30/09/2026
This!!! So important that kittens get the right start.
🐾 Raising kittens in the house isn’t the same as socialising them
Most breeders will tell you their kittens are “well socialised.” But what does that actually mean?
A 2026 Animal Welfare study surveyed 133 pedigree-cat breeders in Sweden and found that although breeders generally considered socialisation important, there were gaps between what they believed kittens should experience and what they actually reported providing. This included handling by multiple people and exposure to other companion animals. Researchers also identified knowledge gaps around socialisation timing, handling and the heritability of traits influencing responses to novelty.
🧠 Exposure ≠ socialisation
This is an important distinction in how we raise kittens at Born Bold Cats.
Hearing a vacuum once, meeting a dog or being carried around doesn’t automatically produce a confident kitten.
Good socialisation is about positive, progressive and controllable experiences. We consider the kitten’s response, intensity of the experience, choice, recovery and repetition.
Our kittens progressively experience different people, cats and other animals where appropriate, household noises, surfaces, handling and grooming, crates, travel, play, problem-solving and changing environments.
The aim isn’t simply:
“My kitten has experienced this.” ✓
It’s:
“My kitten experienced this positively and learned they could cope with it.”
The study is important, but it doesn’t prove that any particular breeder protocol produces behaviourally superior adult cats. It was a self-reported convenience sample, so further research is needed.
What it does reinforce is the importance of taking kitten behavioural development seriously during these crucial early weeks.
At Born Bold, breeding isn’t only about health, genetics and pedigree. How our kittens learn about their world matters too.
❤️ WE RAISE CONFIDENT COMPANIONS.
📖 Research: Hirsch EN, Sunning H & Andersson M. (2026). Exploring kitten socialisation practices and welfare implications within a Swedish breeding association. Animal Welfare, 35, e6.
