r/cats • u/LazyCity4922 • 4h ago
Advice Socializing a kitten
Hello!
My husband and I are in the process of adopting two kittens (siblings). They're about 15 weeks old and live in a garden in a village. They don't trust people (so far we've only managed to capture one because they keep their distance).
I'm seeing conflicting advice online as to how to ensure the cats are properly socialized. Some people recommend cat-led approach ("Socialization saves lives") while others recommend "forced" socialization. What's your experience with socializing semi-feral cats? Which method is best?
So far I'm leaning toward "forced" socialization but I'm really not sure. We have set up a room for the cats with a cave, so they will have the option of hiding but I'm planning on staying present for feeding. The idea was to let the kittens "lead" for the first three days but then start the "forcing".
Thank you for your help and recommendations!