Kitten Imprinting

The bond between a kitten and his mother is, according to animal behaviorist Nicholas Dodman (The Cat Who Cried for Help), “the most important one it will have.”

“If, when the kitten cries, its mom routinely responds, it will develop confidence,” Dodman says. “If she grooms it regularly, its nervous system will literally sprout. Well-tended kittens have higher self-esteem, are smarter, and seem to regulate their emotions better.”

why-does-my-kitten-follow-me-around-like-a-puppy At eight to 12 weeks (responsible breeders prefer to go with the 12-week mark), the kitten will most likely be separated from his mother and go to a new home. And he will be traumatized. Your first day at kindergarten will have nothing on it.

That’s when you have to step in.

You have to “tend to the kitten’s demands, just as its mom might have,” explains Dodman. “This way, you keep the kitten on the right track regarding its intellectual and social development.” In the process, the kitten attaches itself to you, and you have the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

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