Socializing Your Kitten

What makes some cats friendly, calm and cooperative while others are more likely to run and hide---or hiss and swat--- when confronted with new people or situations? While these differences are influenced in part by genes, they're also influenced by experiences, and especially by early experiences. The process of exposing a kitten to the experiences he'll encounter later in life is called socialization, and while socialization is accepted as an essential part of raising a puppy, it's too often ignored when it comes to raising a kitten. After all, unlike dogs, cats are inherently solitary animals. 

But you want your cat to live as part of your family, so that's why socialization is so important. A well socialized cat is a pleasure to groom, travel with, take to the veterinarian, and show off to visitors. Socialization is fun. It involves exposing your cat to new people and experiences while he's still a young kitten. It also involves introducing him to the concept of training.

Once cats learn to do one thing on command, it makes it easier for them to learn other things. And the best time to teach the first command is when he is very young. The best time to teach your cat various games is also when he's very young.
An important part of socialization is introducing your cat to grooming. Gently brush him, giving him treats and petting him as you do. Examine his ears, open his mouth, hold his feet, extend his claws, and feel his body all over. 

He should also be exposed to being placed in a crate and traveling while young. You will need to drive your cat to the veterinarian throughout his life, and you may need to evacuate or want to travel with him---it helps if he can ride contentedly in his secure crate. Wait until he is hungry or sleepy before putting him inside, and give him a special treat once inside. Only when he is comfortable in the crate should you place the crate in the car and practice driving around the block. 

During the first few weeks of a kitten's life, he should be handled daily, with progressively more cuddling and playing as he gets older. Pick him up and gently stroke him while speaking softly to him for at least five minutes a day. Practice holding him in your lap and while walking around the room. Place him on a table and gently stroke and examine him. Gradually examine more and more of him on successive days. During this time your kitten will be bonding with you and learning that people are part of his family, as well as learning that being examined is no big deal. Special care should be taken not to play roughly with him. 

As he gets older, he'll want to play more. Use toys rather than your hands as play objects. Otherwise he will grow into a cat who bites and scratches at your hands in play, leaving your hands bloody. Playing is important for furthering the bond between you and your kitten as well as for increasing your kitten's self confidence. 

You'll also want to expose him to new people. Have one or two friends come over and gently hold and play with him several times a week. They can offer him special treats so he comes to associate them with good things. Don't let him be overwhelmed by a room full of people, or by overly raucous or attentive children. Always supervise children so they don't chase or frighten the kitten. If a baby is in your future, you may wish to play tapes of babies crying, or even introduce him to a baby doll or a friend's baby. 

If a dog may be in your future, find a cat-friendly dog and have his owner bring him to your house. Keep the dog on leash (and muzzled, if you have any doubts about his friendliness) and don't allow him to chase your kitten. No matter how friendly the dog, it's best to keep them separated because a large dog could injure a kitten with a playful pounce. 

Feral kittens may require special socialization, beginning with separating them from other feral cats and even each other. You want them to be completely focused on you rather than their littermates. Don't let a feral kitten loose in the house, where he can run and hide. Instead, keep him confined in a cage or other small space where he can't run from you. The cage should be near a part of the house where the kitten can see and hear people. When you're not home, turn on a television so he can hear human voices. 

Offer him food several times a day so he associates you with good things. Gently stroke him, approaching him from behind and rubbing his head, ears and chin. Most feral kittens will be afraid of being picked up and may scratch trying to escape. If you wrap him in a towel you won't get scratched and you won't drop him if he does scratch you. Don't push the issue; hold him for only a short time at first, gradually increasing. Holding him on your lap when he is sleeping is sometimes helpful. 

When it comes to socialization, it’s the quality, not quantity, that counts. Good intentions can too often lead to bad results if you overwhelm your kitten. You need to introduce new experiences gradually, never pushing your kitten past the point that he’s scared. Fear is easy to learn but hard to unlearn. Don't stop socializing just because your cat is no longer a kitten. He never stops learning---although it's true that he'll never again learn at the rate he's learning now.