By Dr Duncan Houston
Choosing a puppy or kitten is easy to rush when a small face has already won you over. A little preparation helps you judge whether the animal's needs, history and likely adult life fit your household.
The aim is a sustainable match, with clear information and support, rather than a promise that a particular youngster will never become ill or develop a behaviour problem.
Quick Answer
Choose according to the care you can provide, then assess the individual animal and the transparency of the rescue or breeder. Ask for real veterinary records and relevant parental health-test results, observe behaviour gently and arrange an early examination with your own vet. Registration papers and a confident first meeting are not health guarantees. Breathing difficulty, marked weakness or significant illness needs assessment before routine handover.
Would a puppy or kitten fit your daily life?
| Daily need | Puppy | Kitten |
|---|---|---|
| Toileting | Frequent supervised opportunities and consistent reward-based training | Accessible clean litter trays and observation of habits |
| Activity | Age-appropriate play, training and safe exploration | Interactive play, scratching, climbing and food searching |
| Time alone | Gradual learning with reliable daytime care | Daily attention, feeding and a safe enriched environment |
| Social needs | Careful positive exposure to people, animals and everyday situations | Gentle handling, choice and gradual introductions |
| Long-term planning | Adult size, exercise, grooming, housing and veterinary needs | Adult temperament, grooming, safe containment and veterinary needs |
A kitten is not a maintenance-free alternative to a puppy. Consider work hours, children, existing pets, travel, housing permissions and the cost of routine and unexpected care. An adult animal with an established history may be a better fit when you need more information about size and temperament.
What should a rescue or breeder be able to tell you?
A reputable organisation should explain what it knows, what remains uncertain and what support follows adoption. Ask about previous illness, treatment, behaviour, littermates and how the youngster has been living. Rescue histories may contain gaps; openness about those gaps matters.
When buying from a breeder, meet the puppy or kitten where they were raised and see the mother with the litter. Repeated excuses, pressure to pay quickly or an unexplained handover in a car park are reasons to pause. The RSPCA's breeder guidance provides practical questions about rearing conditions and records.
A rescue orphan may legitimately have no mother available, but that should come with a clear account of their circumstances and care needs.
Which records should you ask for?
- Date of birth or the basis for an estimated age.
- Veterinary examination findings and any known congenital or ongoing condition.
- Vaccination dates and products, rather than a verbal statement that injections are done.
- Parasite treatments with dates, product names and relevant test results.
- Microchip number and the process for updating keeper details.
- Current food, feeding routine, medicines and outstanding appointments.
- Written handover, return and support arrangements.
For a pedigree animal, ask which parental screening tests are appropriate to the breed and view the actual results. A pedigree records ancestry, not freedom from disease. The OFA explains that a CHIC number means specified testing was completed and disclosed, not that every result was normal.
DNA tests cover particular variants. They do not replace every eye, heart or joint assessment, and screening cannot guarantee that a puppy or kitten will remain healthy for life.
What can you observe during a visit?
Watch before handling. Look for comfortable breathing, coordinated movement, an appropriate body condition and interest in ordinary surroundings. Check for eye or nose discharge, persistent scratching, skin sores, diarrhoea around the rear, limping or difficulty eating.
Let the youngster approach and explore at their own pace. Sit low, offer a suitable toy and ask the caregiver to demonstrate familiar gentle handling. Support the chest and hindquarters when lifting, keep close to a safe surface and stop if the animal struggles.
Do not drop keys, clap loudly, pin the animal down or remove food to test temperament. A brief visit is only a snapshot. Ask how the youngster behaves across normal days, with other animals, after rest and during routine care.
What if a puppy or kitten seems unusually quiet?
They may be tired, cautious or overwhelmed, but pain, fever, low blood glucose or other illness can also cause withdrawal. Diarrhoea might reflect parasites, infection or a feeding change. Noisy breathing should not be dismissed as normal merely because of the breed.
These findings do not mean an animal can never have a good home. They mean you need a diagnosis, realistic care information and a decision that matches your capacity. Ask for veterinary assessment before committing to a routine handover.
When is this an emergency?
Breathing difficulty, collapse, seizures, severe weakness or repeated vomiting or diarrhoea with deterioration needs urgent veterinary care. Tell the current caregiver immediately and help them contact a vet. If the animal is already with you, call your clinic or an emergency service; do not wait for the planned new-pet appointment.
When should a youngster leave the litter?
A puppy should be fully weaned and generally at least eight weeks old before leaving the mother for routine adoption or purchase. Kittens also need sufficient time with their mother and littermates, independent eating and developmental readiness. The RSPCA's kitten guidance recommends remaining with the mother until around eight to nine weeks; some responsible programmes keep kittens longer.
Confirm the plan with the breeder or rescue and your vet, and check local requirements. Orphan fostering is a different situation requiring appropriate training and support. Being able to lick food from a plate does not alone establish readiness to leave.
Prepare for a calm arrival
- Book veterinary care. Arrange a visit soon after arrival, following any earlier medical or handover requirements.
- Plan secure transport. Use an appropriate carrier or restraint, ventilation and safe positioning. Do not travel with a loose animal in the car.
- Prepare a safe starting area. Provide bedding, water, suitable toys and toileting access, keeping food and rest away from the toilet area.
- Remove hazards. Secure medicines, cleaners, wires, small objects and toxic plants; check escape gaps and window security.
- Keep food familiar initially. Obtain enough of the current complete food and discuss any transition.
- Manage introductions. Give existing animals space and use a gradual plan, with additional health separation when advised.
Build prevention and social learning together
Your vet should review vaccination and parasite protection according to species, age, history and local risk. One early vaccine does not complete every course.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior supports safe puppy socialisation before the vaccination series is finished. Ask your vet about appropriate settings and classes; avoid high-risk areas with unknown dogs. Positive exposure means a manageable, pleasant experience, not overwhelming contact.
For kittens, practise gentle handling, carrier entry and suitable play with room to retreat. Reward wanted behaviour and provide rest. Supervise children and never expect either species to tolerate grabbing or disturbance while eating or sleeping.
Common mistakes
- Choosing only for colour, unusual size or a fashionable breed.
- Accepting registration as proof of health.
- Using a startle or dominance test to predict adult behaviour.
- Taking a youngster home before they are developmentally ready.
- Overlooking everyday care costs and backup arrangements.
- Skipping an examination because the animal looked lively at collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pick the most confident puppy or kitten?
Confidence during one visit is only part of the picture. Choose according to the individual's usual behaviour, needs and fit with your home.
Does a CHIC number mean both parents passed every test?
No. Read the results themselves; a CHIC number confirms the required testing and public disclosure.
Can a shy animal become a good companion?
Yes, with a suitable home and support. Ask whether the behaviour reflects ordinary caution, fear, poor socialisation or a health issue.
When should the first vet visit happen?
Arrange it soon after arrival, sooner for any symptoms or required medical follow-up. Bring all available records.
Choose a relationship you can support
A thoughtful match combines affection with honest information about care, health and behaviour. Taking time to ask questions and prepare the home helps the new arrival settle into a life you can sustain together.
For practical guidance about early pet care, explore ASK A VET™ and discuss your prospective puppy or kitten's needs with your veterinary team.
The ASK A VET™ Tracker logs live location and activity trends, so a change in routine never goes unnoticed.
Every ASK A VET article is written and reviewed by qualified veterinarians.
