Everyone knows that there is no predicting the personality of a cat. Some are social and love belly rubs and being a part of the family while others are nocturnal animals that seem to hide when more than one person is in the room. As far as cats in the clinic, some will purr and seem at ease while others give me about 5 seconds to work with. Some days I feel like we are so far from domesticating cats!
Kitty Kindergarten classes were developed to help kittens become better socialized and learn what behaviors are desired (playing chase with toys) and which ones are not (waking you up at 2 am by biting you). Cats are easily stressed and even the smallest things to us can set off behaviors including scratching furniture and urinating inappropriately. Training and socialization can help educate owners about early signs of stress and help decrease the severity of strike out behaviors.
Class sizes are small, most under 10 people, with the goal of keeping the group focused as they try to work with young kittens. Costs range from $25-$50. The classes are great for owners too, as they discuss general wellness for kittens and ways to enrich the environment for cats at home. Common diseases and illnesses may also be discussed during the classes. The idea may seem crazy when you sign up, but the majority of those who enroll in a Kitty Kindergarten class are very thrilled with the value.
Kitty classes may take a while to really gain as much popularity as puppy training classes, but with time I anticipate they will be just as popular. And as it is with puppies, it is so important to train and socialize pets while impressionable to help prevent undesired behaviors which often lead to owners becoming frustrated and taking the pets to shelters.
Check with your veterinarian about Kitty Kindergarten classes in your area and get started today!
