I've just brought these two little (nameless as yet!) fluffballs home. They are 9 weeks tomorrow, and I will have had them for a week then too. I have a few questions/worries and would appreciate any words of wisdom. These aren't my first kitten experiences, but it is my first time with kittens like these two.
When I viewed them it was all outdoors, due to covid. So the kittens were all brought out to me one by one and I had to make a decision without being able to watch them all interacting and playing (I did see mum cat, and dad cat - the cats were farm cats). Some of the kittens were frightened by being brought outdoors, but the two I chose didn't seem frightened at all. One of the kittens I chose was the runt of the litter. There is quite a considerable size difference between her and her sister. I have managed to weigh them today, and big kit is 1.1kg, little kit is 625g. Little kitten is definitely the fiesty one of the two. She is the boss of her sister. She was the first to come out for food and using the litter tray. She will butt her sister out of the way for food, and big kit just acquiesces! She is the one I will see when I enter the room they are in. She will stop when I enter, but big kit will just run for cover, or will not have been out at all. Both kittens are still not wanting to be handled or stroked, they won't come for treats. They will allow me to interact with play, but if I move or make any slight noise, big kit legs it for cover. Little kit has let me gently hold her and light strokes, but you can see she is reluctant, so I'm not sure whether to leave her or keep trying to handle her to get her more used to it.
Initially both cats have been in my bedroom, with their hidey bed, litter tray, food and toys. They have had the run of the space. I have another cat so I have needed to take things slowly and swap scent etc. as my cat has previously had a negative experience with a cat we looked after for a while. My cat is used to living with other cats though, and we have feliway plug ins all over to hopefully help too if any teething troubles. So I'm not anticipating too much trouble, but I don't want to make any errors with them.
I have bought a large play pen type thing today and moved the kittens in to the dining room. This is so that they can't spend all their time hidden, and make handling them easier as not having to reach under beds and coax out. It will also mean they start to experience more of the general household noises and so the cat and kittens will both feel safe with any meetings for now. The kittens are being let loose multiple times a day when they are awake and ready to play, and I'm hoping in a few more days and meetings with my cat that the play pen won't be needed.
I'm just not sure what to do with the skittishness, particularly of big kit. Do I persist in trying to persuade them to come to me. Or do I pick them up and try to get them used to being handled? My previous experience with kittens was that they all wanted to be in my arms and petted 24/7 pretty much! I have never had to segregate the kitten or use a play pen.
Also, regarding the size difference, it seems rather a lot. I've put a picture on of them from above, and it doesn't quite capture how big the difference is in real life, but hopefully you will have an idea. Both kittens are definitely 9 weeks, little kit otherwise has all the hallmarks of being the same age as her sister. Should I do anything differently? Little kit is obviously small for her age, but seems otherwise healthy and robust. The vet tells me they have no appointments until into the new year, so they can't even have their vaccinations as yet, let alone a check over.
Thanks for any advice 
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