Kitten socialisation and play

Your kitten organises its life around four key areas: The feeding area, the sleeping area, the hygiene area and the play area. When socialising your kitten, it’s important that you respect these different territories and your kitten’s day-to-day activities.

Letting your kitten know that they have done something right is an important part of the training process. Try using a snack, a healthy treat that you know they like, or giving them extra affection when they behave as requested. All of these will act as an incentive for your kitten to repeat good behaviour.

Young kittens are fast learners, so it’s a good idea to start socialising them as soon as they come into the home.

Playing is key to your kitten’s socialisation, as it allows them to explore their surroundings, develop their physical capabilities and form a strong bond with you.

A kitten that’s been in contact with different people, noises and experiences from a very early age will be far more confident and comfortable. One of the key things here is ensuring that they are used to meeting and being stroked and handled by new people.

That being said, if you do too much the kitten might be overwhelmed and develop a negative association with the person or experience. So, be careful that your kitten always feels safe and pay close attention to their body language.

When your kitten is playing they are getting mental and physical stimulation and practicing natural behaviours. So, you should aim to play with your kitten two or three times a day for around 15 minutes each time.

The sight of a moving object immediately unleashes your kitten’s desire to run and chase. Toys that will keep your kitten moving include:

• A mechanical or moving mouse
• A scrunched-up ball of tissue paper on the floor
• Flashlights
• Fishing rod toys
• A dangling string

Kittens love to climb, which is why cat trees make a perfect perch for your pet. Here are some other ways to encourage your kitten to stretch themselves and climb:

• Placing a cushion on high shelf that they can reach without injuring themselves
• Tall scratching post towers

Be aware, though, that kittens may not have perfect coordination and are more likely to fall. In the early months, supervision may be necessary.

Cats hunt in the wild, and you can easily replicate this at home by choosing games and toys which release small amounts of food when your kitten carries out a required action. This makes your kitten more active during mealtimes and offers both mental and physical stimulation. Alternatively, you can hide their food and encourage them to track it down.