Earn a Kitten's Trust

When everything is new for a kitten and mom's no longer around, a kitten can feel scared and alone in its new home. By building trust, you help the kitten to feel secure and comfortable. Most of all, the bonding you both go through will make your relationship more enjoyable into the future.

Getting your kitten

 * 1) Choose your kitten, either from a breeder of from a shelter. When you visit the kitten before you take it home, make sure you spend a lot of time with it and give it lots of cuddles so that it begins to know your smell, touch and voice.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Let the kitten sniff you before petting you. If you don't do this, the kitten may respond in a scared way. Allow the kitten the time and space to check you out first.

Reassuring your kitten

 * 1) When you're driving the kitten home, make sure that you are calm. Don't beep your horn or get angry with bad drivers. If you want to listen to the radio, play classical music, softly.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Talk reassuringly to your new kitten. Do not raise your voice; keep it calm, happy and filled with positive words. Kittens and cats respond to voice tone, so keep yours bright and happy.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]

The first days at home

 * 1) When you arrive home, make sure that other pets are outside or in another room. Advise children and other family members beforehand to be gentle with the new kitten.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) Undo the cat cage in the kitten's room, and let the kitten wander out by itself. If it doesn't come out within a few minutes, gently take it out. Make sure the kitten knows where its toys, food, water and litter tray are. Leave the door of the room open, a brave kitten will love exploring a new home![[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 3) When it becomes sleepy, gently pick it up and stroke it on your lap. Eventually, it will fall asleep. If it gets up, let it get up and move. This first sleep is very important to the kitten. If you are gentle and nurturing, it will trust you much more later on than if you are forceful and arrogant.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 4) When the kitten is playful, play with it but don't overdo it. Find a few toys for it to play with, and dangle and move them around for your kitten. When the kitten has had enough, let it be. The kitten needs to rest a lot, just like a baby.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]

Building and keeping trust

 * 1) Handle your kitten with care. Pick it up with both hands and hold it gently. Always support the kitten from underneath, so that it is reassured of not being dropped.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 8 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Do not raise a kitten up high. Kittens and cats do not like to be held high; there is a lack of control and a risk of being dropped involved.
 * 3) Leave your kitten's paws alone. Kittens are easily annoyed by having a human touch or play with the paws and will scratch quickly, out of self-defense. Wait a while before teaching your kitten that it is okay for you to handle its paws; after all, it does need to let you touch them in case you need to inspect later for burrs, thorns, burns, etc.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 9.jpg|center]]
 * 4) Spend time with your kitten. If you want to build a relationship, you must spend time together.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 10.jpg|center]]

Caring for your kitten

 * 1) Monitor the kitten's intake of food. Wet and dry food should be given in small amounts and wet food should only be given at breakfast and dinner. Cats need two to three meals a day, while kittens should have four.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 11.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Give quality food. Ask your vet for advice.
 * 3) Brush your kitten regularly. This grooming is both hygiene care and bonding rolled into one, so don't delay. Long-haired kittens must be groomed daily to avoid the creation of hideous knots.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 12.jpg|center]]
 * 4) *Ungroomed cats can have problems with too much hair going inside their bodies and creating fur-balls.
 * 5) *Brush more frequently in winter, when the cat's coat is thicker.
 * 6) Take your kitten to the vet when it's sick. Always reassure the kitten during the journey and at the vet's clinic. If you are the driver, if possible, have a family member sit with the kitten in the back of the car so that the kitten can see a friendly face and be reassured while you concentrate on the driving.[[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 13.jpg|center]]
 * 7) *Always keep a kitten secure in its carry basket when driving. Never let a kitten or cat have free roam of a car that is being driven; the cat could cause an accident.
 * 8) Remain engaged with your kitten as it grows older. Over time, your kitten will trust you and you will be set with a lifetime of a happy cat![[Image:Earn a Kitten's Trust Step 14.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Try to be around your kitten as much as possible, especially when it's young. If you work full-time, get your kitten during the holidays or a long weekend.
 * Always be calm around your kitten, especially when it's sleeping.
 * Don't enforce harsh punishment; this will make the kitty wary of you.

Warnings

 * Never feed your kitten alcohol, chocolate, coffee, grapes, raisins, chives, yeast dough, poultry bones, onions, moldy food, salt or salty foods, garlic, tomato leaves or unripened fruit. Dairy products can make cats and kittens ill and should be avoided.

Related wikiHows

 * Teach Your Kitten to Be Calm and Relaxed
 * Maintain Your Kitten's Litter Box
 * Take Care of Kittens
 * Earn the Trust of a Feral Kitten

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