For cats, the initial imprinting stage tends to occur between two and seven weeks after birth. Though a very short window in a cat's relatively long life, the stimuli that they are and are not exposed to during this time can really shape their behaviors and personality for the rest of their lives.
Our kitten usually has their most indelible experiences before we ever meet. They should spend at least six weeks with their mother; and absorb a lot besides milk. They are not blank slates; their genetics will contribute a great deal to how these early experiences are interpreted.
Having the kittens bonding to human scent and human handling is very important, especially during weeks 3 through 7. You've got this window for socialization. Up until 7 weeks is prime time. The secondary period is until 12 weeks and the tertiary period is until 6 months.
In other words, they do love you ... even if they don't show it. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, found that cats form attachments to their owners that are similar to those that dogs and even babies form with their caregivers.
For some kittens, this settling in period might be over within hours, while for others it could take days or even weeks. For very timid cats, the process could even take 4 to 6 weeks. Just rest assured that this is normal, and be patient.
Kitties who are warming up to you will rub against your feet or shoes, ankles or legs, or your outstretched hand. They are sharing scent with you and it's a sign that your efforts to befriend are working!
In a multi-human household, it seems that cats will choose one family member they want to spend more of their time with. According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite.
No, your cat doesn't actually think you're the mama cat that birthed it. But cats show us a level of affection and respect that is very similar to the way they treat their mama cat. And this sweet fact flies in the face of anyone who thinks cats' “aloof” personality means they don't care about us.
These benefits are reciprocal. Cats are by instinct always on the alert, so when they sleep in your bed it means they feel secure with you. Kittens sleep in litters, so by sleeping with you your cat is showing affection and creating a deeper bond with you.
Cats, while often independent creatures, still crave attention and love, in addition to their obvious nutritional needs of fresh water, clean litter, and food. If you decide to bring a cat or kitten into your home, you should be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day giving your cat loving one-on-one attention.
Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier. However, these are some typical stages you'll see as your frisky feline ages.
Fading kitten syndrome refers to kittens whose health begins to deteriorate in the first few weeks of life. This period usually lasts about 4-5 weeks, during which newborn kittens are most susceptible to illnesses.
Sleeping near you
If your kitty likes to sleep near you - or even on you - this is an indication that they have total trust in you.
According to a new study, cats experience the greatest fondness for female owners. Cats attach to your veterinary clients—your female clients in particular—as social partners and it's not just because they want to be fed, according to research in the journal Behavioral Processes.
Simple dominance will be exhibited by a cat by marking or spraying urine on territory, stealing and hoarding toys, rubbing its face on items it wants to claim as its own, claiming specific areas to sleep, pushing other cats away from the food bowl, and/or starting at or physically intimidating other cats.
According to Discovery News' report on research on cat and human behavior, the No. 1 reason a cat likes female humans is because women tend to spend more time with cats. And the more attention they get from a person, the more likely they are to give the same amount of loving right back.
PetMD also points out that cats are territorial creatures. They claim their turf by marking it with their scent. So when they sleep on top of you, they're actually marking you—and your bed—as theirs. We should be flattered by this behavior, apparently.
Cats will mark with scent glands on their feet, cheeks, face, and tail as well as with urine. Cheek rubbing (bunting) and scratching (with both the odor from the glands in the footpads and the visual mark) are both forms of marking.
Cats can show affection by bunting. When they rub their scent glands against your ankles and hands, it's a surefire way to indicate that they like you. Purring and other vocalizations also show that they trust you and your presence. Cats vocalize to communicate with you.
Cats want to cuddle for warmth, safety, and protection, so if they decide to cuddle up on you, it means they trust you! Cats learn to cuddle in their kittenhood and carry this behavior well into adulthood. You'll know your kitty has bonded with you when they come running to your lap for a cuddle session.