Important areas in which to socialise and develop your cat include:
- Careful handling by humans, especially children and new visitors
- Travelling inside a cat carrier and going in the car
- Veterinary examinations, including touching the claws (in case they ever need clipping) and tooth brushing (yes you can train a cat to have its teeth brushed if you start when it is young!)
- General household noises such as the washing machine, vacuum cleaner and doorbell
- Good litter-tray habits
- Your cat’s ability to find its own space if it is feeling stressed (which may be as simple as providing them with their own space where no other humans/pets are allowed)
- Playing with toys – to discourage boredom and encourage biting toys only (and not humans!)
All good behaviour should be encouraged with positive rewards, which can include food rewards or playing with or fussing your cat if that is what they enjoy the most. Take the learning steps VERY slowly and if your cat shows any signs of fear take a step back and wait until your companion is ready to engage in learning again.