The arrival of a new member to the family is always a reason for joy, however, before adopting a kitten we must bear in mind that it needs some care and learning time. Among other things, we have to dedicate time to get him to socialize correctly so that he grows up balanced and happy. The socialization of a cat consists of developing the animal's confidence so that it gets used to the presence and relationship with other people and animals, without being frightened or uncomfortable.
A well socialized cat will grow up happier and will probably be more affectionate, affectionate and polite. That's why in this article on our site we want to teach you how to socialize a puppy cat and that the relationship with your new companion develops properly.
What is cat socialization?
We understand as socialization period in cats a stage that includes from the second to the seventh week of life. At this time, the recognition of friendly species occurs, therefore, it must relate to all kinds of people, such as children, adults and the elderly, but also animals with those who will live together and different types of objects or environments.
What can happen if you don't socialize your cat?
A cat that experiences poor or no socialization can lead to showing negative attitudes and the appearance of behavioral problems that will be difficult to work on in his adult stage. A kitten that has not been properly socialized may be skittish, insecure or aggressive in certain situations. That is why it is so important that you know how to socialize a puppy cat from the moment it arrives at your house, in this way you will avoid the development of behavioral problems and coexistence at home will be more pleasant and peaceful.
Socializing with people
Depending on where the kitten was born, it may already have had contact with other people, in which case it will be easier for you to socialize with strangers. It will be advisable to prepare a space of your own where you feel safe and can go if you are stressed. The trundle beds are ideal for this. The first few days we will respect his space, however, we will try to play with him, caress him and talk to him in a soft and calm voice. The goal is to bond with him through positive reinforcement.
It is also important that get used to the presence of strangers, so you can ask your friends and family to visit you for the cat to get used to. He may be reluctant at first to be touched, but give him time, when he gains confidence he will approach on his own. It's important that you don't force himto have contact if he doesn't want to, as it can be counterproductive and we would get the opposite effect to what we want to get. It is best to entice him using kind words, various toys or treats.
When dealing with children it is important that you make it clear that it is not a toy and that you have to be patient. Children will want to play with it and hug it endlessly, but they have to follow the same steps as adults. They should let the cat come to them by itself and take care that the children play gently so as not to hurt it, otherwise they could cause the appearance of fears and even phobias
Socialization with other animals
If we have adopted the kitten at an optimal age, between the third and sixth week of life, it is most likely that he has socialized correctly with his mother and siblings. In this case, you will know how to recognize the body language of cats and what are the limits of the game between felines, among many other details. Separating him early can cause serious deficiencies in socialization.
Therefore, if we want him to continue living with other cats, then we must introduce him to the other felines in the household. If he is a little insecure or shy we can use a carrier with blankets for the introduction between two cats, in this way he will feel more relaxed and can hide if he wishes. We will reinforce the approaches and calm behaviors between both with kind words.
If you want to associate him with a dogs follow the same steps, although the introduction between dog and cat can be more complicated, due to the abruptness that some dogs can have, even if it is as a game, it can scare the little one. We will be very patient and in the same way we will reinforce the approaches and calm behavior of both with pleasant words.
Is it possible to socialize an adult cat?
It is important to note that the socialization of an adult cat is much more complicated than that of puppies, in fact, in some cases it is very difficult to work with, which is why it is so important to pay attention to this process when the kitten is still in her sensitive period. In the event of experiencing problems relating a cat to another individual, it will be essential to do so in the hands of a professional, such as a veterinarian specialized in ethology
