Socializing Kittens

Proper Socialization, the Best Gift You Can Give Your Feline Friend

© Darlene Cheek

Lily, Tortoiseshell Persian Kitten, D Cheek, TN Persians

There are things that all kittens need in order to be properly socialized, including plenty of human interaction and lots of things to play with.

Kittens are just like children. They learn from you and by playing and exploring. Many of our parents use to say, “Don’t handle the kittens or you will make them sick.” We’ve heard that mother cats will abandon a litter if you touch her babies. So we’re afraid to even touch a kitten, and we aren’t sure how to handle situations where kittens are raised underfoot, especially when there are other cats or young children in the house.

Research shows that kittens who are handled every day for the first month of their lives are not only friendlier cats, but also learn faster and accept new situations easier. Socializing your kittens properly is really the best thing that you can do for them. A well-socialized kitten will be a happy and emotionally healthy cat.

Things you can do to help socialize kittens:

Things you should avoid when socializing kittens:

Remember that kittens that are raised underfoot as members of your family will be much more confident, happy, and social kitties as adults. Don’t be afraid to handle them, cuddle them, and kiss their little faces a thousand times a day if you want!

You might also enjoy, "Raising Kittens," or "Where to Find a New Cat or Kitten."

If you have any kitten questions, join us in the discussion area for "Kitten Question and Answer."


The copyright of the article Socializing Kittens in Cat Training is owned by Darlene Cheek. Permission to republish Socializing Kittens must be granted by the author in writing.


Lily, Tortoiseshell Persian Kitten, D Cheek, TN Persians
       


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