When you bring a shy kitten into your home, making him friendly becomes a very important and challenging task. You can make your shy kitten more friendly by following some steps. Then your kitten will like you and adapt to your environment very well.
What will you need?
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Patience
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Routine
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Frequency
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Confinement
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Isolation
A Step-by-Step Plan:
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Day 1: Bringing the kitten Home
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Week 1: Trust Building
After the initial hand over, try to sit with him as many hours a day he will allow. Don’t try to pet the cat yet just sit nearby and talk to him. When you go back to get more practice, also try moving just slightly closer each time and watch for his signals. Just make sure you leave whenever the cat signals that it wants to go away. Never push. Let the cat take her choices and go at its own rate.
Week 2-3: Touching
- Approach the shy kitten only after he seems at ease with you hanging around him. You might wear a long shirt or gloves in case you get scratched. At first, when you begin to make a move at the kitten, then move your hand very slowly letting it smell on your hand before touching him/her. If the kitten appears to be calm, pet it gently. Again, don’t push him anymore. Take it nice and easy; pet the kitten for a minute or two on day number one, moving up to even more time. Stop whenever the kitten appears angry or fearful. Oh, and don’t forget that kittens are usually very touchy about their paws and tail/rear end so I recommend you avoid these areas at first.
- Here’s what to do if your kitten doesn’t like to be touched: Before you touch him, offer him some tasty treats like tuna fish or chicken. Then you can tie a cloth to a stick and hold it in front of him to play.
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Week 4: Holding
Tips:
- Speak and move slowly & gently; avoid high-pitched noises.
- Do not establish prolonged eye contact, look at the floor to one side
- Offering the occasional treat never hurts and might even win a few feline friends. Some may get aggressive and just try to “scare” the food out of you by lunging or spitting. For the cats where treats don’t work so well in this case, just do not use them. Begin with food you can place at the front of her space, from hand feeding kibble or small pieces of cooked deli meat to bits for tuna. Once she gets comfortable enough eating in your presence, try having that same snack nearer and near one hand is on stand by as shut because feline will assist become accustomed to contact. Rub his body with the stick while eating the treat and if he allows that, rubbing your hand
How to introduce a shy kitten into our home
You got the cat bonded with you and now it’s time to introduce a new furry mate for other people in the house.
If family members have not already been in the room, bring them in and speak to your cat while playing with him using either string or a wand. Of course, at first he will shy away from strangers and not play ball with them until later, but believe me, love for him will be played in his hands. Your other cats know what is going on. This can make them smell the scent of a new cat.
Assuming your foster cat is medically cleared to be around other cats in the household, start by smelling each other by exchanging bedding between them. Personal blankets need to be mixed by rubbing the cats over with each other. Fit a screen door or other strong, but secure barrier through which both sets of cats will be able to observe and one set learns from the actions of another. In the presence of said new cat, interact with your pets more than you usually would; pick them up, love on them and then put them back down. Allow the new cat to watch your cats and how much they love this.
First things first though, make sure the rest of the house is cat-proof so he/she doesn’t escape or get into any mischief. Choose where the cat may roam and which rooms will remain closed, since it can become overwhelmed at having access to all areas of the house in one go. To start with, he will be branching out through the rest of the house to check it all out for alternative spots. When he has gone back to his room or is in some other “safe spot” where you keep him, work with him during that time – it goes hand-in-hand with taming and socializing.
Soften your voice whenever you move near some of his hiding spots if he keeps to yourself and sneaks everywhere. Do not force him out of these hiding spots, although you can try to entice him with food or toys. As he continues to investigate and discover more of the house, you can then gradually leave others accessible. Move the cat’s litter tray, food and water out of its original room slowly to encourage it to full-time spend time in the rest of your house. While initially he may not want to come near you during the day, night-time out again and placing a pushing food bowl morning meal, together with rewards will gradually tempt him out during daylight hours.
Adopting out a tamed or rehabilitated shy kitten
For any cat rehoming is a traumatic event, to be settled twice in one lifetime must add up as the ultimate brain scratcher even for an ex heathen wild animal becoming a human housecat. Socialization has to be reinstated in the new home if they are going to adopt out that cat including keeping it locked away so that it can become close with its potential owners and able to wander around their house at night-time. There will be hiccups but as a rule, the process normally goes faster second time since kitty has learned much about humans and living with them/u surroundings.
This time I am learning how to use this knowledge in a new environment. Socialized feral cats should go into a home that has at least one fully socialized, cat-friendly household since he will not only gain much knowledge of observing his tame feline companions. The new owner needs to be prepared to do the work you have been doing over and over again.
The new owner should have spent a lot of time in your home getting to know the cat first because the bond needs to quickly move from you to them.
The adjustment period varies depending on the kitten’s temperament and past experiences. Typically, a shy kitten may take a few weeks to a couple of months to fully adjust. Patience and consistency are key to helping them feel safe.
Start by confining the kitten to one quiet room where they can feel secure. Gradually introduce them to other parts of the house once they become comfortable in the initial space. Be sure to provide hiding spots, food, water, and a litter box.
Building trust takes time. Spend time near the kitten without forcing interaction. Speak softly, avoid sudden movements, and let the kitten approach you at their own pace. Offering treats or toys can also encourage positive associations.
Progress is shown when the kitten starts exploring more, shows less fear when you approach, begins to play, and shows interest in interacting with you. Small changes in behavior, like accepting treats or allowing petting, indicate growing trust.
Initially, avoid forcing physical contact. Instead, focus on being present and letting the kitten get used to your voice and scent. Gradually increase handling over time, starting with gentle petting once the kitten feels more comfortable around you.
It’s normal for shy kittens to seek hiding spots. Make sure they have a safe, quiet place to retreat to, but also encourage them to come out by offering food, toys, and interaction. Avoid trying to pull them out of hiding, as this can increase their fear.
Introduce other pets gradually by keeping the kitten and pets separated at first. Allow them to get used to each other’s scent by swapping bedding. Supervise any interactions closely and allow the kitten to approach the other pet at their own pace.
Yes, with time, patience, and positive reinforcement, most shy kittens can become more confident and sociable. Consistent routines, gentle interactions, and providing a sense of security will help them gradually come out of their shell.
Avoid forcing interaction, loud noises, or sudden movements that could scare the kitten. Don’t corner or grab them, as this can make them more fearful. Let them approach you on their own terms to build trust.
A rehabilitated kitten will show signs of comfort around humans, including seeking attention, accepting petting, and playing. They should be confident in exploring new environments and interacting with people before being considered ready for adoption.