2025 Socialization of Feral Kittens

The FelineVMA supports the proper socialization of kittens. A kitten is defined as any cat between birth and 1 year of age.1 Socializing kittens before a certain age helps them develop appropriate social behaviors, including recognizing humans as a friendly species. This offers the best scenario for the formation of healthy catā€“human bonds.

The FelineVMA supports the integration of newly homed companion kittens through appropriate socialization and habituation.2 Companion kittens are those kittens who have been socialized with humans prior to being brought into their new home.3 The sensitive socialization period for kittens occurs roughly between 2 and 9 weeks of age. A lack of positive interactions with humans during this sensitive socialization period leads cats to view humans as a non-friendly (threatening) species and can lead to a lifelong fear of humans.

A feral cat or kitten is often born outside, has been unsocialized to humans, and would likely experience distress by living inside with humans.3 Generally, the FelineVMA does not support the socialization of feral kittens over 4 months of age as it may be detrimental to their emotional health.4 Because feral kittens are often born outside, kittens over the age of 4 months should undergo trapā€“neuterā€“return (TNR) or trapā€“neuterā€“vaccinateā€“return (TNVR)5 rather than attempts at socialization.4 Exceptions to using TNR may include cats and kittens born inside, but who are unsocializedā€”often due to situations such as cat hoardingā€”and where TNR would not be appropriate. The FelineVMA strongly encourages further research on various aspects of feline socialization.

References:

  1. Quimby J, Gowland S, Carney HC, et al. 2021 AAHA/AAFP feline life stage guidelines. J Feline Med Surg 2021; 23: 211ā€“233.
  2. International Cat Care. Life stage guide to caring for your new kitten. www.icatcare.org/resources/icatcare-kitten-booklet-2024.pdf (2024, accessed 28 February 2025).
  3. International Cat Care. Cat Friendly decision-making: managing cat populations based on an understanding of cat lifestyle and population dynamics. https://jsmcah.org/index.php/jasv/article/view/58/46 (2022, accessed 6 March 2025).
  4. Alley Cat Allies. The cat socialization continuum: A guide to interactions between cats and humans. https://www.alleycat.org/resources/cat-socialization-continuum-guide/ (2020, accessed 20 March 2024).
  5. International Cat Care. Trap, neuter, return. https://www.icatcare.org/unowned-cats/feral-street-cats/trap-neuter-return/ (2022, accessed 24 July 2024).

Additional Resources:

Feral and Free-ranging Cat Behavior Literature:

  1. Slater MR. The welfare of feral cats. In: Rochlitz I (ed). The Welfare of Cats. Dordrecht: Springer, 2007, pp. 141ā€“175.
  2. Vitale KR. The social lives of free-ranging cats. Animals 2022; 12. DOI: 10.3390/ani12010126.
  3. Turner DC. Outdoor domestic cats and wildlife: How to overrate and misinterpret field data. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1087907.
  4. Litchfield C, Natoli E (eds). Special issue on behavioural ecology and welfare of free-ranging cats. Animals 2022; 12. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals/special_issues/free_ranging_cats (accessed 28 February 2025).
  5. Cats Protection. The feral guide. https://www.cats.org.uk/media/10267/feral-guide-cats-protection.pdf (2021, accessed 28 February 2025).

Humanā€“cat Relationship Literature

  1. Casey RA, Bradshaw JWS. The effects of additional socialisation for kittens in a rescue centre on their behaviour and suitability as a pet. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2008; 114: 196ā€“205.
  2. Natoli E, Litchfield C, Pontier D. Coexistence between humans and ā€˜misunderstoodā€™ domestic cats in the anthropocene: exploring behavioural plasticity as a gatekeeper of evolution. Animals 2022; 12. DOI: 10.3390/ani12131717.
  3. Turner DC. A review of over three decades of research on catā€“human and humanā€“cat interactions and relationships. Behav Processes 2017; 141: 297ā€“304.
  4. Turner DC. Unanswered questions and hypotheses about domestic cat behavior, ecology, and the catā€“human relationship. Animals 2021; 11. DOI: 10.3390/ani11102823.
  5. Turner DC. The mechanics of social interactions between cats and their owners. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650143.
  6. Vitale Shreve KR, Udell MAR. Whatā€™s inside your catā€™s head? A review of cat (Felis silvestris catus) cognition research past, present and future. Anim Cogn 2015; 18: 1195ā€“1206.
  7. VojtkovskĆ” V, VoslĆ”Å™ovĆ” E, Večerek V. Methods of assessment of the welfare of shelter cats: a review. Animals 2020; 10. DOI: 10.3390/ani10091527.

Ā© Feline Veterinary Medical Association, 2025