Shandong Lioncat

　　When first raising a cat, as a novice, we often feel at a loss in the cat’s care, neglecting some seemingly trivial matters, letting the cat go unmanaged. Some daily care details may cause the cat to develop bad habits or fail to integrate into human life. To prevent the cat from becoming a burden, we must start some training early.

　　What are some common problems? For example, cats cannot be taken out; once outside, they panic, or urinate and defecate as soon as they get into the car. Upon hearing thunder or firecrackers, they immediately hide under tables and chairs trembling. Or you hear it meowing all day long but do not understand what it is calling for; sometimes at the slightest noise or disturbance, it keeps crying... These show insufficient socialization. What socialization does is to help them integrate into human society and live comfortably.

　　In Taiwan, many veterinarians require owners to only go out after all vaccinations are complete. However, the result is that cats generally have insufficient socialization. According to American research, cats can go out once they receive the first vaccination, at about 60 days old, and should be taken out as much as possible to develop correct social behaviors. Do not wait until all vaccinations are finished to go out.

　　The best period for socialization starts from three weeks of age. But it’s never too late. If the optimal socialization period is missed, don’t worry; although it won’t be like a normal cat, it can still get closer to normal through the owner’s efforts. So, regardless of its age or socialization status, as long as the owner spends some time on socialization, every cat can live happily and comfortably without continual maladjustment.

　　To socialize cats, we need to train them a bit. We often unintentionally train cats to beg for food. Many cats stand upright to receive food. Or when eating with people, they obediently sit on chairs, etc. This is not a good sign. Soon, the owner will become troubled because the kitten will keep asking for food, refusing its own cat food, becoming pickier, and ignoring all guests. Like an untrained feral cat, it jumps on the dining table searching for favorite food, making a mess in minutes and embarrassing the owner. Therefore, cats should be taught proper dining rules from an early age: fixed times, fixed places, fixed amounts. Never give them human food; cats must eat food specially designed for them, as human food does not fully meet their nutritional and growth needs. Kittens over three weeks old spend almost all awake time playing until five months old, which is when they are most cute and interesting—either play with them or just watch. After five months, their playfulness decreases but they still want to play often. Children’s toys like block sets (e.g., Lego) may not suit cats; some parts are too small, some have sharp edges, and some may be bitten and swallowed, causing trouble.