Natural Kitten Socialization

Natural kitten socialization is vitally important to kittens growing into healthy, happy members of your family. Kittens must be exposed to human beings-women, men, children-their sounds and smells, as well as other animals. Noises such as the television, the vacuum cleaner and radio help acclimate the kitten to normal life in your household. Taking the kitten to different areas of your home and for short rides in the car, builds their confidence in exploring their world and being comfortable within it.

The period of 2 to 8 weeks age is critical for socialization. When I adopted my Siamese cat, Bean, from a breeder, she allowed me to come and visit at 2 weeks. The mother cat was calm and allowed me to handle her little kitten, accepting him back into the fold after I caressed and pet him. By the time I picked him up at age eight weeks, I'd been to visit on three different occasions. My new addition was comfortable with me by this time and had no trouble adapting. He quickly acclimated to my apartment, which had been kitten-proofed, and I'd come home for lunch to check on him and spend time with him. I also had an active social life with many friends who were eager to meet my kitten. My cat, then, grew up to be quite the social butterfly-by cat standards. Bean would greet those entering our home and then go from person to person as if mingling. Though Bean is now 12 years old and we've since moved into a home with a family, he is still the most social of my cats.

I took in three other cats over the years, all of them foundlings, with varying degrees of socialization when they became part of my family. Biscuit, a tuxedo female, hid under a love seat for the first two days, largely due to Bean peering at her and hissing. When she finally decided he was a lot of hot air, she came directly to my room one night, jumped up on my bed and began "kneading" my pillow with her front paws-hence her name, Biscuit. She has adapted very well, and while not as socially out-going as Bean, she's a very pleasant presence in the house. Oliver and Spooky were taken in "off the street" so to speak, and while being isolated for health concerns, they each adjusted to the others from under a closed door. Yes, there were spats and territorial assertions, but no blood-good enough for me. Now, after living together for several years, they sleep in piles within their baskets, a reasonably contented clan.

When bringing a kitten into your life, make certain that if young children are part of your household, they are supervised with the kitten at all times. What a child interprets as "play" can be too rough or threatening for the kitten and the child may find herself bitten or scratched. This experience is not only traumatic for the child, but is a negative socialization experience for your kitten, making her skiddish in general or overly fearful of children.

If your kitten is a stray, isolate your kitten from other pets until you've had the opportunity to take the kitten to the vet for a check-up and the necessary vaccines. Disease spreads easily among cats and to insure everyone's health, the proper precautions must be taken.

Play time is another great opportunity to socialize your kitten and keep her stimulated through her adult years. Cats love the simplest of toys-often household items that you may want to recycle in the traditional sense (think toilet paper roll or paper grocery bag...) My cats love the plastic ring that seals caps on plastic gallon jugs of juice or milk. My Siamese loves the dangling feather attached to a fishing-pole type device. Look for things your cat is naturally attracted to and if these objects are safe, make a game of them with your cat. If you're creatively inclined, you can sew felt shapes and stuff with organic catnip (if you have a green thumb, grow your own!) Whatever you choose, it's important for your family to interact with your cat in positive, affectionate ways that will serve to deepen your relationship over the years.

While on the subject of fun things for your kitten, check out this link for fun things for you, the cat lover!

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