A kitten’s cuteness is the major reason people end up adopting one before they have researched how to choose, nurture, feed or care for their new pet. Just the sight of a kitten’s adorable “pansy” face, tiny nose, bright eyes and itsy-bitsy tail, and often hearts make decisions that brains might not.

Cats can live to be 20 years old or older, so adopting one is a serious commitment of time and money. It’s hard to visualize the cons when you look into a gorgeous kitten face, but the reality is that kittens can be destructive and, if handled improperly, can scratch or bite. They need to be fed, their litter box needs to be cleaned frequently and they need routine health care. Kittens don’t stay little fuzzballs, either. They grow up to be cats and lose their kittenish looks.

Still interested in adopting a kitten? The information in this book will help you to choose, raise, understand and care for your new furry pal.

Cats are exceptionally warm animals. In fact, most people do not know that the average body temperature of a cat is 101.5°F, a few degrees higher than a human’s own 98.6°F. Here are some other interesting facts that you likely never knew about cats.

Functions of whiskers Have you ever wondered why cats have whiskers? The long hairs, which are flexible and about three times thicker than the rest of a cat’s hair, have several purposes. Whiskers work as motion detectors and help cats find their way around. Whiskers are also indicative of a cat’s mood, so be sure to pay attention to your kitty’s whiskers. The less relaxed the wh...