How to Make Your New Kitten Feel like Part of the Family

Cat lovers know that their new cat will need time to settle into his new environment before he feels comfortable. One way to help kitty settle in is to make sure he feels part of the family, right from the very beginning.

Give Kitty a Name

Naming a kitten can be hard. Some cat owners wait until they have spent some time with their new kitten and observed his antics before settling on a name that best suits his personality. But once you have decided on a name (the quicker, the better) use the name each time when calling the kitten.

He may not respond at first or in the way you would like by running towards you, but be patient and he will eventually respond, even if all you get in response is a flap of the tail in acknowledgement.

Be Patient and Loving

New kittens that have been recently weaned and removed from their mothers will take time to settle in. Do not be surprised if your new kitten does not immediately take to you or to your family. A lot will depend on how well socialised the kitten was while it was with its mother and littermates. If the kitten was regularly handled by the breeder and others, he will be more adaptable and used to the human touch. But if not, expect some hesitation on the kitten's part.

That is why you need to be patient and loving until the kitten gets used to you and your family. Within a week or two, you should notice some subtle changes, as the kitten's memories of its mother and littermates begin to fade and you become its new "mother" or "father" instead.

Treat Him like One of the Family!

If you want your new bundle of fur to feel like part of the family, you must do your part by treating him like one of the family. Spend time handling your new kitten, attending to his physical and emotional needs on a daily basis and encouraging other family members to do the same. The more time you spend together as a family, the more successful you will be in making the new kitten feel like a part of the family.

Experienced cat owners know that it takes time to win a kitten's trust and confidence. But they also know that they need to do their part by making the kitten feel like a member of the family right from the first day they bring their new bundle of joy home with them.

More from this contributor:

How to Bond with your New Kitten.

How to Tell when Your New Cat Has Settled In.

Things to Do Before the Arrival of Your New Kitten.