This is especially true when your kitten's playmate is a young child. Kittens should only be handle in the first couple of weeks when necessary to check their health and weight etc. Feral cats tend to bond with one human so they best adjust to a new home if they are socialized … They will open eventually, but not for a week or two (Between 7 to 14 days approximately). In these cases, your veterinarian will be the best source of advice. Continue to handle and play with the kittens through the seventh week. After that, then handling the kitten on a daily basis is a good idea. Socializing the kittens to ready them to be pets requires some assistance from you. Occasionally, a kitten has an illness that makes getting to the box in time impossible. Immediately after a meal, place your kitten in the box.
“Watch them and be in-tune with them.” Respect their Space. Never pick up a cat with both hands by the midsection without supporting the hind legs. They spend 90 percent of their time sleeping and the other 10 percent eating. This behavior is natural to kittens and is not a sign of hostility or fear (most of the time), but if left unchecked, it can become a serious problem.
Jealous cats sometimes chew on random household objects, for example. Just like you would never try to handle a raccoon, you should never try to pick up a feral cat. This is the prime socialization period for cats.
Dear Kay: Kittens are very playful, but some kittens get overexcited and bite and scratch during play. As soon as you can, it's important to handle kittens so that they bond with you. for protection, warmth, and nutrition. After that, your veterinarian can set her up on an adult vaccination schedule. Learn how to handle kittens in this free pet care video clip from a … Call for assistance from the humane society or other animal welfare center.
The kittens also learn various behaviors from their mother and each other. However, feral kittens -- especially those less than 8 weeks old -- often can be socialized. Imagine yourself faced with a 50-foot-tall giant and then you can start to understand a cat’s perspective.
How to Approach a Cat When approaching your cat, it is best to let him make the first move and approach you. Kitten Teething: 5 Tips to Stop Kitten Biting. Occasionally, neutered males and even females also spray. If you do handle them, be sure to either wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly before and after. This will upset most cats and leave their back paws free to scratch you.
On the other hand, if a stray cat is friendly and seemingly healthy, has a collar, or can be scanned for a microchip, consider reuniting the cat with its owner.
It is very important that they socialize with other humans. Kittens love to play, but when they become overexcited they often scratch and bite.
As a general rule, you should handle kittens under 4 weeks of age, only under the mother cat’s supervision.