Research overview: the sensitive period for kitten socialisation

Early-life experience profoundly shapes how friendly and confident a cat becomes, and research has identified a sensitive period in kittenhood, roughly between two and seven or eight weeks, when exposure to people and novel stimuli has lasting effects. This overview surveys classic and modern studies on handling, the number and variety of human handlers, the influence of the mother's temperament and presence, and how early socialisation predicts adult sociability and reduced fearfulness. It discusses practical implications for breeders, fosterers, and shelters. The topic underpins evidence-based socialisation programs aimed at producing well-adjusted companion cats and improving adoption outcomes.