Cats living with a cat hoarder are almost invariably neglected. They are often only partly socialised, stressed and unhealthy. After rescue, a substantial percentage of them do not take well to a rescue facility. It may be so bad for them that they stop eating and toileting. They are essentially unadoptable because they’re so stressed. …
The question is asked by Carol Chapell on the Internet. She actually answers the question herself. In this instance, a kitten’s mother was tragically killed in a road traffic accident. The 10-day-old kitten came up to Carol screaming at the top of her voice. It was a demand to be adopted. I love that behaviour …
As I see it, this is a test to assess the degree of socialisation of a domestic cat. I am working backwards from a study on the socialisation of kittens. The researchers handled kittens at various stages of their young lives. They handled some for the first time from: 3 weeks old; 7 weeks old; …
How well socialized is a cat? A test that will tell you. Read More »
All the discussions we have about domestic cat socialisation concerns socialisation to humans. Little is known about the important time for kitten-to-kitten socialisation. I try and address the topic generally here. During the first two weeks kittens form an attachment to their mother. It is based on smell (olfaction). During the first four weeks of …
The sensitive periods for domestic cats to become socialised to other cats Read More »
To be effective cat socialisation to people must start within the first six or seven weeks. Once started it continues for several weeks. A study by Dr Bradshaw confirms the above. In the 1990s Dr Bradshaw worked with the UK charity Cats Protection in order to study the age at which the socialisation of kittens …
Cat socialization to people must start within first six or seven weeks Read More »
Dr John Bradshaw, PhD, the well-known cat behaviour expert at the University of Bristol, UK, says that with respect to the feline grandparents of domestic cats, most cats will never meet them and therefore they will never remember them. That is a good start! Dr Bradshaw goes a step further and says that: “once separated …
The domestic and feral cat’s ability to recognise feline relatives Read More »
This is from Dee, a regular PoC visitor, written up by me. Dee emailed me the video below. It teaches us what can be achieved with a feral cat if we play our cards right. Dee says the following about this short video: The video that I am sharing is of my daughter, Sarah, and …
Sarah and Dusty – a feral cat becomes the most loving Read More »
Intro: Ginny S asked this question in a comment. She starts by describing socialisation. Cats need to be socialised to integrate with people and other animals. If this is missed at the best period of 3-9 weeks of age a cat may not necessarily get over its innate instinct to fear us and avoid us. …
