Kittens are adorable, cuddly balls of fur, but like all young animals they do require some time and care to raise them as good pets. For example, a kitten must be trained and fed regularly, four, even five times a day at first, and a possible illness could be more serious to your kitten than to an older cat.
A mature cat does not require as much care or training for he has already learned to handle himself in a house, and can, if need be, get along on one meal a day.
Some humane shelters will not release kittens to families with young children as youngsters may treat kittens as toys and in their eagerness to play with them may easily hurt them. An adult cat is better able to protect himself. He will decide whether to accept possible indignities from a young child or make himself scarce if the child is acting particularly rambunctious. He will put up a defense which will not injure the child but will let him know the cat will not stand for abuse, so in a short time they will reach a kind of pact of mutual consideration. Of course, you can train your young children in correct handling of a young kitten. By teaching them to handle the kitten with gentleness and kindness, you can teach them an important lesson in compassion for all living creatures.
A kitten adjusts more easily to a new owner and a new home, for the memory of his first owner and home is very brief. An older cat may find adjustment more difficult as he has grown accustomed to his previous environment.
If you have other pets, a kitten should be your choice, for here again, he adjusts more easily. The other pets, be they dogs, older cats, or parakeets, will probably take longer to adjust to the new kitten than the kitten to them. This adjustment may take a little time so allow at least three days for your new kitten to make friends with the other pets before giving up.
If you need a good mouser for immediate duty, then you need an adult cat. Agile and fully grown, he can do the job.
As you can see, there are advantages and disadvantages with the choice of either cat or kitten. What choice you make will depend upon you, for only you can tell whether you have the time and inclination to care for and train a kitten. You may find it a delightful experience, as many other pet owners have, for a kitten you raise and train yourself can be your pet to a degree a mature cat may never be.