There’s something about a very young kitten that steals the heart in its own particular way. But what kind of cat will your kitten become? And can you mold his personality to any degree? The answer is yes.
Shaping your young kitten’s personality
A kitten held for 15 to 45 minutes a day will probably end up a lot less fearful around people. If cradling the kitten occurs from his second through seventh weeks of life—his sensitive period of learning—his ability to feel comfortable around people will be even stronger. That’s when his experiences really imprint on his brain and carry him going forward.
With that in mind, you’ll also not want to speak too loudly in front of your very young cat or make him stay in your arms when he wants to get down. He’ll feel calmer in life if he sees that the people in the household are calm and give him agency to act on his preferences.
Learning your kitten’s personality
Just like people, some cats emerge from the womb mellow, while others are born more frisky, or skittish. How can you get a handle on how your pet is going to turn out? Try this three-part temperament test. It can give you a fair number of clues.
1. Pick up the kitten and put him on your lap. Give him some petting. Is he enjoying the attention, or at least accepting it good-naturedly? Or is he trying to squirm off, perhaps trying to scratch you in the process while he makes a quick get-away? That will give you a sense of whether you might be raising an independent sort as opposed to a pet who’s going to enjoy sitting with you while you watch television.
2. Do something to arouse the kitten. Try shaking a bunch of keys behind him, or even slamming a door. Does he show fear? And if he does, how long does it take him to recover? That can give you some idea of whether your cat is going to spend a fair amount of time under the bed.
3. Set an especially delicious treat in front of him. If he won’t eat it in front of you, a new person, that tells you that he could be especially prone to feeling stressed, afraid.
None of these tests is foolproof, of course. Cats, like people, do sometimes change their approach to life over time. But you might get a good sense about whether your new pet is going to be a calm, snuggly type or a cat who needs more of his own space.
