Tips for Socialising Your Kitten with People & Other Pets

You'll want your kitten to become a cat that relates well to people and is 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 life are a critical time for behavioural and social development.

Your kitten's early experiences

Before your kitten comes to live with you, they will have been interacting with their mother, the other kittens in the litter and probably several different people.

Be wary of choosing a kitten that has had little human contact, such as a kitten that has been raised in a shed or pen far from the house. Kittens need to get used to being handled by people very early on, preferably by several people so they don't just learn to accept a single caregiver. They also need to become accustomed to the sights, smells and sounds of everyday life.

Your kitten will probably move into your home at about eight to 12 weeks of age. Assuming they already had lots of human contact, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to reinforce all the good work and help them grow into a friendly, happy, confident cat.

When your kitten first arrives home with you, remember it can all be a bit overwhelming. Take your kitten to a quiet, safe place and show them where food bowls, water bowls and litter boxes are. Give lots of love and reassurance and pet gently, talking in a soft, calm voice. Playing is also a great way to socialise your kitten and form a bond early on in your relationship.

Kids and kittens

Your kitten should be socialised with children as early as possible, as they may reject or bite children later if they haven't become used to them early on.

If you have children, they will naturally be very excited about the arrival of a new kitten. Your job is to teach them that your kitten is not a toy and must be treated carefully. Play time must end when the kitten has had enough. It's also a good idea to warn the children that they kitten may scratch or play-bite.

Your kitten and other people

People come in all different shapes and sizes and your kitten should have the opportunity to encounter them all. Get them used to strangers but be careful that they don't scare or overwhelm with a strong show of affection.

It's a good idea to introduce your young kitten to as many people as possible. That way, you're likely to avoid them developing a fear of strangers in later life.