Predicting Adult Personalities?

The only thing I'd conclude from that kitten's behavior at this time would be that he may end up a little more skittish and that he needs more socialization with humans. Often a kitten would rather play with it's mother and siblings, but when taken to a new home that interaction and affection gets turned to the kitten's new human companion (or another cat in the home). So there's no real way to be certain now.

Make sure your friend waits till the kittens are 12, or even 14-16 weeks. By this time they'll have had more time with people and hopefully be over that some.

It's a bit easier to pick which kittens will be bold or even rougher - they'll be the ones that dominate their siblings and will gladly come over and jump/bite on you. The kittens that always initiate play or like to get into things may have a chance of doing the same in their new home too - you know the ones that get into any food left unguarded, chews cords, steals things.

Of my three semi-feral kittens right now, I have one like this. She's proven to already have an interest in chewing on cords, gets over fear quickly if it means she can get into something, and looked like she was getting ready to take on one of my cats last night who slipped into the middle room (door didn't latch) and hissed at her. She's going to be trouble. Whereas the other two range somewhere in the middle, with the other girl likely to be a quiet cat.

My kittens weren't human attentive when they were 8 weeks. They were playful, they loved each other and their mommies, but they would run from me, and shy away from me, and hiss at me... and I had been handling them since the day they were born. The kittens are now 6 months and 7 months old, and can't get enough of me and my partner.

My 6 month olds didn't get to loveable purr balls until they were about 4 months old. Myah-Leah goes nuts if I sit down and don't let her jump up for cuddles and hugs, she'll rub against me, roll onto her back, stretch against my face, purr like a jack-hammer and I literally have trouble putting her down as she just wants to cuddle me.

Zharra used to follow me around like a shadow. Up & down stairs, cuddling up with me at night, she'd go nuts if I didn't let her under the blankets with me to cuddle up.

Brinn and Cassiel run circuits around my legs, sometimes jumping into my arms, rubbing against me. Sage, Coal & Gabriel melt whenever I pet them. Ceres is still coming around, but is still a little purr-ball at times.

Freya, my 7 month old, was the same, until about 3 and a half, 4 months old, she wasn't interested. Too independent. Now, she perks up every time I come in the room, cuddles up to me, purrs, loves every second of the attention she is given.

I have an opinion, that people expect too much from kittens too soon. A 8 week old kitten to me, seems like a baby, and baby's as loveable as they are, aren't as fun and responsive as a toddler are they? well, once they reach toddler age, and kiddy age, they can be the most beautiful little purr balls. You just have to persevere.

My mentor often tells me of her earlier litters, who at 8 weeks suddenly "broke" and went from sweet kittens to being scared of her. After speaking to others found this was perfectly normal, but still 30 years later refers to 8 weeks as the broken age

We bring feral kittens into the shelter all the time who are scared but within a few weeks of cuddles, love and being fed are the cuddliest of kittens. Especially with a kitten, I wouldnt put much emphasis on how they reacted when you first met them. Their personalities will be moulded to some degree by how you treat them.

Some kittens will change, but IMO most have pretty much what personality they will have as an adult. And keep in mind that its better to adopt them at 10-12 weeks old as they need important social time with mom and siblings for the first 3 months of life.

When I adopted my 4 month old Sasha a week ago, she wasn't social at all and actually ran from me and her foster mom. She had only been in her foster home for a few days. Within a day of being here she became the most lovable,sweet pur-monster. Sometimes they just need someone to take a little extra time with them. And sometimes they just don't care for people they don't know but once they get to know you, they become affectionate.

Environment plays a very large role in how a cat will "turn out".

An 8 week old infant kitten's behavior does not always indicate what the cat will be like as an adult. Many sweet loving cats have been damaged by poor handling. Many damaged or unsocialized cats have been turned into loving pets with proper handling and socialization.

Many cats labeled "mean" have been saved and become dear companions with proper care training and patience.

There is no way to generalize this issue. But I agree leaving the babies with their mama until 12 weeks whenever possible is best for the kittens.

Poor handling could be anything from not enough socialisation with people to over zealous children pulling them around to abuse