Dealing with a Cat That's Unaffectionate: Tips & Soluti

The true essence lies in how cats navigate their "socialization period." This is not just about fostering a close bond; it also plays a crucial role in preventing various abnormal behaviors later on, such as aggressive attacks and inappropriate elimination.

① The Socialization Education Phase

28 weeks (ideally, complete the period from 2 to 12 weeks)

② What is the Socialization Period?

From birth to the second week, kittens begin to pay attention to their surroundings and start receiving external stimuli.

By the eighth week, cats start to follow their "mom and siblings," learning to communicate, practicing hunting (play fighting), and imitating behaviors, among other things.

Here's the key point:

The role of the mother cat is incredibly important. With the presence of family, kittens can learn in a more stable and secure mental state how to adapt to humans and realize that humans are trustworthy!

Let me clarify for those who may not understand: learning comes from imitation. The way the mother cat treats the owner will be copied immediately by the kitten. Don't underestimate the kitten's learning ability; driven by curiosity, they can even learn "how to use the toilet like humans."

③ Why isn't it close to me?

Because its experience during the socialization period was unpleasant, or it never had a socialization period at all. How can it adapt and trust?

Most healthy kittens are more likely to have issues due to "new environment stress" and "unfamiliarity with new owners." You can make your own judgment.

④ What can be done?

The more pain and the longer the duration, the harder it is to heal. There is currently no effective method.

Building trust is already a long and difficult process, especially when it comes to "childhood trauma." This applies to humans as well as to small animals.

My suggestion:

For those who haven't bought a cat yet: be more discerning. Don't just look for physical diseases; mental health is also crucial. Simple interactions can reveal some clues.

For those who have already bought a cat: focus on the cat's diet, living conditions, and activities, and you can also use music and pheromones to help.

In Conclusion

Once a trust is established during the socialization period, even if the cat later becomes stray or bullied, it can more easily restore trust in its new owner.

However, life is sometimes full of drama. It's a meeting of destiny when there's a connection, and a missed opportunity when there isn't. Since you've chosen, let's give it our best shot!