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Socialisation For Kittens
Most people don’t consider cats to be social creatures. But even if you don’t have plans for your cat to be a social butterfly, socialisation is still an important part of their development process. While your kitten is still young, their brain and sensory system is still developing so the sooner you start exposing them to everyday life and being handled, the better and less stressful it will be for them in the long run.
Key Socialisation Tips
Slow And Steady
Allow your kitten to socialise and explore their surrounds at their own pace. Never force your kitten into situations they are not ready for or bombard them with too many new things at once! If there are other pets or people in your household, give your kitten a couple of days to feel comfortable in a dedicated space before introducing them. This also gives your other pets a chance to get used to your kitten’s scent.
Calmly introduce each member of the household one at a time. Allow other pets to first meet through a baby gate and instruct adults and kits to sit quietly with your kitten wait for it to approach them.
Handling
Throughout its life, your cat will need to be handled for various reasons. So, it’s a good idea to get them used to being touched and carried at an early age. Especially between their paws, their ears, tail, and mouth.
Avoid sudden movements and grabbing your kitten unexpectedly. Especially if they are trying to hide, never force them out of a space. Instead encourage them to interact with you or come out of hiding with some treats or toys. If you have kids, ensure that every interaction is supervised and teach your kids from the start not to grab your kitten and to stroke them gently instead of patting them.
Car Travel
While dogs enjoy going to new places, most cats are creatures of habit and prefer to stay where they are comfortable. Regardless, it’s important to get your cat used to car travel. Afterall, at some point they may need to travel to see a vet, a groomer or you may need to relocate.
Invest in a carrier that has enough space for your cat to rest in without being too cramped. Then determine a safe and secure spot in your car to place the carrier. Get your kitten used to car travel by going for a few short drives around the neighbourhood. Afterall, practise makes perfect!
If your kitten is feeling a bit anxious about car travel, give them a comforting blanket, your t-shirt or toy that reminds them of home. You can also give them some calming treats.
Socialisation Checklist
Here are some things and scenarios you should aim to introduce your kitten to while they are still young.
- People of different ages, backgrounds, and sizes
- Handling by you and different people
- Different sounds and level of sounds (think thunder, construction, airplanes, TV, vacuums, the radio, etc)
- Different types of food and litter textures. After all, you may one day need to switch to a different brand!
- Various surfaces – grass, slippery floors, stairs, rubber, wobbly surfaces, mud, sand, carpet, etc.
- Other types of pets
- Types of accessories and toys – collars, harnesses, noise making toys, feathers, etc
- Getting wet and feeling wind
- Going to the vet. Aim for a few fun visits where you just let your kitten take in their surroundings. Offer them some treats and then leave.
Feeling extra social? Bring your kitten for a trip to your local PetO store! We love meeting and making new feline friends. Our stores have lots of wide aisles and open spaces, so you’ll be able to find a spot that won’t be too overwhelming for your kitten.
