It means establishing all the communication behaviors specific to the feline species. These behaviors are established very early on, especially as compared to dogs, and they are essential to the proper development of the kitten and his emotional stability. They begin to be established around the second week after birth and continue until the seventh week, sometimes a little longer.
During this period, it is important to provide kittens with what ethnologists call "an enriched environment." In other words, they need specific sources of stimuli that will arouse their senses and spark their intelligence.
Contact and games with other kittens are essential to development before the age of eight weeks. Inter-specific socialization, the process of learning social behaviors directed toward other friendly species (humans, dogs, rabbits, etc.), also occurs during this period and ends around the third month. The nature and strength of the bond that develops between the cat and his owner will depend on the quality of this inter-specific socialization. It is possible to influence the sociability of a cat by having various people handle the kitten during the first few weeks of life. This will make for a good-natured cat. The cat will learn to adapt to everyone, but overall, will not be extremely attached to one person in particular. Conversely, the kitten can be handled by only one or two people maximum, which will consequently make for a cat with only one master, who will be extremely attached to his future owner.
Cats must also be taught about other species they will later have to live with at a young age, as it will be infinitely more difficult to familiarize them later on. This is especially true for toddlers who, in the eyes of the cat, are an entirely separate breed from the human race! It is sometimes difficult for cats to accept young children, who are unpredictable, able to emit very shrill sounds, and to take advantage of the moment when adults are not paying attention to pull on the whiskers, tail or ears of a passing cat. It is important to familiarize cats with young children, especially in cases of grandparents who only have the children over from time to time.
Grooming, feeding (after weaning) and defecating and urinating behaviors are certainly all inborn to some degree, but the mother also teaches them to kittens soon after birth. Around the 15th day, kittens are capable of licking their front sides. Starting at three weeks, kittens can answer the call of nature in a litter box on their own. As of the fourth week, kittens are able to eat the same food as their mother, imitating her behavior and acquiring her food preferences in so doing. Kittens also learn to drink fresh water at this age. As the taste of water is different from the taste of milk, it is important to train them quickly.
In order to prevent the cat from becoming a finicky eater, it is important to give young kittens foods with different textures and tastes (dry food, croquettes and patés with different flavors).
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