Can you tell what a cat's personality is going to be like while it's still a kitten?

[BedHog]

We recently had to say goodbye to our wonderful old cat and over the next few weeks will be thinking about welcoming a new moggy to the family.

DS has said he'd like to get a kitten. I haven't owned a kitten since I was 6 years old. All of our family cats have come from the rescue centre as young adults and so we've been able to choose one based on it's personality. We choose friendly, playful, sweet-natured cats who are happy to sit on laps, play with the children and are sensible enough not to roam near the busy road we live on.

If we do get a kitten, will we be able to tell if it will turn out like this? Friends have cats which are either so timid they spend most of the time under the bed hiding, or are out all day hunting and bringing back endless unwanted 'presents', and I really don't want a cat like that. Is it possible to know at kitten stage what the personality of the adult cat will be like? Is a cat's personality mostly learned or innate? Are there any signs to look out for in kittens to suggest it would be the sort of cat we'd like, or would we be better off getting a young adult again?

We recently adopted two kittens. I first meet them at about 9 weeks old and knew exactly what their personalities would be like. I chose a girl and a boy because I could see she was very playful and he was affectionate and always mewing for attention. They are 6 months old now and both very affectionate but he is definitely the more demanding - he meows constantly (even in the litter tray!). I could definitely see their respective personalities at 9 weeks but you will have to meet them several times to be certain as they are always shy of you at first. I think boys are traditionally meant to become better lap cats as opposed to hunters particularly after theyve been neutered. Also you could adopt a slightly older kitten eg 5 months old they have more developed personalities but are still quite playful.

We met our kittens at 7 weeks old and chose our boy as he started chewing dh's shoelaces! He now chews electrical cables .

Their foster carer told us our girl wasn't too keen on women but loved men, and at 4 years old that's still true!

Ours was wary of strangers, still is now.

He was very quiet and well behaved when we viewed him, that bit changed soon as he had paws under the table.

I've always gone quite a lot, with kittens, on meeting Mom and seeing what sort of cat she is as well as meeting the kitten. (Fathers can be more problematic.)

In the end, though, they'll be the personality they are and all you can do is ensure that they're well raised to have as few bad foibles as possible.

If you're in doubt at all, I'd get an adult rescue cat. Not only are there so many of them who are desperate for loving homes but - as you said - you can judge their more settled personalities as to whether they would fit with your family.

Good luck whatever you decide.

asked my kids and we all agreed that our cat's have the same traits as grown ups as they were as kittens

Our cat was one of two kittens born in the utility room. From the outset he was friendly and affectionate, but his brother was standoffish and would lash out. Our Puss is still a little love, his brother(long since adopted) is apparently still a mean old Tom!

We took in a pregnant stray recently, her kittens are only a week and a half now, so I'm curious to see how their little personalities develop as they get stronger and start moving about!!

Thanks everyone! So it looks like the signs are there from early on and a sweet friendly kitten will probably become a sweet friendly cat!

I'd love to have two cats really, perhaps a mother and kitten as I know there are lots of adult cats needing homes, but they are just so expensive when things go wrong with them.