Cat socialization is the act of introducing your cat or kitten to the world and the people around them. It is important for a cat to be socialized at a young age because it causes less emotional problems for the future. Unfortunately, the first two to three months of life are the most crucial. During this time, kittens should be exposed to as many noises, people and objects as possible.

Feral cats are a great example of a feline with cat socialization problems. Feral cats are born in the wild to stray animals. They grow up with no socialization with humans leading them to not trust humans, at all. In fact, feral cats play a big role in the overpopulation of felines which results in the euthanization of millions of cats annually. These animals must ultimately be put to sleep because they have not been properly socialized.

So, your next question may be, can an unsocialized cat be tamed? Well, that generally depends on the age of the cat and the severity of their situation. Generally kittens usually can be tamed with no major problems or issues. Older cats, which have lived in the wild longer don’t always fair well with cat socialization. Remember, they may be aggressive and mistrusting towards humans. It may take a long time to gain their trust and love.

Cat socialization is of major importance for a kitten from the first day their mother gives birth to them. Then of course at around six to eight weeks, their human mother or family takes over. Try to expose your cat to as many stimuli as possible. Take them for a ride in the car, carry them often in their cage, let guests play with them and bond with them as much as possible. Basically, ensure that their transition from mom to your family is as smooth and stimulating as possible.

If you have adopted a cat that has past problems with socialization then you are a special person. You understand that adjusting to your family and the atmosphere of your home is going to take time. Just take it one day at a time. Remember, socializing a cat is possible so don’t give up if there are setbacks. For example, your cat may hide under the bed all day long or run at the sound of your voice. Just be patient, loving and understanding and hopefully cat socialization for your new pet with progress as quickly as possible.