Importance of new kitten introductions
Your best friend’s personality is really blossoming right now, and it’s up to you to make sure that your kitten's personality is built on positive kittenhood experiences. Your kitten has already gone through a socialization period from 2 to 7 weeks of age. But socialization hasn’t ended!
Your kitten is feeling very social right now and may fearlessly approach new people and experiences! You may notice, usually after around 3 months of age, that your kitten is more hesitant to approach unfamiliar people or places. By providing safe, controlled exposures to other people, animals and experiences, you help your kitten avoid the development of fearful behavior.
How to introduce your kitten to new people
Introduce your kitten to diverse types of people. This should include different ages, races, sexes, clothing styles and more. Has your kitten ever seen someone with a hat on, a person wearing glasses, someone who uses a cane or a person in a wheelchair? Taking your kitten out and about will help them meet all kinds of people.
How to introduce your kitten to other animals
We especially recommend exposing your kitten to other cats and dogs. Choose calm, cat-safe dogs to introduce your kitten to canine friends. Plan ahead to make new kitten introductions easier and reduce stress.If your kitten will be around horses or other animals regularly, this is a good time for your cat to meet them as well.
How to introduce your kitten to physical contact and grooming
Get your kitten used to physical contact.
This should include having their paws touched, their lips pulled up and their ears touched. Pet their bellies. Touch their tails. This will be tremendously helpful to your veterinarian during medical exams and will help you with things like brushing their teeth, trimming their nails and medicating ears. Although we don’t want you to routinely disturb their rest, consider also touching them while they’re sleeping.
Start nail trims early.
Fear of the nail trimmer is common. Start your kitten young! Ask your VCA care team to show you how to trim your kitten’s nails.
Acquaint your kitten with bath time.
Most adult cats don’t regularly get baths. However, if an adult cat develops a specific medical condition like a skin infection or gets into something particularly stinky, a bath may be necessary. You can try to gently bathe your kitten with cat-safe soap. If your kitten seems overwhelmed, stop the bath and let them relax.
How to introduce your kitten to litter boxes and carriers
When you first bring your kitten home, keep them in the room that will house their litter box. Your kitten should remain in the room with the litter box until they’ve used it. Most kittens will take to litter box training relatively easily and your primary job is to make sure they know where it’s at and that you’re keeping it clean.
Leave your cat carrier out in a common area. Consider placing a comfortable blanket in the carrier and occasionally giving your kitten treats or feeding them within the carrier. This will help prevent fear of the cat carrier or crate when traveling to meet new friends (including the veterinarian).
How to introduce your kitten to new places and experiences
Aim to take your kitten to new places, such as a friend’s house, at least twice a week.
This will help decrease fear of traveling, fear of new places and fear of new situations. Ask your VCA care team for recommendations on safe, low-stress places to take your kitten.
Expose your kitten to a variety of noises.
Play TV shows. Play music. Run the vacuum. Start the dishwasher. Open the windows so they can hear the outdoors. It’s okay if you aren’t able to safely expose your kitten to all potential sources of noise fear (think loud, close fireworks). Consider avoiding loud noises such as fireworks when possible if you’re in a period where your kitten is responding fearfully to new stimuli.
Regularly present novel objects to your kitten.
New toys, new types of food bowls, sweaters for kittens and more. Teach your kitten that new objects in the environment are safe and not scary! This is also a good time to try to get your cat used to a leash and harness if you plan to use them in the future.
Consider exposure to novel textures/surfaces.
Carpets, hard floors, grass, woodchips, pavement, stairs… you want your kitten to be exposed to as many as possible!
How to prevent kitten food aggression
A quick note on food! Some cats are defensive of food. Ways you can prevent your kitten from developing food aggression include:
- Not feeding your pets from a communal pan or bowl
- Feeding them in proximity to people
- Feeding them in proximity to other animals who will not steal your kitten’s food or act aggressively toward them while they’re eating
- Hand-feeding them yourself
- Having visitors hand-feed them
- Periodically put your hand in the bowl while your kitten is eating, occasionally leaving behind an extra tasty treat
If you notice behavioral issues in your kitten, contact your VCA care team. Now is a great time to try to reverse these behaviors before they become a part of your cat’s adult behaviors.
Already notice fears in your kitten? Learn more about identifying triggers and ways to address fears and phobias in cats.
