Your friendly guide to bringing up a frisky feline.

Kittens are undeniably cute and they have an unlimited amount of energy. From finding a kitten and visiting the vet to choosing the right food, litter boxes, and toys, this handy reference gets you through the toughest and most delightful era in your cat's life.

Discover how to:

• Adopt or buy the right kitten for you.
• Kitten-proof your home.
• Introduce kitty to children and pets.
• Prevent and treat feline illnesses.
• Deal with behavioral issues.
• Rescue an orphaned kitten.

About the Author: Dusty Rainbolt become involved in kitten rescue in 1986 when she cared for an abandoned pregnant cat. She found homes for mom and the kittens but kept her two favorites, Chani and Wretched. She had no idea that one act of kindness would later bless her with a career writing about cats. She and her husband, Weems, have been raising orphans ever since. In a small way they also helped elevate the Turkish Van breed to championship status in the Cat Fanciers' Association.

Today, Dusty is a member of the Cat Writers' Association. In addition to her own cats, including Chani and Wretched (now both 17 years old), she cares for a house full of foster kittens. She's the cat product reviewer for Catnip, the magazine published in cooperation with Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. Her award-winning monthly column--Dear Hobbes--written with a feline muse named Hobbes (who was one of Dusty's bottle babies), appears in City + Country Pets. She's written for Cat Fancy, Cats USA, Whole Cat Journal, Cats Magazine, I Love Cats, and Pet Life among others. Her articles have won the CWA/ACFA Cat Safety Award, The Purina Nutrition Award, and The Tidy Cat Behavior Award. Dusty's humorous science fiction novel, All The Marbles, which prominently features a Turkish Van cat, was released in July 2003.

Dusty's husband, Weems Smith Hutto, provided photographs for this book. His cat photos have appeared in Complete Kitten Care and The Purina Encyclopedia of Cat Care by Amy D. Shojai; as well as The Guide to Handraising Kittens by Susan Easterly. His pictures appear monthly in Catnip. His photos have also been published in Whole Cat Journal, Cat Fancy Magazine, Cats Magazine, and I Love Cats.