How to Socialise a Kitten or an Adult Cat

A well-socialised cat is calmer with visitors, easier to take to the vet and easier to groom. Socialisation means helping a cat get used to people, animals and everyday things in a positive way, and the most sensitive time is in the first weeks of life.

When socialisation matters most

Kittens learn fastest between about 2 and 7 weeks of age, and some flexibility lasts to around 9 weeks. During this time, regular gentle handling by several people helps a kitten grow up less fearful of people. Kittens that miss it can become defensive or fearful.

Most of this window passes before you bring a kitten home, so the breeder, foster carer or shelter plays a big part. Ask how the kitten was handled and what it has heard and seen.

Learning doesn't stop after 9 weeks. A kitten you bring home at 8 to 12 weeks, and even an adult cat, can still learn to feel safe with new things. It just takes more patience.

Ground rules

• Keep sessions short and positive, and let the cat walk away.
• Pair new things with treats, play or praise.
• Start with low intensity (far away, quiet) and build up slowly.
• Never force contact, and never punish.
• Stop before the cat gets stressed. Signs include flattened ears, a swishing tail, hiding and hissing.
• Add one new thing at a time.

People and handling

• Handle your kitten several times a day for a few minutes. Gently touch paws, ears, mouth and tail, and reward calm.
• Introduce men, women and children, people in hats or glasses, and visitors. Ask them to stay calm and let the kitten come to them.
• Practise brief, gentle holds in different positions, followed by a treat. This makes vet checks easier later.

Other animals

Resident cats. Introduce them slowly.

1. Give the newcomer its own room with food, water and a litter tray.
2. Swap bedding so the cats get used to each other's scent.
3. Let them see each other through a gap or gate for short spells.
4. Hold short, supervised meetings and reward calm behaviour.
5. Give each cat places to hide and climb, and keep feeding stations apart.

Dogs. Choose a calm dog that is used to cats. Keep the dog on a lead, let the kitten approach in its own time, and make sure the kitten has an escape route up high.

Everyday sounds and places

Get your kitten used to the vacuum cleaner, television, doorbell, running water and different floors. Start with the sound at low volume or from another room, give a treat, and build up over days.

Carrier. Leave it out as part of the furniture, put a soft blanket and treats inside, and feed meals near it. Don't use it as punishment. A cat that likes its carrier has a much easier trip to the vet.

Car. Start with the engine off, then on, then a short drive. If your cat is very stressed in the car, ask your vet for advice before long trips.

Grooming and nails

Touch your cat's paws daily, then hold them for a few seconds, then touch the clippers to a nail without cutting. Clip one nail and reward it. Over a few sessions, clip more. Brush with gentle strokes and treats. If your cat will visit a groomer, build up to it slowly. See our grooming services.

Play

Play with a wand toy or a toy on a string, so the cat learns to bite and scratch toys, not hands or feet. Rotate toys to keep them interesting. Puzzle feeders, climbing shelves and a window perch let the cat enjoy time on its own.

Adult and rescue cats

A cat adopted as an adult may have had little contact with people, or bad experiences. Go slower than you would with a kitten.

• Start with one quiet room, with food, water, a litter tray and a hiding place.
• Sit in the room, read or talk quietly, and let the cat come to you.
• Use treats to build a positive link with you.
• Keep a steady routine.
• Celebrate small steps. Trust can take weeks or months.

Common mistakes

• Too many new things at once
• Pushing on when the cat is showing fear
• Stopping once the cat seems fine, or having different family members use different approaches
• Punishing a cat that is scared

Health and timing

Ask your vet when it's safe for your kitten to meet other cats or dogs and visit new places. A kitten isn't fully protected until the vaccine course is done. A sick or sore cat is less tolerant, so pause socialising when your cat is unwell. If your cat is very fearful or aggressive, have a vet rule out pain before you look for a behaviour specialist. Our veterinary team can examine your cat and refer you if needed.

A short visit to the clinic with treats and no injection helps a kitten learn the vet is nothing to fear. Contact us if you'd like to ask about that.

What you get from it

A well-socialised cat tends to cope better with change, accepts handling, grooming and medicine more easily, and is more likely to settle with a cat sitter when you're away.