EARLY TRAINING
We want our kittens to grow up to be friendly, affectionate adults.  The experiences they have in their first three months of life largely determine their adult temperament and behavior.  The three factors that have been identified as essential in raising the perfect feline companion are:
1) Early handling------gentle petting and talking to the kitten as early in the kitten's life as possible.
2) Socialization------introducing the kitten to a variety of people (including children), friendly pets, new places and experiences (e.g. riding in the car) - all supervised and with the kitten's safety in mind.
3) Environmental enrichment------making the kitten's home interesting and stimulating.  Remember our domestic cats still have one paw in the jungle.  This little tiger needs to climb, perch, play, and to investigate something new once in a while.

A particularly sensitive period in a kitten's life in a kitten's life is between 8-12 weeks of age when the kitten is weaned and is most easily bonded to the owner. This is the time the owner should provide the kitten with a variety of positive and safe experiences.  Care should be taken to ensure that no frightening or stressful events take place or the kitten may develop an avoidance response.  No disciplinary training should take place at this time. The goal is to give the kitten a sense of control and self-confidence. Playing with the youngster on a regular basis also helps him to become more extroverted.
 

KITTEN DEVELOPMENT
At birth, kittens are blind and deaf, with a strong sense of smell and touch.  They weigh, on average, three and one-half ounces and are about five inches long. At the end of the first week, the kittens' eyes begin to open and they have doubled their body weight.  First signs of play appear toward the end of the first month, teeth are starting to break through, and the first solid food is tasted. During the second month the kittens become very lively, take play seriously, and begin to use Mom's litterbox.  By three months the mother cat has weaned her babies, refusing to allow them to nurse.  In their fifth month, the young cats are shedding their "milk teeth" and begin to scent-mark their home range. At six months of age the kittens are fully independent of their mother, capable of hunting prey, and often disperse from the home territory to find their own hunting ranges.
 

THE ESSENTIAL CAT CARRIER
Your cat carrier is one of your most important pieces of cat care equipment.  Don't take your cat away from home without it!  It will provide you and your pet with precious moments of safety and security, making trips to the vet, to a vacation spot, or to a new residence like "bringing home with you". Before your cat can feel comfortable in the carrier, it is essential that he becomes familiar with it long before it is time to be rushed off to the vet. Place it near his play area and put a favorite toy or food treat in it. (The door can be propped open or even temporarily removed.)  If you put his favorite blanket in it and locate it near one of his chosen napping spots, he may even curl up in it. Every time he has to be put in the carrier, be sure he is rewarded with a food treat immediately after being placed inside.  Get a cat carrier which provides the cat with a feeling of security as well as the ability to look out at the world. The recommended type is made of two pieces of high-impact plastic with vents along the top. Bolts hold the top and bottom together and should be checked periodically. The stainless-steel grid
door allows for ventilation and the opportunity for Kitty to see his favorite people.

Note: The following carriers are not recommended: those made entirely of wire (cats feel vulnerable when exposed on all sides) and those made of cardboard or wicker (crushable and too hard to clean).