Cats are often perceived to be easy pets that require little human guidance in day to day life, but to turn into a well-balanced adult cat, kittens need to be properly socialised. Shaping the socialisation experiences correctly is important for a proper socialisation process, and in this article, we will have a closer look at what socialisation is, and what a proper socialisation experience looks like.
Kitten Socialisation, The Prime Period
Kittens are born blind and deaf, and around day 10 to 14, their ears and eyes slowly start to open up. With them being able to perceive new stimuli, the prime period for socialisation starts. This is a period in which kittens are extremely open to learning, and you can get them used to almost everything. Socialisation is extremely important for kittens, as it teaches them to be comfortable around everyday stimuli, and teaches them to remain confident in new situations. It gives them the opportunity to grow up into a happy, healthy, and well-balanced adult cat. And it will play a big role in how your cat will react to other (unfamiliar) animals and humans.
Professional opinions on when this prime period ends vary, but it’s believed to be around 10 to 16 weeks of age. However, this doesn’t mean that cats can’t be socialised later in life, nor does it mean that cats stop learning and socialising after the prime period ends. Cats will deal with loads of new situations in their first year of life. However, the process of getting them used to new stimuli may take more time and can be more troublesome.
To properly develop behaviourally and physically, kittens should stay with their mother and littermates until 12 to 13 weeks of age, with the absolute bare minimum being 8 weeks of age. Sometimes, a kitten may not be in their prime period for socialisation anymore when they come into your care, and, ideally, the previous address your kitten stayed at has invested time into socialising your kitten. No matter the age of the kitten, the socialisation process can be started as soon as they are home with you and settled in.
Genetics
While socialisation is an important part of the development of your kitten, research in mammals currently indicates that behaviour also partially depends on genetics, and the status of the mother cat during and after pregnancy. A stressed mother cat, that has increased stress hormones, can pass these on to the kittens through the placenta, which may affect the kittens brains and endocrine system.
How to socialise your kitten
When it comes to socialising your kitten, you need to gently and gradually build positive associations with everyday stimuli, such as human interaction. It’s important that these experiences are introduced gradually to prevent your kitten from becoming overwhelmed and the experience turning negative. By exposing your kitten to different experiences and ensuring they turn out positive, they will learn that they are non-threatening. On the flip side, if experiences turn out negative, or if they have no experiences at all, a kitten might become fearful of these situations, which can last into adulthood. Especially for cats that are a bit older, the process of socialisation might take longer and patience is required.
Common experiences and stimuli to socialise your kitten with
- Human interaction with different types of people, including children, males and females.
- Interaction with different types of pets, such as other cats & dogs.
- Handling, which includes routine checks and care of the body such as looking in the ears, touching all parts of the body, brushing the fur, and looking in the mouth, and dental care routines.
- Different sounds such as fireworks and the vacuum cleaner.
- Different toys
If your kitten shows any signs of fear and/or stress during a socialisation experience, remove them from the situation (or remove it form them) and give them a break before making another attempt.
Socialising an Older Cat
Socialising an older cat is not impossible, but it will take patience. To get an older cat used to human interaction keep the following points in mind.
- Use play as it helps build confidence. Many cats love games that involve chasing ‘prey”.
- Cats love routine. Knowing what to expect and when will make them feel more secure.
- Chat with your cat to get them accustomed to your voice and make sure they can see your eyes. Slow blinks will show the cat you are not a threat.
- Once the cat is comfortable around you, you can slowly try to introduce physical touch. Short strokes can be tried when they are eating. Keep physical interaction brief until the cat is comfortable being touched.
Conclusion
Socialisation is important for your kitten so they can grow into a happy, healthy, and well-balanced adult cat, and it will play a big role in how your cat will react to other animals and humans. While the prime period for socialisation falls within the first weeks of a cat’s life, they can still be socialised later on, albeit the process may be harder. Socialisation experiences should be gentle, gradual, and positive.
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