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SillyTilly's Avatar
Catsey Junior
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 111
20-06-2006, 08:38 PM   #1

will hand rearing affect behaviour?


Hi,
My two kittens have been hand reared from 2.5 weeks. They lived in a home from then until 6.5 weeks, when they moved into the rescue centre cattery.

Can I expect any problems due to them being hand reared? Will there be socialisation issues I need to deal with. There are no other cats living in the house.

I hope this isn't a stupid question - I only really know about horses where hand rearing can cause big problems!!!

Cheers

Olivia



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Hreow's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Abyssinian tear-aways.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2,478
20-06-2006, 09:09 PM   #2

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


Same with cats. They won't have had mum to teach them all sorts of things. At least there are two of them so they can teach eachother about playing nice.



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CJK CJK is offline
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: NA
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NA
Posts: 4,479
20-06-2006, 09:09 PM   #3

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


I dont know anything about hand rearing I am afraid.Ia m sure if they have always been together that they should be ok. At least they have had each other to learn from.
Hopefully one of the other members here can help you



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smudgley's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 3 cats
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wall Heath.West Midlands.UK
Posts: 7,877
20-06-2006, 09:23 PM   #4

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


No reason to be worried about their social skills. If anything they will have had more human contact than most kittens which is good & the fact that they've had 6 weeks indoors is also good.

I would be a lot more worried about their social interaction if they'd had a mom - but no human handling.

They'll be fine.



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Fran's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: DSH/Siamese/Orientals
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 21,296
21-06-2006, 06:38 AM   #5

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


I agree with Smudgley, you often find that hand raised puppies and kittens make better pets because of the human handling and contact they have had. It's a totally different ball game with horses. Try to relax they should be fine



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Kay's Avatar
Kay Kay is offline
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 19 Persians, 2 Oriental SHs
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Anglesey, Wales
Posts: 4,419
21-06-2006, 01:44 PM   #6

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


Shouldn't be any worries. I had to hand rear one kitten out of a litter of 5. That kitten has grown into one of the most loving and well behaved babies I have ever bred and his new owners are over the moon.



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Kim's Avatar
Kim Kim is offline
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 1 mog
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 3,848
21-06-2006, 07:09 PM   #7

Re: will hand rearing affect behaviour?


I don't think you have any worries at all. Hand rearing makes them very friendly and socialised. Cat behaviour seems to come instinctively, the cats we hand reared were all lovely pets.



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