The optimal time for kitten socialization is between six and twelve weeks of age. For the duration of this time, kittens should specifically interact with other animals as well as children and babies as it is important for them to be introduced to divergent experiences. It is important that you are present to provide supervision during these interactions until you feel that all people as well as animals involved are comfortable. It would be a good idea to offer your kitten toys to bite so that they learn not to bite people during play and also not to jump onto them.
It is essential that new-born kittens are treated with extra caution and sensitivity by their human parents which is important as it indicates your care for your new fur baby. Should you see any strange or worrying behavior during this period of development of your kitten, it would be best to consult with your veterinarian. Arrange a special visit over and above the regular scheduled appointments for pre-emptive purposes and vaccinations for your kitten.
As a general rule, kittens that are between six and twelve weeks of age, require 4 or more meals per day as kittens that are fed well may be socialized with less effort. The kitten’s stomach is very small meaning that they cannot eat a lot of food at one time. Once they reach twelve weeks of age, you may feed them 3 times per day and from six months of age they may be fed twice daily.
It is important that you begin to deworm your kitten from an early age as socialization will be easier if they are healthy. As roundworm is a significant problem in kittens, they should be dewormed at 2 weeks of age against roundworm and then again every 2 weeks until they reach twelve weeks old, after which they must be dewormed every month until they reach 6 months of age. Following this, cats must be put onto a product which is an anti-parasitic treatment prescribed by your veterinarian. These anti-parasite products assist in controlling both fleas as well as intestinal parasites, as fleas can cause tapeworms.
It is advisable to get your kitten accustomed to having itself groomed when it is still young, especially if it is a long-haired breed as they need attention every day to enable their fur to remain tangle free. Regular brushing allows loose fur to be removed so that it doesn’t enter the stomach and result in fur balls. If your cat is used to being brushed and combed from an early age, it should appreciate the grooming as the excess fur is removed. Grooming also allows you to develop a close bond with your cat as well as being able to assess its health.
