Did you know that it's just as important to make a good first impression with kittens as it is with people? Here are some tips to help make your new friend feel right at home and get both of you off to a good start:

The most desirable age to adopt a kitten is between 8 and 12 weeks of age. Kittens obtained after 12 weeks may be more difficult to handle.

Like a child, your kitten can get into a great deal of trouble in the blink of an eye. A good rule to follow is that anything that is not safe for children is not safe for pets.

Here are some things you should put out of your kitten's reach to kitten-proofing your home:

Small items such as tinsel, rubber bands, buttons and beads - your kitten could choke on them;

Household cleaners, detergents, and other chemical compounds; put them in tightly closed containers and be certain they are properly stored;

Medicines;

Electrical cords; or wrap them in electric tape.

To learn about this subject, visit the Safe Home section.

Bring your new kitten home in a cat carrier to familiarize it with this useful invention early on. Cat carriers become a safe and familiar place for your kitten when you visit the vet or travel, and can keep your curious kitten out of trouble when necessary.

Your kitten will need time to adjust to its new environment, and understanding this is the first step in getting off to a positive start.

Place your kitten in a small, quiet place with food, water and a litter box. As it becomes more comfortable, you can gradually allow it access to other rooms in the house. Talk quietly to your kitten and gently pet it. Set a regular time and place for feeding your kitten.

If you play with your animal and take care of him for at least one hour a day, he should become at ease with you and his new home quickly. If you have young kids, you need to make them understand that a kitten is not a toy, but a living animal that must be treated with care and respect. By giving your kitten toys to play with and a scratching post (instead of your furniture) your kitten will become a great companion.

Most kittens will understand how to use the litter box if they spent the first few weeks of their life with their mother and litter mates. You can help your kitten to understand what is expected by placing it in the litter box after feeding. Kittens do not need a full-size litter box and might do better in a box with lower sides (about 1 inch or 2.5 cm).

Watch your kitten closely. When it begins nosing in corners or squatting, place it in the litter box. Gently scratch the kitten's front paws in the filler, so it begins to learn that this is the place to deposit and bury waste.

If your kitten has an accident, wipe it up with a paper towel and place the paper towel in the litter box. Then place the kitten in the litter box and repeat the process of scratching with its front paws.

You must take your newly adopted kitten to your vet as soon as possible. The first medical exam will provide your vet with all the information she needs to recommend a healthy food as well as the immediate care you should provide your kitten. It will also serve as a reference to evaluate and compare the health of your companion during future exams.

This is what will probably happen during the first visit:

• Meticulous physical exam to determine the health status of your kitten.
• Search for external parasites (fleas, ticks, lice, mites).
• Search for internal parasites (tapeworms, roundworm) if you bring a stool sample.
• First vaccines will be administered or discussion about the types of vaccines your kitten will need to receive. Your vet will indicate when they should be administered.
• Discussion of an eventual sterilization of your kitten, and if so, the age at which the operation should be done.

It's important to make your kitten feel comfortable about grooming from an early age. Look into its ears, eyes, nose and mouth regularly. Look at its paws to prepare it for claw trimming when it needs to. Brush or comb your kitten regularly.

Kittens need a different kind of diet than adult cats as their stomachs are smaller and their nutritional needs are different. Your kitten has a big appetite and will need to be fed several times a day! Feed your kitten small amounts of a kitten food, that is specially formulated to meet its nutritional requirements.

Remember these words as you welcome your kitten: Gentleness. Care. Patience. Consistency. Praise. Love. Your reward will be a delightful companion for years to come.