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Picking the Perfect Kitten

Picking the perfect kitten for you and your home sounds fun and exciting, but can actually be a very difficult task. There are so many different things to consider. However, if you are working with a good breeder, they should be able to help you pick the perfect kitten. We have an extensive process so when you reserve your kitten, we are all sure that is kitten you will be most happy with and he/she will meet all your needs.

The following are a few things to think about as you are trying to find the kitten of your dreams.

Health - The health of your kitten is maybe one of the most important things to consider when looking for a kitten. Obviously, you want a very healthy kitten so you won't be racking up huge vet bills all the time, but also so you have your kitten to love and enjoy for a good 15-20 years. Generally, breeders do not do extensive health testing on their kittens. You should expect your kitten to be given 2-3 rounds of vaccines, have been dewormed at least once, and be examined by the breeder's vet at least once before you take him/her home. Other than that, it isn't likely that much more health testing is going to be done on a healthy kitten. However, there is a lot more health testing that should have been done on the kitten's parents prior to breeding to ensure the parents are healthy and are going to produce healthy kittens. The breeder should be doing x-rays to check for hip dysplasia, heart testing, genetic testing, standard vaccines, fecal testing, and general vet checks on all breeding cats. If those things are not being done on the breeding cats, you cannot be sure they will produce healthy kittens.

Personality & Temperament - The difference between personality and temperament is subtle, but important. This is the next biggest thing you want to consider when picking your kitten. Personality is "what a cat does". This changes depending on age, circumstances, and environment. A cat's personality would be something like being a lap cat, being super playful, loving to go places or meet new people. Temperament is "what a cat is". This is engrained in the cat from birth and will not change. A cat's temperament would be laidback, skittish, talkative, scared, bold or adventurous. So, when considering what you want in your kitten, you need to look at both aspects, but you also need to consider what you want your kitten to "be". If you want a snuggly lap cat, then you're going to want a kitten with a personality that enjoys attention, and a temperament that is quiet and laid back. If you want to take your kitten places with you, then you are going to want a kitten with a personality that is bold and playful, and a temperament that is curious and adventurous. A quiet lap cat is not going to enjoy being taken outside the house, and a playful, adventurous cat is not going to want to cuddle on the couch for hours on end. Also something to keep in mind, is it is very unlikely that you are going to find a kitten that loves to cuddle for hours on end, but is also super playful and adventurous. Those are opposites on the personality or temperament scale and not likely to exist in at the same time. Most Maine Coons are snuggly and playful, but it's the level of snuggly and playful that is key. A kitten that is quiet and wants to snuggle for 5 hours a day is not going to be super playful for 5 hours a day as well. And a kitten who has a lot of energy and wants to play for 5 hours a day is not going to snuggle a whole lot. So make sure you are very honest with yourself about how you want your kitten to act and "be", and then clearly communicate that with your breeder.

Color/Pattern - The color and pattern of your kitten is probably the 3rd thing you should consider. We do understand that the color and/or pattern of a kitten is very important to some people, and that is fine. But keep in mind that is going to make finding your perfect kitten a bit more of a challenge, and it may take more time to bring your kitten home. Also keep in mind that the color/pattern of your kitten plays no part in his/her overall health, as well as personality and temperament...for the most part. Red males do tend to be more silly, and torties tend to have more attitude, but that has something to do with the red gene. None of the other colors have any sort of common personality or temperament traits.

The Kitten's Parents - The parents are one last thing to consider when picking your perfect kitten. You want your kitten to come from parents that have been throughly vet checked on a yearly basis, and are completely healthy. Be especially sure to ask about the parents' immune systems and if they are sick several times throughout the year. You also want to know what kind of personality and temperament the parents have. If the parents have the personality and temperament you are looking for, then it is likely their kittens will as well when they hit adulthood.

The Breeder - Choosing which breeder to work with is another important decision. The breeder you work with can be the difference between getting an amazing kitten or a nightmare. You want a breeder that is willing to talk with you, is going to tell you the truth, and genuinely cares about the kitten's wellbeing long after he/she leaves their cattery. The breeder should also know the personality and temperament of their breeding cats very well, and have a good idea of the kind of personality and temperament their kittens' will have. One thing to remember though, is a kitten's personality changes a lot in that first year. So while the kitten may have one personality in the breeder's cattery, that can change after you take the kitten home. So you do need to give your breeder a little grace in this area. But, a good breeder should know the difference between personality and temperament and be able to help you pick the best kitten for you based on your wants and needs. This can be done best if you are effectively communicating with the breeder and give them all the information they need on your wants, needs, expectations, intentions, home, and family.

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