Helping your kitten become a sociable cat
Socialising your kitten
You'll want your kitten to grow up into a cat who gets on
well with people and becomes a friend and companion. To achieve
this, you need to bear in mind that cats have a very short
socialisation phase. So the first four to 16 weeks of her life
is a critical time for behavioural and social development.
Your kitten's early experiences
Before your kitten comes to live with you, she will have
been interacting with her mum, her littermates and people.
Kittens need to get used to being handled by people very
early on, preferably several people so they don't just learn to
accept a single carer. They also need to become accustomed to
the sights, smells and sounds of everyday life.
Keeping up the good work
Your kitten will probably move into your home when she's
about eight to 12 weeks of age. Assuming she's already had lots
of human contact, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to
reinforce all the good work and help her grow into a friendly,
happy, confident cat.
When your kitten first arrives home with you, remember it
can all be a bit overwhelming for her. So take her to a quiet,
safe place and show her where her
food and
litter trays are. Give her lots of love and
reassurance and pet her gently, talking to her in a soft, calm
voice.
Playing is also an enjoyable and effective way for you to
bond, and your kitten will soon want to join in.
Kids and kittens
Your kitten should be socialised with
children as early as possible as she may reject or
bite them later if she hasn't become used to them early on.
If you have children, they will naturally be very excited
about the arrival of a new kitten. Make sure they learn that
your kitten is not a toy and must be treated carefully.
Play time must end when the kitten's had
enough. It's also a good idea to warn the children that she may
scratch or play bite.
People outside the family
It's a good idea to introduce your young kitten to as many
people as possible. That way, you're likely to avoid her
developing a fear of strangers in later life.
Your kitten and other pets
Of course, it may not only be humans your kitten has to
socialise with. If you have other pets, she'll have to get used
to them too. A large mesh pen can be very useful when
introducing your kitten to a resident cat
or dog. That way, your kitten will feel safe as the
'getting to know you' process takes place. Don't rush this and
don't leave your kitten alone with another cat or a dog until
you are entirely confident they're safe together.
Kitten separation anxiety
OK, the good news is you've done a great job raising your
kitten to get on well with people. The bad news is, she's now
so attached to you, she won't like it when you go out.
Separation anxiety, previously only recognised in dogs, is
now acknowledged to occur in cats.
Signs that your kitten may be suffering from separation
anxiety are if she seems stressed by you going out. She could
be excessively vocal perhaps or soil the house in your
absence.
Tips on dealing with separation anxiety include limiting the
time you leave your kitten alone as much as you possibly can
and trying not to make a big 'production' out of leaving the
house (the 10 minute 'hunt for your keys routine' won't help!).
If your kitten does
soil the house, don't punish her. Cats don't
understand punishment and, since her behaviour is a result of
stress, you'll actually be making the problem worse.
Your vet can offer you further advice.