You have taken considerable time making the decision to adopt a kitten. You have made an informed decision about choosing a cat breed and in anticipation of the new arrival, you have possibly even chosen a cat name. Give some thought on kitten health and how to select a well-adjusted, healthy kitten.

We suggest that you do thorough research on the cat breeder and ensure that they are reputable. Purchasing a kitten from a recognized and registered cat breeder will give you some measure of comfort.

If you elect to adopt a kitten from an animal shelter, you will still need to ensure that you are selecting a healthy kitten.

Rescuing a stray, is a very honorable thing to do, but it may not be ideal. The kitten (or cat) may be suffering from physical and cat behavior problems that may be costly to rectify. If you do have the time and financial means to tackle this, be sure to establish whether there are any cat health problems early on. Your local vet will help you here.

What to look for in a Healthy Kitten

The joy of a cute kitten. How can you tell it is a healthy kitten in a brief meeting. Simply put, a healthy kitten looks healthy - 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed' - the kitten should be clean, well groomed and alert.

Point 1 - Skin and Coat Check

Ensure that the kitten has no skin lesions or skin diseases. Look for bald patches (unless it's a Sphynx), ringworm, sores, cat flea infestation, wounds or growths.

A healthy kitten should exclude all the above and instead, present with a clean, shiny, fluffy and well groomed coat.

Point 2 - Nose Check

If the kitten's nose has a discharge, crusts around the nostrils, nostrils are severely constricted or the kitten is sneezing or unable to breathe through the nose, it's indicative of a cat illness or congenital abnormality.

The nose should be dry to the touch, clear of all discharges and crusts and the nostrils open and well formed.

Point 3 - Mouth and Teeth Check

If the gums and mucous membranes are pale, inflamed and swollen and the cat or kitten has bad breath this could indicate ill health. If the kitten has just eaten, it will have 'cat food breath' which needs to be allowed for. Check for abnormalities such hair lip and cleft palette.

Gums and the inside of the mouth needs to be a healthy pink.

A kittens baby teeth should be clean, bright, white and needle sharp. Kittens have teeth from around 2 weeks and start they loosing their baby teeth at around 4 - 6 months. So do make allowance for this.

Point 4 - Eye Check

As you will not be adopting a newborn, the kitten's eyes should be open and the eyes need to be bright, clear and clean.

Dull, opaque eyes with a discharge or excessive tearing is indicative of a cat health problem. You will need to make some allowance for Persian kittens who may have excessive tearing as a result of their flat faces - establish what's normal.

To ensure that your cat has no problems with vision, check that it is able to focus on you and also able to follow a moving object like a piece of string or your finger.

Point 5 - Ear Check

If the kitten has excessive wax build up or debris resembling coffee grounds, it is indicative of ear mites. Excessive scratching or shaking of the head may also indicate ear mites. To test for hearing, click or make a sound to attract the kitten and monitor the response.

Point 6 - Anal Check

Check the area under the tail for any sign of recent diarrhea. The area should be dry and clean.

You may also want to identify whether you are adopting a male or female kitten.

Point 7 - General

Remove the kitten from the litter and see how it responds to you and observe for any physical abnormalities or difficulty in walking. If possible check to see that the kitten is of normal weight and has a healthy appetite. If the kitten appears happy, playful and responsive and all the above are normal, you should have a healthy kitten.

Take a look at the kitten's surroundings, are they hygienic with adequate supply of clean water, food, toys and clean bedding and litter boxes? Ask the current owner whether it would be possible to see both the parent cats. It may give an indication of temperament and characteristic of your cat in the future.

Finally, do not be in a rush. Request all relevant vaccination and de-worming certificates and in the case of a pedigree cat do ask whether the cat has been screened for any relevant inherited and genetic diseases and ask the breeder to provide the necessary documentation. A reputable cat breeder will provide a health guarantee!

As a responsible future cat owner, you can avoid future cat diseases, cat illnesses and you can ensure that cat health problems will not get in the way of a long and happy life with your new family addition.