Before you bring your new kitten home, you need to know how to raise a kitten so you understand what you can expect and to make the transition as smooth as possible for every member of the household.

Your kitten will probably be about 6 to 8 weeks of age when you bring it home, which is a good age to be separated from its litter mates. By then it will be fully weaned, eating solid food and have some idea about clean toileting habits. Kittens younger than 4 weeks may not thrive.

Always get your kitten from a reputable breeder or pet store and make sure it has had all its necessary inoculations. Check local government regulations regarding registration. Take your kitten to your own veterinarian to have a complete health check and find out what other vaccinations and health care is needed.

There are some things you need to have on hand before your kitten comes home. These include a litter tray and litter, dishes for food and water, cat food, bedding and a couple of toys. Cats are naturally very clean animals, and if you provide a litter tray with clean litter in it, your kitten will quickly learn to use it. It is important to keep the litter tray clean and fresh, as a cat will not use a dirty tray. Put the litter tray in a quiet place for privacy.

It is a good idea to continue using the same food the kitten is used to, for the first two weeks. This helps to avoid stomach upsets which can be caused by a change of diet, and also limits the number of new things the little kitten has to get used to. Feed your kitten at the same time each day, and keep fresh water available. Don't allow children to interfere with it at feeding times. Wash the kitten's dishes regularly.

You can buy all kinds of cat bedding and while a cat likes sleeping in a basket, a blanket or soft towels will do the job. Take the kitten to its bed after feeding and at night, and it will soon get the idea. Remember that a kitten is still a baby and needs to be able to sleep a lot in the first few weeks in your home.

Toys are essential for your kitten to provide exercise and activity to prevent boredom; if you don't provide the toys, the kitten may well decide that the lounge room curtains make a good plaything! Spend some time, several times each day, to play with the kitten to create a bond between it and its human family. You can buy a vast variety of cat toys, or paper rolled into a ball, an old sock stuffed with paper or even a toy car.

A new kitten will generally settle quickly into their new home. Some discipline may be necessary if your kitten decides to sharpen its claws on the furniture or climb your curtains, but a firm "no" should be enough. Invest in a cat scratching post; claw sharpening is a cat's natural instinct.

When you know how to raise a kitten properly, you will enjoy the company and fun that living with a cat represents.