gender
Before you head out, you should decide on whether you want a male or a female kitten. There are differences in the two genders that should be considered before you decide. Male kittens have a higher likelihood of having a urinary tract syndrome, and also have a penchant for marking their territory. However, male cats are much less expensive to neuter than to spay a female. While females have less likelihood of contracting a urinary disease, they are at an increased risk for reproductive diseases. Decide how set you are on a specific gender of kitten, for some people it doesn't make much of a difference.
Talk about personality
Are you looking for an excited baby kitten that will run around and play, or are you looking for a more laid back cat? While the personality of a baby kitten may not last through to adulthood, especially excitable ones, it is a good indication of the overall personality of the kitten. If you are looking for a cuddly kitten to take home, you don't want to take the one that runs away every time someone attempts to pick it up.
Look at the whole litter
When you go to look at a litter of baby kittens, look at the whole litter and not just one or two kittens. Watch them interact with each other and with their mom-cat. Handle the baby kittens yourself, hold them, cuddle them, and get to know them. A squirming kitten doesn't necessarily want to go home with you, but it also doesn't mean it doesn't want to go with you either.
Look at the eyes, ears and teeth
When you are handling the kittens, look at their eyes, ears and teeth. Their eyes should be clear and not cloudy, and shiny as if they are wet. Dry eyes and cloudy eyes, or spots in the eyes can be symbolic of eye problems to come or infections. Their ears should be clean and they shouldn't wince when you touch them. A dark brown sticky substance in the ears is ear mites, and while that's not a big deal and is easily fixed, it can be a symptom of other problems to come. Their teeth, depending on their age, should at least be partially in, especially the fangs. The teeth should be white and you should look for chips and nicks in the teeth.
Choosing a baby kitten is a big decision, and one that you shouldn't make lightly. However if you follow the advice given, you should be able to choose the right pet for your from a litter of baby kittens.
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