Socialising Stray Kittens

Stray animals have all spent varying degrees of time living away from human contact and fending for themselves. They may have been abandoned, lost, born on the street, or experienced some kind of abuse or trauma. These events can impact how animals relate to people and can result in them being unsocialised and frightened.

When a cat or kitten is frightened it can make rescuing them very difficult, let alone finding them a home. Once you have determined that a stray cat is definitely not owned, if they are timid often the kindest thing to do is to trap, desex and return them to where they have been living. This is not always possible (depending on the presence of wildlife or health hazards), but as long as there is somewhere they can find shelter and food you are offering them the best chance of survival.

If you have found a stray kitten or litter of kittens it is important to intervene and rescue them as quickly as possible. The younger they are (ideally 6 weeks of age) the greater their ability to form relationships with humans. This, combined with the right handling and care, will offer you the greatest chance to socialise them. Socialisation is extremely important and will affect their quality of life and ability to be rehomed.

The information below is a brief guide to socialising stray kittens. It can be adapted to situations where you are caring for a timid adult cat. If you have found a group of timid stray cats, you should instead refer to the section on our website about Colony Cats.

Important Note: Stray, timid kittens are most easily socialised between 6 – 8 weeks of age. Once they are older than 8 weeks of age it becomes progressively harder to gain their trust. It is not impossible to socialise older kittens, but they generally take a lot longer and may remain fearful which can complicate rehoming them.

The key point to remember is that when you find a litter of stray kittens you must act swiftly and not delay in catching them. Even if you are unable to care for them during the entire socialisation period, it is best to take them home while you find someone to take over this responsibility.

Housing Unsocialised Kittens

Before bringing home a litter of unsocialised stray kittens it is important to be prepared. Firstly you need to find a room in your house where they can safely be confined. This could be a laundry, bathroom, spare room or even your bedroom, as long as there is room for their bed, litter tray and food bowls. A dog crate or large cage (set up inside) is also suitable depending on the size.

If you have the option it is preferable to choose a small room that has the least amount of hiding spaces to prevent the kittens from crawling into an area you cannot access. Pulling the kittens out from under a sofa each time you want to handle them can be detrimental to gaining their trust. Additionally, containing them in a small room will make them feel safe and less threatened. Do not worry if this is not an option for you. Anything is better than where they are coming from.

When setting up their bed it is important to make it soft and warm. It is best to assume that the kittens will need time to convalesce after their time on the street and making them comfortable will assist with this process. The bed must have a cover such as a cardboard box placed on its side or a cat carry cage that opens from the front (remove the door). Simply line it with a towel or sheet and place it in the corner of the room so they have somewhere to hide where and feel safe. Make sure that the opening faces outwards so that when the kittens are inside they will still be able to observe you and adjust to your presence and their new environment.

Position the litter tray and food bowl close to their bed so it can easily be found. Small kittens will generally stay in the box you place them in, so they need to be able to reach the food.

The First Night

After placing the kittens into the prepared area it is important to leave them alone so they can overcome the initial shock of being caught. Do not attempt to handle them for 24 hours (unless they are injured or sick and require veterinary treatment) and only enter their room to check if they need more food. Most kittens however will not eat or use their litter tray during this time due to fear.

Approaching the Kittens

Modifying and being aware of your body language is critical to gaining the trust of unsocialised kittens. Here is a short list of things to remember:

  • When walking around or approaching the kittens move slowly and avoid sudden movements.
  • Speak softly when moving towards the kittens so they know you are there.
  • Consider wearing slippers or socks around the kittens to minimise noise.
  • Avoid loud or discordant noises; always use soft reassuring tones when speaking to them.
  • Keep eye contact brief. Staring is usually perceived as aggressive behaviour.
  • When approaching the kittens try to get down on their level. Imagine how big and threatening a human must seem, towering above them.
  • When you want to stroke the kittens always move your hand slowly towards them.

It is important to remember that each kitten is different and some will become socialised within days whereas others may take weeks of persistent effort. To assist them with this process, it is essential to always be empathetic and mindful of your actions.

Regular Contact & Exposure to Human Activity

Interacting with timid kittens is essential to socialising them and should be done as regularly as possible. It does not have to happen for extended periods each time and could be as simple as going into the room you are housing them in to briefly stroke or talk to them.

A soft pet brush or comb is a gentle and soothing way to touch them and imitates their mother grooming them. It is normal for them to tense up initially, but after a few minutes you will notice them visibly relax.
If you have chosen to keep the kittens in your bedroom or a spare room you may want to grab a book or a lap top and just sit quietly with them. The more exposure the kittens have to you (even without physical contact) and human activity the better.

Food & Treats

Stray kittens respond very positively to food, and treats are a great tool to gain their trust. Small pieces of roast chicken or tuna will attract their attention and they will begin to associate you with positive experiences. It also has the effect of rewarding and reinforcing good behaviour.

Place the treats close to where they are hiding and if they accept it, gradually try to encourage them to take the food from your fingers. Alternatively smear some wet cat food onto your index finger hold it under their noses, and gently wipe some onto their mouths. Most often kittens will start to eat the food from your finger. This may take a few attempts, but you will be surprised how quickly they respond.

Always call the kittens and speak to them with reassuring tones when giving them their meals. Set aside some time to sit with them while they are eating because when kittens are hungry they usually forget that they are frightened, plus it provides them with an incentive to stay. Start by sitting across the room and gradually over several meals move closer and closer until you are positioned next to the bowls. As the kittens become more confident with your presence you can experiment with gently stroking them while they eat.

Holding the Kittens

Set aside some time every day to hold each kitten individually, and a good time to do this is when you are watching TV. First close all windows and make sure you can shut the door to the room you are sitting in case the kitten manages to escape. Find a soft towel or sheet which you can use to wrap the kitten in. This is essential as it will prevent the kitten from escaping or injuring you, and it makes them feel safe. Place the cloth over the kitten and wrap them up like a baby, partially covering their face, and hold them tightly to your chest.

When sitting comfortably begin to gently stroke their body outside of the cloth and when you feel them start to relax slightly loosen your grip and work your hand under the cloth to stroke their fur. Start by stroking around the face, under the chin and then gradually down their back. It is a good idea to speak softly to them to reassure them they are safe. It might take several sessions of holding them in this way before they relax. This is normal and just requires patience.

To positively reinforce the experience you should try to offer them a small piece of roast chicken or another treat. If they are very frightened and tense they will not accept the food, but don’t give up. The smell alone will help to gradually relax them.

Interactive Play

Like food, play time is a positive experience you can share with the kittens to help socialise them. Find a toy you can use which enables you to be some distance from them. A good idea is to get a toy mouse etc and tie it to the end of a piece of elastic or tie some string to the end of a stick.

While holding the end of the string toss the toy mouse towards them and gently move it around to entice their curiosity. Like everything, it will take some time before the kittens are confident enough to approach the toy but this will change. When they begin to play with the toy you can gradually decrease your distance from them by shortening the string.

Other Cats

If you have an existing cat living with you who is unlikely to be stressed by the presence of the kittens, they can be great teachers. Bring your cat into the room where you are keeping the kittens (again make sure your cat is comfortable with this) and sit in an area where they can watch you. Let your cat sit on your lap and lavish him or her with affection and treats; play with toys; and make lots of reassuring noises.

Although unsocialised kittens are frightened of humans they are usually comfortable relating to other felines. By showing the kittens how happy your cat is to interact with you, you are providing them with a good behaviour model. Additionally, some cats can be very welcoming towards kittens and you might find that your cat becomes actively involved in caring for them. This can be a great help with socialisation as your cat will act as a conduit.

Be careful not to leave your cat unsupervised with the kittens to ensure that your cat does not hiss or make other threatening gestures. This could result in undoing your good work.

Conclusion

This guide has been based on many years of experience working with stray cats and kittens. However, as each kitten is unique your approach to them may need to vary according to their needs. This is something that has to be intuited, and as you spend time with each kitten you will work out what strategy works and what needs adapting. If you require advice at any stage please email info@catrescue.com.au.

Socialising timid kittens provides them with the best chance they have of being adopted, and for homeless animals this is the difference between life and death. But aside from the obvious benefits to them, the whole process is incredibly worthwhile and enjoyable for their human carers. Finally gaining the trust of these vulnerable and frightened kittens is a very beautiful experience.