Adopting
a
Socialized Kitty
Socialized kitties tend to respond
better to other cats than they do to humans, at least initially.
Eventually with patience and understanding a bond of trust will form
between the human caretaker and the former “wild” kitty. This can be a
very rewarding experience and often strong bonds are formed. Often during
the taming or the bonding process the progress will be steady, other times
it is fitful. Sometimes they reach a plateau and you don’t think that
they will ever move to the next level and then something happens, often
you don’t even know what, and they will breakthrough and move to the
next level. When these kitties are adopted they often need more time to
adjust to their new home and people than kitties that have always been
around humans.
Socialized kitties will "plateau
downward" in new situations. They will be very scared and go on
instincts for an undetermined amount of time. If they are
loose in a new house they will get to a "lair" where they feel
somewhat safer, and will avoid contact at all costs. They may be very calm
with their foster mom and in familiar surroundings, but if they have the
run of the house right away it could be a recipe for disaster. They may
hide for a very long time, or get into a place that you can’t get them
out of, or get loose outside and disappear. If they are too nervous in
their new home they may be afraid to come out to use the litter box and
then there will be elimination problems to deal with. Introduction
protocols should be followed strictly, as if they were being brought out
of the woods all over again, but in shorter stages. This kind of trust
training will determine how they relate to you long term.
This means starting out confined to a
bathroom or a cage/kitty playpen. That way they are forced to observe you
and learn that you are not going to eat them, you are quiet and give food
and
treats, and are good to be around! They will have their "lair"
in the cage while they get to know you and thus not be overwhelmed with
all the new stimuli of an unfamiliar world. It can feel to us
like it's cruel to confine them, but actually it is just the opposite! And
they learn they can receive comfort from "their" room and from
you. The rest of the house can come later. Otherwise they do
not know that if they can get outside it still won't be home ground, and
they will go right through a window, let alone through a screen. Often it
takes cats about a month to acclimate and orient to a new area.
For the person that wants to put this time and effort into them it is a huge joy to see them learn to feel safe and secure, and then happy! Some people enjoy this, even if the kitties do not become lap sitters, but just happy kitties with a good home. Since every cat needs a home, it's fine that different people want different things in different kitties at different times in their lives!