Free US Shipping over $59* | Ships in 1-2 days!
Free US Shipping over $59* | Ships in 1-2 days!
4.95 stars
+4k reviews: 4.95 avg

Cat Socialization 101: How to Socialize a Cat

Table Of Contents

Socializing your cat

Socialization is the accumulation of good experiences that help build a cat who feels confident and at ease in the world they live. The process starts when cats are very young and will continue to some extent throughout a cat’s life. Increased early socialization is associated with a decreased fear, aggression, less stress, and adaptability to novel environments. Depending on what age your cat is there are different things you can do to help build a resilient and happy cat.

two kittens on bridge hammock
Very young animals have sensitive windows where their brains are especially “sticky” to learn new information. For cats they learn what types of animals are in their social groups from around 3 to 9 weeks of age. In this window, your kitten will learn people, children, and other animals are good if they have good experiences with them. Most of us will not have a cat before 7 to 8 weeks.
One of the most common mistakes in socialization is over exposure or overwhelming. In this case more is not better, its quality experience you want to foster. The key to building a confident cat is to make sure each experience they are having fun. They are recording everything at this point, everything needs to be better than neutral to have the effect we want in adulthood. Try to provide your cat with a safe place at all times during new exposures, the option to leave will actually make them braver. A box, a safe person nearby, high places, or tunnels can all act as a safety net. The key to training good experiences will be paring food or toys with new experiences. This process will continue into adulthood.

Promoting Social Behavior

cat peeking over edge of cat bridge
Environmental
three dogs spotting a cat through window
Who is safe
cat playing on Grotto Cat Tree
Other good ideas
If your cat has missed this early socialization window, they can struggle life long with changes and new people. You can still carefully pair food, petting, and toys with people or animals you want them to have positive relationships with. Keep your cat feeling safe at all times, use enrichment, positive reinforcement training to help build confidence.

Even a wild or feral cat can learn to like one or two people over time, however be prepared to keep their world small. Be very patient with your feline companions, go slow, make the process peaceful for everyone involved. There are no wrong behaviors, just inconvenient to us. There is always a solution that builds trust and will make desired behaviors more prevalent using positive reinforcement training.

two cats on Grotto Cat Tree
Early socialization
Stress in cats that missed socialization
Measuring socialization level in cats
About the author
BS, CBCC, CPDT

Kate Wilson is the Director of Training at K9 Turbo Training. Her lifelong passion of observing and studying animal behavior led her to be a Certified Professional… view Kate’s full profile here.

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Pinterest

RELATED ARTICLES

CREATING A PEACEFUL CAT/DOG HOUSEHOLD BY Angela Schmorrow

Are you looking to add a canine to your already-feline-occupied household, or vice versa?

HOW TO TRAIN A CAT – 5 POINTS TO REMEMBER by Victoria Blais

Do you wonder how to train a cat? In excitement maybe you mused, “I want to do everything right with

CATS & ANXIETY BY KATE WILSON

Cats experience anxiety for the same reasons that humans do; they anticipate danger or feel fear. Although it may seem that your cat

Purrfect Gift Cards

Gift cards always always come in handy, especially for those last minute presents! Introduce your friend’s cat(s) to a catastrophic environment! Gift cards can be used to purchase any of our cat furniture.
gift certificate with cats picture
gift certificate with cats picture

Simple Shipping & Returns

FREE Shipping over $59 and UPS shipping rates for orders under $59

FAST 2-day shipping on all of items—from catnip spray to cat condos

EASY returns on most orders if something's not quite right

FREE Shipping over $59 and UPS shipping rates for orders under $59

FAST 2-day shipping on all of items—from catnip spray to cat condos

EASY returns on most orders if something's not quite right

* Free shipping is only available in the contiguous U.S. Some exclusions apply, including non-standard items. Catastrophicreations reserves the right to change this offer at any time. Read more on terms and conditions.