Last Updated on 2 years by GILBERT FILLMORE
Want to know how to get a kitten to trust you? Trust is one way to strengthen bonds, and make your young feline companion forever loyal to you. It will pave the way for positive interactions that will create wholesome memories for you and your feline companion. It is the easiest way to convince your kitten that the veterinary clinic is not a dangerous place. In fact, it is the only way you will be capable of giving your kitten their daily needs such as grooming, feeding them, and playing with them among others. However, it is impossible to do all this and more if your kitten does not trust you.
“How do you get a kitten to trust you?”, you might ask. With the right set of tips and tricks, it is possible to create a trusting relationship between you and the kitten. After all, kittens are in the early stages of their lives, being more receptive to learning. This makes it possible for you to engrave new concepts and associations into their adorable minds. Trust is built over time, so don’t rush the process. To make the process smooth, strap on as we dive into the depths of creating trust between you and your young feline companion.
Understanding Kitten Behavior
The best way to interpret how your kitten is feeling is by observing their body language and overall behavior. If a kitten trusts you, they will seek your attention. They will come for pets, cuddles, and playtime. They will let you touch them all over, especially their stomachs where they just don’t let anyone. Purring will be a vocalization that will indicate being content, and feeling more safe and secure around you. Believe it or not, they will bring you gifts that will freak you out, but it is the thought that counts. Don’t be shocked by the dead mice and birds placed on your lap. They will also groom you, since they think of you as family.
A Kitten that does not trust you on the other hand will avoid you like the plague. They will hide under furniture or take off at the sight of you. To show disgust, they will hiss or spit at you meaning they are feeling threatened or scared of your presence. If you are close enough to them, you will notice dilated pupils which are a sign of fear and anxiety. You might also get injured since they might opt to bite or scratch. It is important that you remove yourself from such a situation as it might end up being deadly in some cases. They will also have stiff body language, with their ears flattened against their head and tails tucked between their legs. Overall, kittens’ body language and behavior is the best way to know how your kitten is feeling. Knowing these signs can help you plan how to strengthen the bond or create a nonexistent one.
Making A Safe Environment
To start conjuring the trust process, you need to first create a safe environment. You can achieve this by choosing a quiet area that your kitten will feel comfortable and relaxed in. It can be a spare room or a corner of your bedroom. Setting up a cozy bedding or pad, you can place a blanket where the kitten can curl up to collect their thoughts. Make it more accommodating by providing food and water bowls in these designated areas, away from litter boxes to encourage regular eating for a healthy well-being.
A thoughtful thing you can also do is offer hiding spots for your kitten. This can be as simple as a cardboard box, that your kitten can retreat to in times of distress. Ensuring that hazards are away from these designated areas makes the kittens less likely to injure themselves. Being a responsible owner means that you should also care for their natural instincts and exercise. You can achieve this by providing toys and scratching posts to keep the kitten engaged. Spending time with them in these designated areas, make them start building the foundation of trust around you.
Training The Kitten
Now that you have created the perfect environment for your young feline companion to trust you, it’s time you train them to actually trust you. You have to keep the training sessions short though, since kittens have short attention spans. A session should not be more than 5-10 minutes at a time to keep them engaged. The best way to actually get something through is by using positive reinforcement. Here, you reward your kitten with treats, praise, or playtime for performing the desired behavior you wanted them to.
Starting off with basic commands such as “come”, “sit”, and “stop” help create a foundation for future complex commands. You can use verbal and visual cues for the commands so that the kitten can associate your body language with the command and be more likely to respond. Kittens are curious creatures, so it is important that you keep the training sessions fun and engaging for your young feline companion. After each training session, remember to terminate the sessions on a positive note. This will make the kitten look forward to future sessions and be eager to be around you.
Addressing Trust Issues
Sometimes even during our training sessions, we might be unable to gain track. This can be because of the kitten exhibiting trust issues, and being unwilling to engage with you. One way to make them feel more relaxed is by playing soothing sounds. White noise or any other soothing sounds can drown out the noise and make your kitten feel a little bit safer. You can offer them comfort and reassurance, by speaking to them gently in a calming voice. Letting them retreat to their hiding spot will make them feel more in control of their adorable lives.
Since the objective is to make them calm, we can go all out and even purchase calming aids. This can be pheromone diffusers or sprays. Using these products affects your kitten’s perception of the environment, making them feel more comfortable and relaxed. You should also avoid overreacting, as this will make them anxious and reinforce negative behavior. If the kitten happens to show signs of aggressiveness, biting, or scratching, then it would be better to seek professional help. This way, the kittens would be able to get tailored help for them that can help them become more socialized. Overall, you can address trust issues during training by being patient and constantly consistent. This way they will create a routine and feel more control in their lives. After all, kittens thrive on routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a kitten to trust you?
The time it takes for a kitten to trust you can vary due to various reasons. Some of these include the kitten’s individual personality or any past experiences the kitten has had. It may take a few days, weeks, or even months for a kitten to finally trust you. Spending time with them will help.
How do you bond with a scared kitten?
To bond with a scared kitten, you have to be patient and gentle. Spending time with kittens regularly in a safe and comfortable environment that is quiet will help. You can offer treats to make the kitten like you more.
How do you get kittens to like you?
To get a kitten to like you, let them approach you on their own terms. You can use positive reinforcement like treats, toys, and praise for desired behavior displayed. You have to be patient and avoid overreacting.
What not to do with kittens?
Kittens are delicate, so you should not handle them roughly or with a lot of force. You should not frighten or startle them as they will negatively associate you with bad feelings. Importantly, you should not punish the kitten for misbehaviors.
How do you know if a kitten loves you?
A kitten that loves you will always seek you for attention. They may follow you around and even curl up on your lap. Since they love you and consider you family, they will also attempt to groom you. Bringing you dead mice as presents is also one thing they can do.
How do kittens choose their favorite person?
Kittens will choose their favorite person based on the amount of time that they get to spend with them. The person that feeds, plays, and engages with them is likely to become their favorite person. They may also choose based on their individual personality and experience.
Conclusion
When it comes to getting a kitten to trust you, you first have to understand the general behavior of kittens. It is easy to confuse their body language to mean something else if you are not well-versed in the world of feline companions. Overall, a kitten that does not like you will always tend to avoid you, hide from you, or even be aggressive at times. To make them trust you, you first have to create a safe environment for them to interact with you.
After that, you can then start training your young feline companions in basic commands. This serves as the foundation for future complex lessons. Making these sessions fun and engaging help build the bond between you and the kitten. You have to address trust issues during these sessions accordingly. For one, if the kitten is over-aggressive, you can consider going and seeking professional help. With patience and consistency, you will get the young feline companion loyal and trustworthy to you in no time.
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