Kitten behavioral health: recommendations for success

Introduction

Veterinary technicians and nurses are in a unique position to aid new kitten guardians. We are some of the very first professionals that pet owners interact with after acquiring a new kitten. It gives us the opportunity to recommend management and training options for common kitten behaviors; provide education on the benefits of enrichment; teach clients how to set up a feline-friendly environment; and set up realistic expectations for living with, and raising, a kitten. The goal of all education is to meet clients where they are at, protect and support the human-animal bond, build the kitten’s confidence in, encourage emotional and physical health throughout the cat’s lifetime, and bond clients to your practice.

The sensitive period of learning for a kitten begins when it is two weeks old and ends around seven weeks of age. This short period poses a challenge for successful psychological development. Research suggests that if kittens are not handled by a minimum of four people by eight weeks of age, they have difficulty bonding with new guardians (1). The intention is not just to socialize a kitten with people and other cats, but to provide exposure to other animals, different environments, physical handling, and new sounds and surfaces. The focus during this period should be on the quality of the experiences rather than the quantity, and kittens should be positively impacted rather than have a neutral or negative experience.

The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) have developed a tool called the Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment (Box 1); this offers a wonderful reference point for veterinary professionals that helps us cover important topics of education when consulting with clients (2).

Box 1. The Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment offers a useful reference tool for veterinary technicians/nurses to help educate clients on feline welfare. 

Our role as veterinary technicians/nurses

Veterinary nurses and technicians can provide behavioral education to clients during kitten wellness exams or separate consultations with a primary focus on behavioral health. These recommendations should include:

• Carrier training
• Litter box setup
• Scratching behavior
• Positive human interactions 
• Feline-friendly environment and enrichment 

Taking time to address these topics helps decrease the stress of new kitten guardians and provides them with accurate and up-to-date information.

Another important recommendation is enrollment in kitten classes. Although less popular than puppy classes, they can be successful, both in-person and virtually. It is recommended that kittens attend classes before 14 weeks of age (3,4), and the classes should include:

• Veterinary husbandry and care (Figure 1)
• Kitten play, both interactive and solo (Figure 2)
• Teaching foundational behaviors using positive reinforcement
• Litter box habits and maintenance
• Environmental enrichment 
• Information on kitten development
• Feline body language interpretation 
• Tips for common behavior concerns
• How to establish a feline-friendly environment
• The benefits of positive reinforcement

Travel to the clinic

Stress-free veterinary visits begin with proper carrier training. Many cats do not interact with their carriers until they go to the clinic; this unfamiliarity can provoke fear and stress in cats, and is the beginning of the fear cascade often seen at veterinary examinations. It has been shown that carrier training cats can lead to more comfortable car rides and less stress at the examination (5). Veterinary technicians/nurses can educate clients on carrier training kittens using discussion and additional resources that can be used as a long-term reference. Topics should include choosing a carrier that is the right size and how to positively condition a kitten to the carrier. The following are some guidelines that veterinary technicians/nurses can provide to their clients to make carriers a safe space for kittens:

1. The right fit means carriers should be big enough for the kitten to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. The carrier also needs to grow with the kitten, so make sure guardians know that purchasing a new carrier once the kitten is an adult may be necessary. A general rule of thumb is that the carrier should be 1.5 times the size of the cat. A carrier should be sturdy, well-ventilated, and easily taken apart to make the introduction to the carrier simple and easy. 
2. Making a positive association is important. Place the carrier in a familiar place at home by leaving it in a room where the kitten spends a lot of time; elevated surfaces can be considered if the carrier is sturdy. Clients can treat the bed with a synthetic pheromone spray for added comfort (Figure 3) (6). 
3. Gradual introduction works best. Take the carrier apart and begin training by introducing the uncovered base of the carrier. Place a familiar bed in the bottom of the carrier and sprinkle treats on it. Do this for a couple of days until the kitten ventures into the bottom of the carrier willingly. Once the kitten is comfortable going into the bottom of the carrier, the lid can be placed on top without the door.
4. The “carrier fairy” can visit to make the carrier a fun and interesting location. Place high-value treats or toys in the kitten’s carrier throughout the day when they are not watching. When they choose to enter their carrier, they will be surprised with these delicious treats or new toys. 
5. Install the door when the kitten begins spending more time relaxing in their covered carrier. Leave it open for now. Then, repeat the above “carrier fairy” recommendations with the door on.
6. Build duration with the door closed once the kitten is comfortable with the door on. Encourage clients to put treats through the door of the carrier every 3-5 seconds to start, and then slowly reward the kitten less frequently. For example: during the first session, count out five treats and give one treat every 3-5 seconds. Then at the next session count out five more treats and rewards every 10-20 seconds, and so on. These sessions should take place over several days. Another easy way to build duration is to give the kitten a food toy while the door is closed and then open the door once the food toy is finished.
7. The first car ride is crucial to carrier training success! Make it successful in a few different ways: 

• Play calming classical music to block noise and help alleviate stress. 
• Give the kitten some toys and treats to entertain them during their trip.
• Cover the carrier with a blanket to keep the kitten comfortable and calm and to block out visual stimuli.
• Spray the blanket in the base of the carrier with a synthetic pheromone.

Carriers can make vet visits and travel much easier for kittens in the long term when introductions are done slowly and considerately. Convince your clients that it is worth it! 

Litter box setup

Litter box management and setup is crucial for emotional and physical health, as well as the prevention of future elimination concerns. Gathering information about other pets in the home (especially cats or dogs that could access the litter box area) and a client’s current litter box arrangement will help technicians/nurses make more individualized recommendations.

Cats prefer large litter boxes (7,8). The box should be spacious enough for the kitten to easily step into, walk around, and dig (Figure 4). Thinking “outside the box” and purchasing low-sided storage containers works very well, or clients can also cut down one side of the box to make it easier for the kitten to enter and exit. Uncovered litter boxes are preferable, because they provide kittens with multiple exit and entry points and are therefore less likely to make them feel cornered. Choose a quiet, low-traffic area for the box(es), and it is also a good idea to place the boxes on the different levels of the home. The general rule of thumb for multi-cat homes is that there should be one litter box per cat, plus one (e.g., a two-cat home would have three litter boxes). Avoid automated litter boxes because they can be startling to cats and can contribute to elimination concerns.

Litter box hygiene is also crucial; poor hygiene is one common leading cause of elimination problems, so recommend a daily cleaning (8). Cats often prefer clumping, sand-like litter (9), but once cats have developed a preference/tolerance for a particular type of litter, it is best to refrain from changing it to prevent substrate aversion. Finally, as the kitten grows, the size of the litter box needs to grow as well. This is a topic that should be brought up at a first kitten appointment and during future kitten or adolescent appointments.

Scratching behavior

Scratching is a normal, instinctual behavior for kittens and cats. Providing suitable, safe scratching posts, a variety of surfaces, frequent nail trims, and ample enrichment is crucial for prevention and management of destruction scratching (10). Scratching helps kittens stretch their muscles, mark their territory, and maintain healthy claws by removing the nail sheath (11). Various scratching posts – both vertical and horizontal – should be provided and placed in areas where the kitten tends to scratch, and include different substrates, such as rope, carpet and corrugated cardboard (12). Honeysuckle and catnip can entice kittens to these new areas and encourage scratching on a preferred surface.

Setting up multiple scratching options and using redirection is key to managing unwanted scratching. For example, if a kitten begins scratching a piece of furniture, redirect them to a designated scratching post at the moment. Praise and reward the kitten when they scratch in appropriate areas (10). 

Positive human interactions

Kittens explore their environment with their mouth and paws. Ensuring that human interaction does not provoke play or predatory behavior toward people is necessary for healthy social development. Teaching clients how to play with their cat using wands and other interactive toys that promote chasing, catching and biting not only gives kittens an outlet for these behaviors, but also encourages positive human interaction. Clients can also be coached to end these sessions on a positive note by trading the toy for a treat.

Redirection is important for preventing unwanted biting behavior. Provide the kitten with something it is allowed to chase instead, and set up toy and treat stations in areas where the undesirable behavior most frequently occurs. For example, if a kitten starts to chase and claw or bite at feet when someone enters a room, grabbing a toy from a basket by the door to redirect the kitten is a good strategy. This technique prevents frustration, which can lead to more biting. Ideally, we can redirect the kitten when body language cues indicate high arousal, such as staring, a swishing tail, and crouching (Figure 5).

Environmental enrichment

Meeting a cat’s emotional and physical needs involves creating an environment that allows them to express natural and instinctive behaviors such as hunting, climbing, playing, social interactions, resting, and scratching. Without proper enrichment, cats can experience heightened stress and anxiety that may lead to behavioral and medical issues (13).

One way to enrich a cat’s environment is through food and water-related activities. Various food-dispensing toys are available for dry food and treats, and starting with high-value treats can prevent frustration. DIY options include hiding food in crumpled tissue paper, cutting holes in cardboard tubes, or placing food in an empty egg carton (Figure 6). For wet food, puzzle feeders like muffin tins or ice cube trays work well, and hiding small portions of wet food around the house can encourage cats to “hunt.” Water can also be part of enrichment; a water fountain can be a great alternative to a traditional bowl, especially for cats that enjoy running water (14).

Cats are naturally curious, and will benefit from exercise and activities that stimulate their senses. Their incredible vision, hearing and sense of smell allow them to excel as hunters, so enrichment should cater to these abilities. For example, tunnels made of soft fabric or sturdy paper bags provide opportunities for exploration. Interactive play with wand toys mimics prey-predator behavior and encourages stalking and pouncing. One study showed that cats preferred to chase cotton or rubber hair ties attached to a piece of thread over other groups of toys used to mimic movement, likely because these toys most closely resembled natural prey behavior (15); the runner-up in the study was plastic toys stuffed with food. Games like “goalie,” where cats chase or block treats thrown down a hallway, add variety. Solo play with toys like furry mice, crinkle balls, or ping-pong balls placed in interesting locations are other ways to hold a kitten’s attention.

Elevated spaces are a must-have for a cat’s environment, as these animals enjoy perching in high spots for security and napping purposes. Cat trees, shelves or walkways can provide this elevated territory. Hideaways such as covered beds, boxes lined with soft towels, or makeshift shelters offer safe spaces for rest and retreat (16).

Olfactory enrichment is another opportunity to provide physical and mental stimulation, as seen in the Five Pillars of a Healthy Feline Environment (Box 1). Cats rely on their sense of smell and on chemical signals to gather environmental information, so ensure the enrichment efforts in this area are positive and appealing rather than assaulting (2). One example of beneficial olfactory enrichment is bringing the outdoors inside by collecting leaves, grass or twigs for investigation. Providing individual items scented with catnip (17), growing cat grass, and creating “party boxes” with tissues, streamers, and other items scented with catnip, honeysuckle or lavender can be enticing for many cats (Figure 7). Supervision is however necessary to ensure inedible items are not ingested.

Visual and auditory enrichment includes “cat TV” featuring footage of birds, rodents or fish. Keep in mind that caution is needed in case it triggers frustration rather than enjoyment. Calming music or pheromone sprays can promote relaxation and exploration. Safe outdoor enclosures (known as “catios”) are another great way to allow cats access to the outdoors while still keeping them safe. Cats can also benefit from clicker training and agility exercises, which are both fun and mentally stimulating (18). Short, successful training sessions of 2-3 minutes in length can include tricks or foundational behaviors such as touch, sit, harness conditioning and recall. Agility courses with tunnels, pillows and chairs provide physical challenges. Harness training and outdoor enclosures allow cats to explore the outdoors safely, engaging their senses in a controlled environment.

Meeting these needs is a necessity for every cat and should be tailored to their age, health and mobility. Providing these opportunities can enhance a kitten’s well-being, prevent unwanted behaviors, and reduce the risk of stress-related issues, ensuring a happier and more fulfilling life.

Conclusion

When setting up a feline-friendly environment, owners should be encouraged to “think like a cat”. Providing plenty of elevated surfaces, hiding places, multiple resources for feeding stations, litter boxes, scratching opportunities and separate resting areas promotes emotional well-being. Advocacy and education for kitten guardians on the prevention of stress are necessary for a successful sensitive period of development and beyond, for the lifetime of the cat. Veterinary professionals should strive to make every interaction as stress-free as possible, and educate owners on the importance of safe exposure, common kitten behaviors, and the need to ensure their home environment is enriched and feline-focused to enhance welfare and curb behavior concerns.

References