Archive for May, 2011
Kittens and Social Development
Although predominantly thought of as a household pet, cats are instinctively wild creatures. Their perception of the world throughout the three phases of their young life as kittens shapes their behaviour during adult life.
The Vegetative Phase (0-2nd week)
Social development is fairly limited during the first two weeks of life, and largely relies on instinctive unconsciously practiced behaviour. A kitten will chiefly spend it’s time feeding, sleeping and discharging waste. However, during this phase a kitten will subconsciously learn to recognise “like” smells e.g. siblings, it’s mother and humans. If a breeder interacts delicately with a kitten from this point on, its acceptance of humans is more reliably assured.
The Transition Phase (2nd-3rd week)
This short phase (about a week) is primarily about sensory development. A kitten begins to see, smell and become more conscious of their world. A breeder will likely stroke a kitten and allow it to smell their human scent regularly to imprint the idea of humans as a “like” presence.
The Socialisation Phase (3rd-7th week)
This is when a kitten learns how to behave towards its environment and other creatures, and is certainly one of the most important phases in terms of social development. Widely accepted kitten advice confirms that regular, positive interaction with humans throughout each phase – particularly the socialisation phase – leads to well-rounded, happier pets. For example, an accomplished breeder will likely introduce kittens to as many potential environmental conditions as possible from the third week of life onwards e.g. other humans, TV noise, toys, non-sibling cats etc.
For more kitten advice, please contact Hill’s Pet.