Just adopted a new kitten? Whether you adopted or rescued a kitten, the first thing you’d need to do is schedule a kitten exam, which helps shed light on their current health status and primary care needs.
After that, the next most important item on your to-do list is kitten socialization, which is a time-sensitive task for kittens since they have an optimum age for getting fully socialized—especially with people.
In this Sploot Vets guide on how to socialize a kitten, we cover effective techniques for raising your kitten to be social. This will benefit them greatly as they navigate life among people and other pets.
Overview:
- If kittens are not properly socialized, they may grow up to be generally more fearful and less cooperative when receiving care.
- Kittens have an optimum socialization window, which is at 3 to 12 weeks of age.
- Though kittens can be socialized with humans early, direct contact with other pets is best introduced after they’ve completed their kitten vaccinations (~16 to 20 weeks of age).
- It is possible to socialize feral kittens, given the right conditions. However, there are important precautions to take.
How To Tell If A Kitten Is Socialized
If you haven’t adopted a kitten yet and you’re thinking of adopting a kitten beyond 12 weeks of age or an adult cat, you may consider adopting a cat that is already socialized. This may be the easier option, especially for first-time adopters who have never socialized a kitten before.
It’s important to note that socialization in kittens is a spectrum—with some being fully socialized and others less. The more socialized a kitten is, the more they tend to:
- Seek attention from or approach people
- Enjoy human affection
- Be comfortable with being touched or handled
- Be happy with living indoors
What Happens If A Kitten Isn't Socialized?
Lack of socialization in kittens can be difficult to correct, especially if the kitten is older than 4 months or has had negative experiences with people in the past. If a kitten isn’t socialized, they would tend to:
- Run away or avoid people
- Be fearful when around people
- Tolerate little to no handling from people
- Only approach people when given food
- Be uncomfortable being indoors and try to escape
Which Kittens Can Be Socialized?
Young, Non-Feral Kittens—Easiest to Socialize
Non-feral kittens who are raised in close contact with people (and are around or less than 12 weeks old) are the easiest to socialize. These kittens tend to already have a degree of socialization to build on.
Older Non-Feral Kittens—Possible to Socialize
Though socializing an older kitten is possible, it may take more time (weeks or months)—as well as the involvement of a trainer or behaviorist.
Young Feral Kittens—Possible to Socialize
Feral kittens are the ones raised with minimal to no human interaction. If they are less than or around 12 weeks old, it may be possible to still fully socialize them—albeit with more effort and time required. Expert guidance may also be beneficial.
Older Feral Kittens—Difficult to Fully Socialize
Feral kittens may be especially difficult to socialize if they are beyond 4 months of age. Even with a lot of time, effort, and expert guidance, there is no guarantee that these kittens will be fully socialized or content with living indoors.
Important Note: We do NOT recommend rescuing feral kittens yourself. These kittens may be carrying feline parasites, ringworm, and other infections—posing risks to you and other house pets. In case of emergency, do NOT handle a feral kitten directly, and prioritize safe containment while calling a local organization, a no-kill shelter, or your vet for advice on the next steps.
I. How to Socialize a Kitten With Humans
- When: A day or two after adoption
- Prerequisite: Veterinary kitten exam and clearance from zoonotic parasites and infections (e.g. ringworm)
The first and most important aspect of kitten socialization is learning to be around people. This sets the foundation for routine cat care and grooming, calmer vet visits, less stress during pet boarding or cat sitting, and maybe even traveling with your cat later on.
Your kitten will grow up to be happier and healthier with proper socialization. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Cover The Basics of Kitten Care
A healthy cat is a happy cat. So, before anything else, make sure that your kitten gets primary care. This includes their first kitten exam (best done before or right after bringing them home) and kitten vaccinations. Your kitten would also need vet-recommended kitten food so that they feel right at home and get all the energy they need to grow and develop.
2. Allow Your Kitten to Settle In
After bringing your kitten home, allow them to settle in and get comfortable for the first 2 days. Establish a safe space for them—which can be a pen inside a kitten-proofed room or a spacious crate in a calm and comfortable part of the house, away from other pets.
In addition, get your kitten started on a predictable feeding schedule, as recommended by your vet for your kitten’s age.
3. Food: A Powerful Motivator for Kitten Socialization
For most pets, food is a love language. By giving your kitten vet-preferred AAFCO pet food on a structured schedule, you are slowly building trust. In addition, treats are an effective tool for positive reinforcement, which is a great way to build a bond with your kitten.
When taking steps on how to socialize a kitten, here’s how treats come into play:
- Rewarding good behavior—when your kitten shows a desirable behavior (e.g. being calm while handled, approaching when called), treats communicate to them that they did a good job. Over time, when the behavior is already established, treats can be slowly removed.
- Helping them face their fears—one part of kitten socialization is getting them accustomed to household noises or people’s voices. Treats are a powerful tool to reassure them that there’s no danger. When they remain calm, give them plenty of praise and treats. Over time, you can reduce treats or give them occasionally.
4. Mind Your Tone & Body Language
Speak to your kitten in a calm, reassuring voice. Though kittens may not understand your words, they may get startled by loud words or exclamations. Cats are also known to respond to their owner’s baby voice, showing that cats are sensitive to how people speak.
Body language is also important to consider. How you physically interact with your kitten can help them feel safe. Here are a few helpful tips:
- When approaching your kitten, go down to their level and make yourself seem smaller by sitting on the floor.
- When petting your kitten or picking them up, do so gently.
5. Get Your Kitten Accustomed to Being Held
Another key part of kitten socialization is getting your kitten accustomed to being held or carried. In emergency situations, this can save your cat’s life.
The first step is picking up your kitten properly and then creating a positive experience for them while being held. Follow these steps:
- Put one hand around your kitten’s chest and the other hand to support their hindquarters.
- Next, bring them close to your body so that they feel secure. Some kittens like to be securely held close to the chest where they can feel your heartbeat.
- If your kitten squirms, hold them for short periods of time and gradually hold them for longer durations,
- Use treats and reassurance when your kitten stays calm.
6. Kitten Socialization Through Playtime
After 3 weeks of age, kittens become increasingly playful, offering a great opportunity for socialization and bonding.
We recommend having at least 2-3 play sessions during the day, around 15 minutes each. Make sure to have some kitten-friendly toys so that you can help your tiny four-legged friend get the physical exercise, mental stimulation, and fun that they crave.
7. Boundaries: Teaching Your Kitten “No”
If your kitten is developing destructive behaviors, playing with things they shouldn’t, or biting you, it’s time to set boundaries. This is yet another key part of kitten socialization.
When your cat does an undesirable behavior, take the following steps:
- Say a firm “No.”
- Redirect their attention to something else. (Ensure that your kitten has other toys to play with and other surfaces to scratch.)
- When your cat interacts with the toy or stops the bad behavior, reward them with treats or praise.
8. Desensitization: Household Noises
Loud noises such as unfamiliar voices, music, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and so on can startle or scare kittens. To help them be fully comfortable in their new home, you can try desensitizing them to common household sounds.
Here’s how to do this in a controlled and supportive way:
- Find audio or videos of common household sounds.
- Make sure that your kitten is in a cozy environment where they can move freely but NOT run away and escape the house.
- Play the audio or video at a low volume.
- Provide treats, play, or affection while the sounds are playing.
- Gradually raise the sound level over days or weeks. Over time, your kitten will learn these sounds are nothing to worry about.
- Next, expose your kitten to real-life sounds.
- Provide treats, play, or affection. If they get agitated, go back to controlled audios and videos and repeat the process.
- Should you experience obstacles, feel free to consult your vet or reach out to a behaviorist.
9. Consider Early Training with Positive Reinforcement
In the same way that cats can be gradually accustomed to household noises through positive reinforcement, you can also get them used to other things—like their crate, bathing, nail clipping, and physical exams with the vet.
By getting them used to these, your kitten can be much easier to care for and groom. Moreover, they will experience less stress since some of these things are unavoidable Here are some key tips:
- Establish milestones so your kitten can progress gradually—For example, for bath training, the first milestone can be: ‘being comfortable in the tub’. For crate training, it can be: ‘approach the crate without fear.’
- Reward your kitten for each milestone—the objective is to assure them there’s nothing to fear.
- Know when to take a break—If your kitten shows distress, it’s best to try again at a later time or another day.
Note: Over time, your kitten will go through more milestones and they’ll be more comfortable with baths, crates, and so on.
II. How to Socialize a Kitten with Other Pets
- When: At 16 to 20 weeks of age—when the kitten vaccinations are fully administered
- Prerequisite: Veterinary kitten exam, a clean bill of health, and all prescribed cat vaccines (rabies, FVRCP, FelV).
- Which pets are safe?: Healthy pets with a safe temperament AND up-to-date vaccinations
Socializing a kitten with other cats and dogs is best done when the kitten is at least 16 to 20 weeks AND it has been at least 2 weeks after the kitten has had all their shots. This helps ensure that your kitten does not become sick after interacting with other pets.
Note: It’s important to note that certain common and transmissible viruses in cats (FHV-1, FCV, FeLV) are carried for life after infection. The best way to prevent these viruses is through prompt feline vaccination—and preventing exposure to adult cats prior to vaccination.
1. Assessing Safety for Kitten Socialization
Choose the pets that you’re going to introduce to your new kitten. If a pet is any of the following, we highly recommend consulting a pet behaviorist first:
- A pet with a history of aggression towards smaller animals
- Large pets with an excitable or reactive temperament
- Dogs with a high prey drive
- Ferrets that like to wrestle (this can accidentally hurt small kittens)
Finally, certain species are typically NOT safe around cats. These include prey species such as rodents, reptiles, and birds.
2. Scent Swaps & Gradual Introductions
After ensuring that a pet is safe to introduce to your kitten, you can try the following steps:
- Begin with scent-swapping by exchanging bedding or toys. This helps familiarize your pets with each other’s scent. Reward calm behavior.
- Next, allow your pets to see each other without direct contact—such as through a baby gate or a barrier.
- If you’re introducing your kitten to a dog, keep the dog leashed at all times.
- Supervise all interactions and reward calm behavior with treats or praise.
- Keep initial meetings brief. If your pet or the kitten shows signs of distress, try again another day.
Note: If you notice signs of aggression at any point, consult a pet behaviorist before continuing.
Final Thoughts on How to Socialize a Kitten
We trust you found this guide on how to socialize a kitten helpful. As a final reminder, we recommend choosing a Fear Free veterinary care provider for your kitten. This way, your kitten can experience vet visits positively—and this will further boost your kitten’s socialization progress.
In addition, we’d like to remind pet parents that bonding with your cat is an ongoing endeavor. Learn more in this complete guide: 8 Tips on How to Bond with Your Cat [Complete Guide]
Lastly, if you’d like to learn about other aspects of kitten care, check out this guide by Sploot Vets: How to Take Care of a New Kitten 101: The 1st Year [Vet-Approved]
Sploot Vets: A Fear Free Vet for Your Kitten’s Lifelong Care
Sploot Veterinary Care provides all-in-one, Fear-Free vet care for cats, encompassing primary, urgent, and emergency vet services. We’re here to provide a safe environment where your kitten can experience calm vet visits—and get top-tier care as they grow up.
We offer unmatched availability across our convenient clinic locations, operating for extended hours, 365 days a year, including holidays!
Schedule an appointment through our online booking platform or the Sploot Vets app. Till next time, we’re with you every pounce of the way!
