Kittens do not stay young for long and the correct care in the early weeks and months can help them behave in away that is best suited to you and your home, leading to a lasting relationship.
Your kitten learns what is normal and safe during a very sensitive period
of development that occurs between twoand eight weeks of age – the so-called ‘socialisation period’. During this
time, kittens’ brains and sensory systems are still developing, and the things
they see, hear, touch, smell and taste affect how this development occurs. This
allows young cats to quickly understand what is normal about their world and
what they should avoid.
Socialisation and getting used to the home environment
The greater the variety of positive experiences kittens have between two
and eight weeks of age – such as different sights, sounds and smells – the more
likely they are to be able to adapt to whatever life throws at them in the
future.
Kittens which have not been exposed to positive, new experiences during this sensitive period are
more likely to bescared of novelty later in life. Cats born without exposure to people
cannot usually be tamed and will remain scared of people throughout their lives, becoming feral cats.
This is why it is important for kittens to be socialised before eight weeks
of age. Examples of socialisation include meeting different types of people
from babies to adults, being gently touched and handled, and getting used to
hearing different sounds – such as the noise of the washing machine and vacuum cleaner
– while ensuring the kittens find these experiences enjoyable rather than
threatening.
Kittens exposed to unrelated, non-aggressive cats while they are very young
are more likely to be able to cope with thepresence of other cats as adults. Likewise, kittens are more likely to form
positive associations with dogs if they have positive interactions with dogs during the socialisation period.
However, most kittens do not stay in the home in which they are born and
are acquired by their owners when they are aged eight weeks or over. This means
they are approaching the end of this ‘window of opportunity’ to learn what is
normal about their world. When choosing a kitten, try to find out how well socialised
it is, so that you can choose a kitten most likely to adapt to your home.
When kittens over eight weeks of age are introduced to new experiences, it
is important to go at a slow pace. Providingthem with a quiet, dedicated room and allowing them to explore at their own
pace will help them to build confidenceand reduce the risk of anxiety and behavioural problems. Patience at the
start will reap rewards later.
Encouraging appropriate play
A common reason for cats showing aggression towards people is due to
learning at a young age that this is a good way of interacting. During normal
development, kittens start to play with each other at four weeks old, as a way
of practisinghunting. Between five to six weeks of age, kittens will show hiding and
searching behaviours that are either directed at
another kitten or an object in their environment.
Direct object play starts a little later and is particularly noticeable
between seven and eight weeks of age. To start with, kittens play with all
sorts of objects, but as they develop, mothers provide opportunities to direct
their kittens’ behaviour towards appropriate prey items. Object play helps kittens
to develop their balance and eye-paw co-ordination.
Social play, including chasing behaviour, continues until it peaks at
approximately 12 to 14 weeks.
In the home environment, people often make the mistake of playing with kittens with their fingers or by moving their feet around under the duvet. Although this may be fun with a young kitten, it can start to direct play or predatory behaviours towards the owner, which may be painful as the kitten becomes an adult cat.
Often this type of predatory aggression appears as ‘ambushing’ where the
cat lies in wait, ready to attack as soon as someone walks by. To avoid this,
don’t encourage your kitten to play with your hair, fingers or toes. If they try
to pounce on them, keep perfectly still, so there is nothing exciting for them
to chase.
Cats showing this type of behaviour may be showing boredom. They should be
provided with suitable toys to attack as this provides great mental stimulation
and physical exercise. Time should be spent playing with the kitten or cat but the
games should be distant from the body – for example, using ‘fishing rod’ type toys
and ping pong balls. Rotate the toys often to keep the games interesting. Remember
never to leave your kitten or cat unsupervised with toys which might beshredded or eaten, or cause entanglement, and check toys regularly for
signs of wear, replacing when appropriate.
No comments