An orange tabby kitten with a white chest sitting on a cream woven rug in front of a plain wall

October 14, 2026 Jessica Northrup

How To Choose A Kitten: Age, Health Checks, And Questions To Ask

To choose a kitten, check that it is old enough to leave its mother, ask to see it with its mother and the rest of the litter, and look it over from nose to tail for signs of ill health. PDSA says kittens shouldn’t be rehomed until they are at least 8 weeks old, and the RSPCA and Cats Protection both give eight to nine weeks.

International Cat Care says people often go for looks, such as a favourite colour or marking, but that “you need to know about the kitten’s personality, needs and health.”

Kitten Or Adult Cat

PDSA says kittens are very time consuming, and that some people find a more mature, independent adult cat suits them better. Cats Protection says a kitten shows no sign of what it will be like as an adult, and that a cat’s character is not usually established before it is at least a year old. For a household suited to a more laid-back character, it says it is best to choose an adult cat.

Animal Shelter Or Breeder

The RSPCA says you have two options: buying or adopting. Read more about Animal shelters. Cats Protection says a kitten or cat adopted from it will, where possible, be health checked by a vet, treated for fleas and worms, vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered.

A breeder is the other route. International Cat Care says a good breeder or rescue centre will want to know that you will care for the kitten properly, and should be willing to take the kitten back if serious problems arise. For a pedigree kitten, PDSA says the cat should be registered with the GCCF, Felis Britannica, or TICA, and Cats Protection advises looking for a registered breeder and being wary of sellers who offer to post the certificate after you have bought the cat.

Cats Protection says buying kittens advertised on social media isn’t recommended, and that you should avoid buying a kitten purely from a video. Its advice is to go and view the kittens and their mother in their home environment.

Choosing The Right Kitten Breed

International Cat Care says cats have very individual personalities, and Cats Protection says a cat’s breed doesn’t guarantee what personality it will have. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) gives each of these four breeds a coat length and a personality line on its breed page:

Persian: longhair; sweet, affectionate, quiet.
Siamese: shorthair; vocal, affectionate, active; can be insistent.
Maine Coon: longhair; gentle, easy going yet active.
Ragdoll: longhair; docile, placid and affectionate.

Cats Protection says to think harder before buying a pedigree with a flattened face, deformed ears, or no fur. International Cat Care says very flat faces in breeds such as Persians can cause an overflow of tears.

Long Hair Or Short Hair, Male Or Female

Cats Protection says a long-haired cat needs grooming daily to stop its coat matting, while a short-haired cat likely needs it weekly. International Cat Care says a domestic kitten’s adult coat length is hard to predict unless its mother has a long coat.

Cats Protection says there isn’t much difference between male and female cats, especially if they are neutered, and that a cat’s personality is shaped by its individual genetic background, upbringing, and past experiences in life.

How Old A Kitten Should Be

PDSA says any kitten under 8 weeks old should still be with its mother, and that pedigree kittens are usually rehomed at over 12 to 13 weeks old, because reputable breeders want the first vaccination course finished before the kittens go to their new homes. International Cat Care also says pedigree kittens are usually over 12 weeks old when rehomed, and that domestic kittens may be around 8 weeks old. The RSPCA says kittens should stay with their mothers until they are around 8 to 9 weeks, and that taking them away earlier can lead to problems with their behaviour.

A tabby mother cat lying on a white pad with several newborn kittens beside her

Early weeks matter for personality. International Cat Care says a kitten learns to enjoy the company of people from around 3 weeks to 8 weeks old, and that a fearful kitten is likely to be a fearful cat. Cats Protection puts kitten socialisation between two and eight weeks old, and lists different people, handling, and various sounds among the things a kitten should be gradually exposed to in that time.

PDSA says some kittens are hand-raised or bottle-fed when their mother couldn’t look after them, and advises doing your research before you rehome a hand-reared kitten, because they can be very boisterous toward people and prone to behavioural issues.

Questions To Ask Before You Visit

Cats Protection suggests asking the breeder or seller for the kitten’s birth date, whether you can see it with its mother, whether it has siblings and how they get along, what is known about its father, and whether it is a specific breed.

The RSPCA adds where the kitten was born and where it spent most of its time between one and nine weeks old. International Cat Care says the best scenario is a kitten kept in a home environment, or moved into one well within the first 8 weeks, and used to people, noises, smells, visitors, children, and dogs. It says that if you have a dog or children at home, you can ask whether the kitten has met them.

International Cat Care says a friendly mother will pass on friendly genes and is relaxed and interactive with people as an example to her kittens, so ask about her temperament. It also says to ask to handle the kitten to find out how relaxed it is with people, and to ask what food and litter the kitten is used to.

PDSA says to ask whether the kitten has been treated for fleas and worms, and whether it will be vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped when you take it home.

Checking A Kitten From Nose To Tail

International Cat Care says to check for signs of ill health, and to ask to see the rest of the litter and the mother, to check that they are healthy too. It says to be wary of a place that is dirty and smelly with many other cats and kittens. PDSA says the kitten should be a good weight and a similar size to its littermates, free of fleas, clean, and lively.

A gray tabby and white kitten sitting on a soft blanket, looking at the camera with clear eyes and a clean pink nose

Eyes and nose. International Cat Care lists runny eyes or nose among the signs of ill health and says the kitten should have bright eyes. PDSA lists weepy eyes among the problems to raise with a vet.
Ears. International Cat Care lists dirty ears among the signs of ill health. VCA lists black discharge, scratching, and head shaking as signs of ear mites, and says ear mite infections are more common in kittens and outdoor cats. Read more about ear mites.
Mouth. Read more about pale pink gums in the Humane World for Animals home health exam for cats. International Cat Care lists red, sore, and bleeding gums, bad breath, drooling, and pawing at the mouth among the signs of dental disease in cats. Cats Protection says it is common for a kitten to have mild inflammation of the gum and bad breath when its adult teeth emerge.
Belly. VCA lists a pot-bellied appearance among the common signs of roundworms in kittens. Cornell says cats with the wet form of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) may develop a pot-bellied appearance from fluid in the abdomen, and adds that clinical FIP is usually progressive and almost always fatal without therapy.
Coat. International Cat Care says the kitten should have a good coat. VCA says the first check for an itchy cat is for fleas, and that “little specks of black that resemble coffee grounds at the base of their fur” mean you have likely caught the culprit.
Rear end. International Cat Care says a dirty or sore area under the tail may indicate the kitten has diarrhoea.
Movement. International Cat Care says the kitten should be able to move easily, and PDSA lists problems with movement too.

Questions To Ask Yourself First

PDSA says all pets have five welfare needs: health, behaviour, companionship, diet, and environment. Before you commit, ask yourself:

Can you provide enough hours of play or activity each day?
Are you able and willing to give them love, attention, and affection?
Can you afford the cost of food, litter, toys, regular vet visits, and other expenses?
Is your home pet-friendly, and can they have their own special space?
Do all members of your family have time (and love) to give them?
Are you prepared for potential accidents or messes that may occur?
Have you ticked off everything on your new kitten checklist?

Once you've taken your cuddly furball home, consider getting some cat apparel to show off your love!

FAQs

How much attention will the kitten need, both now and as an adult?

It depends on the cat. International Cat Care says some breeds need more attention and company than others, and some cats will be much more independent. PDSA says kittens are active, inquisitive pets and need a lot of care, attention, and commitment.

What shapes a kitten’s personality?

Personality is shaped by genetics and by early experience. International Cat Care says “friendliness” can be influenced by genes, and that a cat’s later confidence or fear depends on what happened to it as a kitten. Read more about how to tell if your cat loves you.

What if a kitten looks ill or scared?

It depends on the problem. PDSA says a kitten that is small, has weepy eyes, or has trouble moving should be checked by a vet before you take it on. International Cat Care says to be prepared to walk away rather than buy a kitten out of pity because it is ill or scared.

Sources

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