a lot of pet stores take adoptions from people and sell them for the cost of the shots. often this is a good way to get a kitten. also try your local paper (the recycler has worked for me).
i bought a cat from a pet store BUT she wasn't a "pet store" cat. the owner of the store saw a kid about to throw a sack of kittens in the wash and gave the kid $25 for the kitties. i was in his store and he kept the last kitten in an aquarium. when he picked her up to clean her area, instead of wiggling around, she was totally calm and even limp, and purred at him. i wasn't looking for a cat, but somehow this spoke to me. she was my dearest companion for many years, and i still miss her three years after she's gone.
a kitten who isn't taken away from his/her mother too early won't usually be as whiney. kittens when they're young need other kittens, so if they're too young or were taken away too young, they'll complain more and be naturally more needy.
handle the kitten and see how it reacts when you meet it. if it doesn't somehow touch you, meet other kittens till one makes you feel connected to it. if you are looking at a pure bred kitten, look up the breed first - some cats don't do well without company (usually another cat) and some do great.
good luck
