How To Make Your Kitten Social?

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The history of cats is as old as that of us human beings. Cats have in the past and till date play an important role in different cultures. While the ancient Egyptians associated them with different Gods, Russians, for centuries, have believed that owing a cat or letting a feline enter a new house before its human occupants move in brings good luck. There is something enigmatic about cats that has always attracted humans. Many people believe that no two cats are the same. While some cats behave like lap dogs socializing with people around them, others may be reclusive, preferring to live in their own world. From little or no contact with humans during the first seven months after their birth to past physical or emotional traumas, there can be many reasons behind a cat’s reluctance to come out of its shell. So what to do if your pet kitten does not reciprocate the love you show to it? We have the answer. Read on to find out some ways to transform your favorite feline from a shy animal to a social creature.

1. Spread your scent to places where your cat hangs out: Cats have a heightened sense of smell. They associate smells with different states of mind or feeling. To win over your cat, spread your smell over your purry friend’s bedding by rubbing a body part against it. If your cat likes to hang out at a particular furniture piece, spray hormone diffusers over it to calm the feline.
2. Use food for positive reinforcement: Food is a major incentive for most cats. To bond with your cat, throw treats from a distance towards the feline. Keep on placing the treats closer to you till your cat reaches your hand. Position your hand near your lap in a way that your cat has to place its paw on your lap to get the treat. The purpose of the exercise is to help your cat associate lap cuddles with a positive experience.
3. Learn to effectively communicate with your cat: Talk to your cat in a soft and reassuring tone. Call it by its name. When talking to your cat, look directly into the feline’s eye and blink slowly to communicate affection.
4. Thwart your cat’s plans to hide: Shy cats seek refuge in isolated places such as under the bed or corners of a dark room. To encourage your cat to come out in the open, block all hiding places. Avoid feeding it when its hiding as it will encourage the reclusive behavior.
   Cats have so much love to give. Spunky cats liven up their homes with their antics, making everyone fall in love with them. If your cat is not a cuddle bug, don’t freak out! Just follow these tips and you will be amazed at the results. Most importantly, be patient and give your purry friend time to come out of its shell.

How to Socialize Your New Cat with Your Existing Cat?

If you already have a cat, then socializing your new cat with the existing one may not be easy. You cannot just introduce two cats and expect them to become friends immediately. Cats take time to socialize, and the process takes some planning and preparation.

When introduced to each other with care and thought, cats can enjoy each other’s company and become best friends.

Here are some ways to make socializing easier and less stressful for your cats:

Avoid Putting the Cats in the Same Room

Keep your new cat and existing cat separate during the initial days. This process gives your new cat enough time to get used to the new surroundings. As she explores and familiarizes herself with, the new environment, she will feel safer and less insecure. This way, the chances of her feeling threatened and intimidated by the new environment are minimized.

Set Up a Cozy Place for your New Cat Nearby the Existing Cat

Set up a place that feels like home for your cat. Have a designated area for food and water. Include a litter box.

Make the shelter comfortable with some objects that cats prefer, such as toys and a scratching post. Include some hiding places as well to make it more welcoming.

Set up your cat's shelter near your existing cat's home. This way, they will be aware of each other without being in one's way. They will get used to the scents and sounds of each other.

You can make the cats familiar with each other's scents through methods such as rubbing the cats with the same towel or leaving a cloth or object that carries one cat's smell near the other cat's shelter.

Makes Sounds and Smells a Positive Experience for the Cats

Your cats must not associate each other's scents and sound to negativism, such as quarrels and squabbles. For example, scolding your old cat while feeding the new one can send a negative message to the old cat. She may start harboring feelings of hate, fear, and anger when the new cat is around.

Your cats can be friendly or at the least cordial only when they do not view each other as a threat.

One way to make each feel positive about the other is to hand out treats and rewards when the other is around. Feeding each other at the same time can also teach them to harbor only positive feelings about each other.

Use strategies that communicate to the cats that they will have a good time when they are together. This should make them feel comfortable around each other when introduced face to face.

Let the Cats See Each Other

Allow your cats to see each other after perhaps a week. You could do this by setting up a baby gate or meshed screen door to allow visual introduction alone.

If they do not growl or hiss at each other, let them be. Feed them at the same place every day. If they show displeasure by growling or hissing, separate them and try the above again after some days.

Let the Cats Meet

Once your cats are visually familiar with each other, introduce them face to face. Have one more person excluding yourself for supervision.

If the cats ignore each other, do not be disappointed. Cats take their time to mingle. It is good as long as there is no conflict between them. Keep monitoring them until you are sure that they will not harm each other without supervision. It is essential to let cats take their time to get used to each other. Seek the assistance of a professional behaviorist if your attempts to get them together are not working.