A kitten should be healthy, old enough, well socialised and raised by someone who is open about care. Do not let a sweet photo decide everything. Visit, ask questions and check the details before you reserve or pay.
At the visit
You should see the kittens in their normal environment and ideally meet the mother cat. The kittens should be alert, clean, curious and used to household life. Watery eyes, dirty noses, diarrhoea, heavy sneezing or extreme fear are reasons to slow down and ask more.
Documents and care
Ask for date of birth, vaccination record, parasite treatment, food, litter habits and whether the kitten has seen a veterinarian. For pedigree kittens, check the pedigree and any breed-specific health tests. For all kittens, age and socialisation are essential.
Collection day
Take familiar food, keep the journey calm and start the kitten in one quiet room at home. A good seller remains available for questions. Also read litter training your kitten and what to feed a kitten.
