Taken away from its mother, brothers and sisters, your kitten will feel very lonely once you bring it home. In order to try and relieve this complete change of scenery, it is essential that you are perfectly ready to welcome your kitten into its new family.

Remember that your kitten has just been brought into totally unknown surroundings. Curb your enthusiasm – move gently and without shouting. Avoid handling the kitten excessively. An excessively noisy or agitated atmosphere could cause your kitten to be a nervous and fearful adult.

Children often tend to almost smother the new arrival with attention. They get excited, want to touch it and catch hold of its tail. An adult cat is perfectly capable of avoiding children when it doesn't want to be bothered, but a kitten is not. You need to explain to your children that the kitten is not a toy, that it needs lots of sleep and that it is absolutely forbidden to wake it up just to cuddle it. It is best not to allow young children to play with the cat in your absence. Your supervision will aid in avoiding scratches.

Remember to handle your kitten carefully. Any rough or sudden movement can terrify your kitten. If you want to carry it, the best way to hold it is to slide one hand, open wide, under its stomach with the other under its rearend for bigger breeds. In order to show your authority, take it by the scruff of its neck, just like its mother would do to carry it. This will not cause any harm to the kitten.

• Pull its tail.
• Take it by the head.
• Slide both hands under its front feet.

• Don’t leave plastic bags or things made out of foam lying around.
• Close the trash can lid and the toilet seat cover (careful with trash-bag ties, which all cats love to swallow).
• Cover electric hot plates with proper protection.
• Limit access to balconies and decks if possible.
• Be careful with irons. They are often responsible for burns.

The kitten's nutritional needs are specific during the first weeks of its life and will change as it grows older.

Kittens less than 4 months old.
From 4 to 5 weeks of age, a kitten can be given solid food. This food can be first offered in the form of gruel prepared with a little warm water. The quantity of liquid will then gradually be reduced until your kitten is only being given the dry food.

Kittens more than 4 months old.
After its second teeth have come through, the proportions of the different nutrients essential to the kitten's growth remain the same until it is one year old. Only the daily quantities of food for growth will vary and be increased until it reaches adulthood. The growth formula also serves as an ideal diet for a pregnant or lactating queen because the nutritional requirements are quite different during this period.

You should avoid any sudden change of food, or otherwise run the risk of provoking digestive problems. Plan to continue with previously given food, at least for a few days. Ask the breeder or the person who gave you the kitten about their feeding methods (number of meals/day, rationed or ad lib) and types of meals.

If you want to change its food, you should make sure there is a gradual transition from the old food to the new over a period of one week. This transition helps to minimize the risks of soft stools or diarrhea, which can be very harmful to the kitten's proper development.

Food transition chart.

• 1st and 2nd days: 75% of the previous food and 25% of the new 
• 3rd and 4th days: 50% previous and 50% new
• 5th and 6th days: 25% previous and 75% new
• Final day: 100% new

These tests are very simple and quickly help you to become familiar with your kitten’s personality.

Socialization test.
Observe your kitten from a distance:

• If it runs to play with your shoe laces or rub up against you, this means that it has been properly socialized.
• If it is nervous and tries to run away when you approach it, it has not been properly socialized.
• It is essential to start this phase again, provide toys and play with your kitten.

Aluminum foil ball test.
Roll a ball of aluminum foil in front of your kitten. If it is slow to react, it is expressing fear or great indifference to outside movement.

Dominance test.
A kitten that easily allows its tummy to be stroked while lying on its back has perfectly assimilated parental authority – it will be docile and easy-mannered. If, however, the kitten struggles or tries to scratch, its character may cause it to have unexpected reactions, such as biting when stroked.

Noise test.
Clap your hands loudly with the kitten seeing you. If it acts curious while staying calm, your kitten has been brought up in a full and stimulating environment. If it runs away, you must very quickly expose it to the noises and contacts of civilization so that it discovers plenty of new sensations.