Kitten Peeking Out of a Basket

About this drawing

It may look like it has nothing on its schedule, but for a kitten in a basket, those early weeks are shaping its whole personality. Between roughly two and seven weeks old, kittens go through a stage that animal experts call the socialization period.

What happens during that window tends to stick. A kitten that is gently handled by different people, hears everyday household noises and meets calm visitors usually grows into a relaxed, friendly cat. One that sees no humans at all at that age may stay nervous around them for life, which is why foster families make such a difference.

Good foster homes keep it simple. They offer short, gentle play sessions, plenty of naps, and new experiences in small doses, such as a brush, a carrier or the sound of a vacuum in another room. The goal is for the kitten to feel curious rather than scared.

Time with mom and littermates counts as well. Those rough-and-tumble games teach kittens how to play nicely, and watching their mother shows them how to act around people. A cozy spot matters too. Small, soft places feel like the nest where they were born, so a basket with a blanket gives a young cat a safe base to return to after each new adventure.

• kitten
• basket
• cute animals
• pets