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Cats/Long term psychological effects of kittenhood abandonment

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Expert: - 12/5/2009


Question
Hi there, I have a 6 month old kitty who was abandoned by his mother at 2 weeks old. I successfully bottle-fed him and now he's happy, healthy, and very affectionate. I remember hearing somewhere that cats can experience psychological and behavioral problems due to their kittenhood abandonment.  I'm wondering about the validity of that thought, and if it's true, what sort of problems can I expect and how do I deal with them?

Answer
Kristen,

Yes, there can be long term psychological effects when a kitten is taken from mom at such an early age. Some cats will develop excessive attachments to their caregivers to the point that they will cry and be quite distressed when they're left alone, other cats will develop a habit of nursing on clothing, bedding, stuffed toys, finger tips, ear lobes or even their own fur which becomes a lifelong behavior that's somewhat equivalent to a human child sucking their thumb for comfort. Obviously if your kitty is not showing any signs of odd behaviors for his age he's probably fine, you will in all likelihood notice that he's very attached to you though. Where this attachment can become a problem is if you find yourself in a committed relationship or having children, hand reared kitties can become quite jealous and when cats (hand raised or not) become jealous they can exhibit a wide variety of behavioral issues. There are a number of different other possibilities, but to get into them all in this answer isn't practical, it's just way too long and involved for what experts on this site are expected to do. If you do have specific concerns about your kitty's overall behavior, psychological development or any other feline related issues I'd be more than happy to help you out to the best of my ability.

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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