There are so many things to learn for a kitten taking their first steps into their new home. Discovering it all by themselves can be scary, but you can do a lot to help them learn the ropes of their new life. These are the basics of kitten socialisation and habituation.
While bringing your kitten home is an exciting time for you, you have to remember that for your tiny kitten, everything has changed. Up until now they have been with their mother and their littermates in a familiar predictable environment, and suddenly there are on their own in a strange place and with strange people.
While their crucial socialisation period – between 2-7 weeks - will already have passed, they now have to transfer the life skills they have learnt onto their new family and their new environment – and discover what their new life holds.
All of this can be overwhelming when you get a new kitten, as they arrive in your house and everything is new to them. Find out how to help turn your shy ball of fur into a confident and happy adult cat and help your kitten learn the skills they will need in their new home.
What is kitten socialisation?
There are two parts to what is often just called socialisation. One is to get used to people, handling and being friendly. This is the social part. The other part is habituation – where they need to get used to all the things that their new life brings – this includes all the sights, sounds, scents and experiences that they encounter in their day-to-day life. This is called habituation.
All animals have a period at the start of their life where they are accepting of new things and look on them as just being part of their life. After this time, new things are treated with suspicion or even fear.
Kitten socialisation is the period early on in a cat’s life when they can start to learn who is in their social group and what is safe in their environment by getting familiar with people and household stimuli. Exposure to new things from the beginning is important for cat socialisation but it is important that this all happens in a kitten’s own time so as not to overwhelm them and make these new experiences scary.
When should you teach kitten socialisation?
The crucial socialisation period for kittens is between 2-7 weeks of age with habituation extending up to 9 weeks. Kittens of this age are like a sponge for new information, especially in their early days, which means there will never be a better time for a kitten to learn the ropes of life in general, and being social, friendly and trusting of people.
It is very possible that by the time you get to meet your new kitten the socialisation period has long passed. In this case it’s at the breeder’s house where they will have learned (or not) the first things about people and what role they play in a cat’s life and will have also become familiar with household sights, sounds, smells and experiences.
When you bring your kitten home, they now need to transfer these early skills into their new home – and to their new family.
It’s important to check with the breeder to find out what socialisation has been done – especially regarding handling, how many people your kitten has met, how friendly and affectionate they are, and of course if there is anything they have been struggling with. You need to know how best to support your new arrival as they settle into their family.
Although the first weeks are essential, don’t forget that your kitten is likely to deal with new things long after their first birthday. Cat socialisation doesn’t stop after the 10-week marker but a kitten who has been well socialised and habituated is likely to be far calmer and more accepting of novelty throughout their life.
How to Socialise a Kitten in their New Home: Step-by-Step Tips
Chances are that when you first welcome the new kitten into your home they will be overwhelmed at suddenly being in a new place and with strange people. While your first instinct might be to lift the ball of fur up and comfort them, but this might actually make matters worse as they don’t know you and they can find this close contact scary.
Here are some useful tips for introducing your kitten to their new life in a stress-free way.
A Sanctuary room.
Set aside one quiet room for your new kitten’s first few days. This ‘sanctuary’ room should contain everything they need including food, water, a litter tray, hiding spots and places to settle comfortably, and toys. This room will help them get used to the noises, smells and sounds of their new home and give them a chance to settle and feel safe without overwhelming them.
Keep everyone calm
While everyone will be excited to meet the new arrival, keep all interactions in the first few days low key and down to one or two people at a time. This should be about nothing more than sitting on the floor and letting the kitten interact as much or as little as they want. Some are really bold and will want to climb all over you while others will hide away. Others will be somewhere in-between and will enjoy your company and even being close to you but aren’t ready for your touch.
Exploring their new home
Once they are confident in their room, then it’s time to explore their new home and meet their human family. While this can be an exciting moment, if you have children (or excitable adults!) try to keep everyone calm. Before introducing your kitten to the home, everyone should sit still on the floor and agree one rule - only touch the kitten if the kitten comes to you.
No grabbing
All interactions with your kitten should be gentle and their idea. If you have children, there mustn’t be any grabbing, hugging, quick movements, or arguing between the kids, or it will frighten your cat. If the kitten tries to hide, let them and tell everyone to ignore them intil they are happy to come out themselves. You can encourage them with a treat or a toy but they need to know that they can hide if they need to.
Watch the kids
If you think you’re excited about your new kitten, just imagine how children feel! Meeting the kids is a big step for your kitten’s socialisation.
Make sure children know not to chase, grab, hug or try to pick up the kitten which can scare the kitten or just be unwelcome and have long lasting effects on their relationship.
Once the kitten is happy around the children and coming to them by choice, teach them how to stroke them. Toddlers often 'pat' rather than ‘stroke’, which can be uncomfortable or even painful for tiny kittens. Teach them where to stroke the kitten - the top of the head and along the back. Although tummies are irresistible when a kitten is rolling and playing, most are very sensitive about this area and are likely to scratch or bite. And remind the children that no matter how tempting, to leave kitty’s tail well alone – and never to pull it.
Offer some privacy
Although it can be tempting to watch a beautiful kitten sleep, they do need privacy to feel safe when asleep – especially in their early days. Make sure they have their own bed (or a choice of sleeping places) tucked away in a quiet spot. They might even choose a favourite spot themselves.
Make sure they’re left alone when they’re eating, going to the toilet or sleeping – and keep their litter tray away from toddlers. You certainly don’t want your children playing with anything they find in it!
Wash your hands after handling the kitten and encourage little ones to do the same.
Use a pheromone spray
It can be helpful for kitten socialisation and habituation to use plug-in synthetic pheromone diffusers. These mimic natural feline facial pheromones or the pheromones produced in mother-kitten relationships that signal safety and reduce stress. These will let your kitten know the area is safe and will help them to feel relaxed and peaceful. If using diffusers, distributing one or two throughout the house should be enough.
Establish a routine
Once your kitten’s found its confidence, they will soon be dashing around the house. Watch your step – they can appear suddenly from nowhere!
They’ll be up for plenty of play but will still need their naps, so give them a nice quiet spot where they can cuddle up without being disturbed.
It will help them settle in if you can stick to a routine, particularly with feeding, play and social contact.
Introducing a kitten to other pets
Kitten socialisation may also mean introducing the new kitten to other four-legged house mates. The secret to introducing your new kitten to other pets in the house is to take it slowly and plenty of patience. Never put them in a position where they could be chased or intimidated by other pets – and always ensure everyone has an escape route if needed.
Cats and dogs can learn to be friendly with one another, or at least live together without problems, but the same can’t be said of all pets. Keep pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, birds and reptiles away from your kitten at all times, as a cat can see them as prey.
If you’ve followed the kitten socialisation advice but are still having problems integrating your kitten into your home contact an accredited feline behaviourist for help.
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Purina Editorial Team
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