Most of these tips also apply to adult cats, especially if they are new to your home.
#1: Never Use Your Hand as a Toy
Your kitten will think it’s okay to scratch and bite your hand. Always use a cat teaser toy instead. Or a shoestring can entertain a kitten for hours.
#2: Hold Your Kitten Often
Let them know how good it feels to be cuddled and loved. This is especially important with shy or timid kittens.
#3: Gently Stroke Your Kitten while Holding Them
Stroke their belly, legs, paws, chin, and other sensitive areas. This will help get your kitten used to being handled, making it easier to clip their claws and medicate them.
#4: Hold Your Kitten Sitting Down, Not Standing Up
Especially if your kitten gets squirmy and wants down. Kittens are small, and looking down at the floor is a long fall for them.
#5: Brush Your Kitten Often
Brush daily if they are longer haired. There are many different styles of cat brushes available at pet stores. Brushing makes your kitten feel clean, which is very important to them. Brushing will also reduce the dander in your home, which can cause allergies.
#6: Clip Your Kitten’s Claws
Clip them every two weeks when they are tired or sleeping. After getting used to regular clippings, your kitten will probably enjoy being groomed and pampered. Your veterinarian can show you how to clip claws safely, or you can find instructions in most cat-care books. Well-clipped claws can eliminate scratched skin and furniture and prevent the claws from getting stuck on carpeting.
#7: Leave a TV or Talk Radio On
If you are gone during the day, a TV or talk radio will keep your kitten company. This can help a shy kitten to get acclimated to human voices.
#8: Talk Softly – Kittens Ears Are Sensitive
If you have children, remind them that kittens have sensitive ears and their squeals of delight could cause the kitten to be afraid of children.
#9: Train Positively – Never Squirt Your Kitten with Water!
If your kitten performs an undesirable behavior (scratching furniture or climbing curtains) use one simple word “no.” Speak firmly (no yelling!), remove the kitten from that area, and offer an appropriate place to scratch or play. With consistent training, your kitten will understand the meaning of “no.” Never squirt water at a kitten as a “bad behavior” deterrent. Unless you can squirt the kitten without being seen, the kitten will associate the water with you and not the “bad behavior.” Raising a kitten is parenting and it’s doubtful you would squirt your child with water.
#10: Give Your Kitten Unconditional Love and Affection
This is the most important tip of all. If your kitten knows they are loved, they will grow into a happy well-adjusted cat.