Behavior & Training Questions About Kittens

By Jill Marie O'Brien, CPDT
Director of Animal Training & Behavior Services

Training a Nine Week Old Kitten

Question : Ebony is a 9 week old kitten who was one of four in a litter that was produced by a stray at my parents house. The queen is a very young and timid cat who appears to have been mistreated as she does not allow much human interaction. The kitten is extremely bright and energetic, but is very 'wild'. She will not sit still for extended periods unless asleep or allow herself to be stroked or touched without spitting, hissing or clawing (unless sleepy or surprised!) Since she came to live with us she seems to be behaving more mildly and she uses her litter tray and scratching post with no mishaps. How do I begin to train her to accept affection and how should I reward her for good behavior? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Answer : Very often stray cats are considered feral or wild. They have had minimal human contact and can very often be mistrusting. Kittens born to a feral mother will also be mistrusting, and feral felines may become stressed when in captivity. Therefore it will require extra care and patience in order to socialize Ebony. Alley Cat Allies, a group dedicated to rescuing stray and feral cats, advises that there are several steps to taming kittens :

1. Containment in cage

Because feral kittens are extremely frightened by humans, placing them in a small cage in a room by themselves for a couple of days (without any handling) will often help them to feel safe. You can visit them and talk with them, but move slowly and resist touching. You can also leave the radio or TV on so they become more accustomed to human voices.

2. Periodic Handling

After a couple of days you can place a towel over the kitten and pick it up in the towel. If the kitten stays calm, pet it gently on the head from behind. Never approach from the front. Hands will often frighten the kitten. Depending how calm the kitten is, you can move slowly so that the towel is on your lap, and the kitten is on the towel. Have a brief session of stroking the kitten while speaking softly to him, then release him. Repeat this process as frequently as possible.

3. Containment in Small Room

This step is only important if there is more than one kitten which needs taming.

4. Exposure to Other Humans

If the feral kitten can be around another calm, friendly cat it will help the taming process. They will often copy the behavior, and will follow the tame cats, coming over to be petted if they hear the tamer cat purring while being petted. Give frequent treats by hand, and play interactive games with them, such as the cat dancer, or toys where you control the movement. Interaction with humans during play can hasten the taming process.

When the kitten no longer responds by biting, encourage friends to handle them as often as possible. Feral kittens tend to bond to one person, so the more people they become accustomed to the better. It sounds as if you are already making progress with Ebony. You may have to back step a little to gain her trust, but with patience and consistent reassuring, the two of you will be best of pals in no time.