Give me a kitten before the age of seven weeks, and I will show you the adult cat. This is adapted from the ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who said - "Give me a child before the age of seven and I will show you the man."
It's true. What happens to a kitten before the age of about eight weeks, defines much of its future life.
- If it grows up in the wild for the first two months of its life, without any human contact, it will become a wild animal rather than a pet.
- If it grows up as a single bottle-fed kitten for the first two months of its life, it may be socially awkward around other cats in later life.
- If it is born to and brought up with a highly stressed mother cat, it is likely to grow up to become a stressed cat.
- If it grows up with a good mother cat, lots of play with its siblings and lots of gentle interaction with humans (and maybe a friendly family dog) it will become a confident and loving pet.
Yes, feral kittens can be rehabilitated in the next three months of their lives so that they are suitable as pets. But they need careful and intensive rehabilitation. Yes, feral cats can be tamed - over a number of years.
But kittens should be born into a home, not a pen, wherever possible. Or fostered in a home as soon as possible.
Cat rescuers take note....