Proper preparation of your home before you get a kitten can get your pet off to a great start.

Start with a litter box that is not too big for a kitten to get into. Make sure window screens are secure and that household cleaning products, houseplants, strings and other potentially dangerous objects are out of your kitten's reach.

Select the tallest scratching post you can find, preferably with a climbing and resting area on top, so your cat can stretch, groom his claws and perch himself off the ground. Keep all these items and your kitten in one room for a couple of weeks to lower kitten stress, control safety and prevent behaviors you don't want in an adult cat.

Animal behavior experts Susan and Roland Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.