Watch out for the mother cat, who may not want anyone handling her kittens. She may bite or scratch people to prevent them from touching the kittens. Children under the age of 5 shouldn’t handle kittens as they can be unknowingly rough with the kittens. [2] X Research source
Talk to the cat in a calm and quiet voice as you approach it, which will let the kitten know that you are there.
Never pick up a kitten from its scruff. This can cause issues with the kitten’s neck and damage their hind legs because it is not secure.
Using both hands will help the kitten to feel secure and keep it from trying to escape your hands as you hold it.
As it’s resting against your chest, you can pet its back or head with one of your fingers, or just let it get used to your presence. The heat from your body can also help the kitten to feel more relaxed as you hold it.
Remember that kittens have sharp claws and will naturally scratch if they feel threatened.
Being at ground-level is a good way to get kittens used to your presence without seeming threatening or scary. Remember, you’re a lot bigger than the kitten is so it might be scared!
A great way to do this is by leaving doors open to new rooms after removing anything that could harm a tiny kitten. Letting the kitten explore its new surroundings on its own accord will lessen the stress of moving to a new home! Before letting a kitten loose in the room, make sure all wires are covered and taped away. Remove anything unhealthy from the room so the kitten doesn’t accidentally chew on it. This could include toxic plants, strings, yarn, rubber bands, ribbon, electrical cords, cords from blinds, and small objects that could choke the kitten. You should also do your best to block or remove areas that could trap the kitten, such as gaps under or between furniture. Make sure there aren’t any holes in the wall that the kitten could crawl into.
This is especially useful for very shy kittens who haven’t had much experience around humans. You can also use baby food in turkey, chicken, or beef flavors on your finger to entice the kitten to interact with you during feeding time. You should only use a small amount, however, such as the amount that fits on your fingertip. Otherwise, you may be overfeeding the kitten or could upset its stomach.
You can reward your kitten for playing nicely after a few minutes by giving it a small piece of food. Aim to play for about 15 minutes at a time each day, about 2-3 times per day, to avoid getting it too tired but still keeping it engaged.
You can reward your kitten for playing nicely after a few minutes by giving it a small piece of food. Aim to play for about 15 minutes at a time each day, about 2-3 times per day, to avoid getting it too tired but still keeping it engaged.
If the kitten is sleeping, don’t disturb it! Only pet the kitten when it’s resting but still awake. This is especially useful for cats who might be skittish or frightened by humans because it gets the kitten used to your touch. Waiting until the kitten is resting allows you to approach it quietly and calmly.
Time with its mother is crucial for the kitten to learn how to be a cat. This includes learning how to curtail its hunter instinct when necessary to limit aggressive behavior. Kittens who are removed from their mothers before this age can exhibit aggression, litter training issues, and have trouble eating. If you find a kitten that has been orphaned by its mother, you can care for the orphan by feeding it with a bottle and keeping it warm, which can save its life.
Try not to disturb your kitten when it’s sleeping because good sleep is important for its growth. If you want to pet your kitten while it’s lying down, be sure to check that it’s awake first! Make sure your kitten has plenty of time to rest at night and during the day!
As your kitten grows up, you can move to feeding it only twice a day because it will need less food and only eat when it’s hungry. Keep the food and water bowls in the same location to teach your kitten to eat and drink in those places only. Clean the bowls in warm, soapy water once a week. Make sure they are rinsed and dry before you refill them.
Each time you groom the kitten, let it smell and get used to the brush before you touch the brush to its fur.
After the kitten gets a little older, you can use a normal volume. You can get kittens used to noise by turning on a TV or radio to play softly in the background all day. If you leave home during the day, this can get your kitten used to regular noises and the sound of people talking.
You can block off cracks under furniture using folded towels or t-shirts. It might also be helpful to put up barricades to keep your kitten in one room as it’s getting used to its new home.
