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Raise a smart cat

Understanding the developmental stages of cats will go a long way in raising an intelligent feline.

Most of the people who call my cat shelter are looking for a kitten…the younger the better. The usual
The belief is that the little ones will bond more satisfactorily with the new family or owner, and that they will more easily learn the routine in their new home.

However, the next question is always, “Are you litter box trained?”

Somehow people expect what is basically an infant to be well trained to minimize any potential for
accidents, as well as socialized for human contact, but naive enough to fit in with members of a new family, with no problems to solve.

This is quite a difficult task for a baby!

Human babies are expected to wear diapers until they are 2 years old, and they are not expected to know many words until they are about 5 years old. However, the kittens are expected to be “potty trained” before the timeline set by Nature. (Fortunately, this behavior is quite natural.) Then they are expected to learn things quickly so they can bond with the new family and their home routines. In effect, they are expected to know things that they are not yet capable of understanding. Some people think that instincts are a form of intelligence in animals. In a way, that might be a valid concept, but animals aren’t just guided by instinct. Their ability to learn is affected by the conditions in which they must live.

When we consider the normal developmental stages of the kitten when it becomes a cat, perhaps one can learn to be patient with their “new baby” at home:

From birth to 2 weeks, kittens’ eyes barely open, usually around 10 days. They follow the sound and are completely dependent on their mothers. If they are separated from her now, they will be slow learners in life and will often be aggressive towards people and other pets.

During the 3rd week, they are able to locate things through sight and smell, especially their mother.

Four weeks: The sense of smell is well developed, as is hearing. They can walk quite well and start to play with their littermates.

Five weeks: They now play vigorously, which is part of their program to learn the various skills they will need as adults, such as jumping, stalking and running. At this point, they are also learning to use their feet, as cats are masters of balance and grip. His claws are essential equipment now. They also begin to groom themselves during this stage, as well as each other. Shared grooming is a social mechanism that helps them learn to bond with others. Separating the kitten from its mother and siblings now disrupts this process and they may not learn to bond. This may explain why some cats never accept a companion or new household pet later in life. They never learned that skill!

7 to 14 weeks is when they are most active, where playing is not just for fun, but to learn the valuable skills they will need as adults. This is a critical time in a kitten’s life, and the right toys are essential if they aren’t playing with a littermate. Separation from their mother and siblings at this stage is very common, and new owners must understand the essential use of playtime, grooming, and careful handling.

From 3 to 6 months of age, kittens learn about the “totem”—that is, their social ranking. They can become aggressive if necessary to survive due to rough treatment by humans and/or other pets, such as larger dogs or cats, who may view them as intruders.

At this age, kittens can be considered “teenagers,” a time when they experience new feelings, especially those associated with the onset of puberty. If they are not spayed or neutered at this time, they will start trying to dominate others in the household, including humans.

This is normal and is quite necessary in the “wild” to survive. But your home isn’t a wild place…or it shouldn’t be…and dominance shouldn’t be necessary for survival. Right now, they should completely trust their humans, but they have to earn it. Cats, more than dogs, will not respect a human who mistreats them. They will become aloof, living up to the perception that cats are aloof, and may even become aggressive towards all or most members of the household.

Treating a new kitten with respect, kindness, and love, along with proper nutrition, will result in a loving, intelligent, and well-adjusted cat!

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