[nightstars310]

My two kids are dying for a kitten and I finally decided to get them one. But I have never raised a pet or seen it done so I have no idea what to expect or how to do it.
Things like:
-What age is best to get the kitten so that he can be friendly.
-What kind is most friendly?
-Whats best, female or male?
-Are they potty trained or do I have to do it and if yes how?
-Can I let them wander around freely or they should be kept in a specific place?
-Do you constantly keep food for them in their bowl and they would know when to eat or you have to give them only specific times?
-Is their a special way you need to handle them?
-Is it good to play with them a lot?

Any information can be helpful before getting my kitten.
Thank you very much

[mishelly3]

If I were you I would get a fish there far more easier to clean up after. Cats you have yo clean up after a lot and have to worry about them scratching if they still have there claws we had a kat that put holes in out chairs it used it to claw on.. so needless to say we didn't have that one there long. Your best bet is yo go talk to a vet or a pet shop, nut I think you would get a more of an honest answer from a vet he may even help you find the right type of cat for your family... So start there... Hope that helps

[Silverfoxkit]

A cat can be friendly at any age, but I think a trip to the local shelter to adopt a cat or kitten would be wise. You could see how each of them acted, because animal personalities vary as widely as humans. Some might want attention all of the time, while another prefers to be left in peace. When it comes to males and females they each have the capacity to be as loving as the other, but remember, with an unfixed cat a female will eventually go into heat - often and if she slips outside or is kept outside you will have many more cats on your hands not to mention the wailing and sticking its rear end in your face! An unaltered male cat is likely to try and go out and tom around, possibly not returning, or mark his territory around the house. So make sure you spay or neuter to avoid those problems!! Most cats are born naturally knowing to use a litter box. There are some odd balls, but chances are you won't have to worry about that. As far as wandering around freely, if you mean wandering indoors then it should be fine, but remember they hold no value to your breakables and pick up anything dangerous out of reach and do not let it play with or wander around power cords. They may just look like strings to a kitten. How you feed the cat is your choice, but a cat that eats too much can get obese so limiting the amount would be advisable. I don't know how old your children are, but all pets need to be handled with care. When they carry it make sure it is fully supported and not dangled about or squeezed too tightly. If you get kitten then then it will need a lot of play, but beware, you are likely to be play pounced and scratched - often. Most cats love strings, but make sure it can't swallow it and don't leave any with needles attached laying about ever.

[linnealand]

There are books that can help you a ton. I know of one called "how to get your cat to do what you want" by warren eckstein, but I'm sure you can find even better ones out there. Check out amazon.com or your local bookstores. I invested in a ton of good books before getting our last puppy, and they were a life saver. I highly suggest it. Person-to-person advice is always limited, and it's not always accurate.

[linnealand]

By the way, yes! It's great to play with them a lot. Play nice, though, especially when they're little. Make sure your kids are very clear on what is and what is not right to do when playing with him/her. They must be gentle. Get lots of toys. As extras, cats love large paper bags and cardboard boxes. Make the house fun, and she'll also be less inclined to play with your furniture.

[morfias3042]

Kittens are generally friendly at any age, and once they develop a bit, will play with everything new to them. There is not really a specific type of cat that's perfect, but let the cat pick their owner. (you'll see what I mean when you go to get one) Where gender comes in, it all depends on your choice. Cats are very free reign and you usually cannot immediately decipher what they're going to be like. The best kitten is one that's potty trained (in my opinion) unless you want the house to smell like their litter-box. Of course if you want to train it, it will have accidents. Whenever it does, bring it to the spot, and say no, them bring them to where they should go. If you want your kitten to get attached to a certain room, then feel free to keep them in one, but let them explore the house before you do, that way they know what's in the house. If you don't want them to be attached to one certain room, then just let them wander. (note, most new kittens WILL be very nervous when brought into a new place. Just remember to let them have their space, but be there to comfort them when needed.) Kittens probably need to be fed 3 times a day, like us. You can keep kibble in a bowl or something, but other than that, just remember to always leave out some water. Be very gentle when you handle a kitten, don't roughhouse it too much. As long as you're careful with them, you won't injure them. Kittens and cats are VERY playful, and easy to play with. An old sock can become a toy. The 2 things that I've learned make them go nuts are cat-nip, and lasers. If you get a toy with cat-nip in it, they will act a little like a drunken cat. And most cats will follow a laser wherever it goes. Feel free to have fun with them! Remember to tell them off when they do something wrong, but NEVER hit them. Be sure to tell your kids this, because it can lead to bad or nervous behavior and or injury. The most important thing to remember though, have fun! I hope this helps.