If you are choosing your kitten from a litter, a few simple tips can help you pick well. Take your time and ask lots of questions. Have the kittens seen the vet, have they had health screens, been vaccinated and wormed?

What sort of environment is the litter being kept in? Be wary if it's a shed or a pen away from the main house, as these kittens may have had little human contact. Cats have a very short socialisation phase - between 4 to 16 weeks of age. A kitten that doesn't become used to the sights, sounds and smells of normal life by then may have problems later on.

However heart-wrenching a sight it may be, be careful about choosing a kitten that seems particularly nervous. This can be a sign of poor early socialisation. Also, don't be tempted to take the smallest, weakest-looking kitten out of pity. This could be a very expensive mistake.

You should not take a kitten from her mother or her littermates too early. She needs to be at least six or seven weeks of age.