Early learning

The things your kitten experiences in their first few months will influence the rest of their life. The more they experience during this important time, the more open and trusting they'll be as an adult cat.

Mother knows best

A kitten’s first and most important teacher is their mother. They'll teach their kittens everything they need to know to survive, from how to look after their coats and claws, all the way through to toilet training.

Early learning lasts a lifetime

By the time your kitten is eight weeks old, they've learned everything they can from their mother. That means it’s time for you to take over! By nature, your little feline friend is a natural hunter, dependent on themselves for survival. It’s up to you to satisfy their hunting instincts, guide them towards appropriate behaviour (like using a scratching post) and gain their confidence, love and trust.

Living with you and your family

Your kitten’s character will mostly form between the second and seventh week of their life. If they have lots of contact with people during this time, there’s a good chance they won’t be shy as they grow up. If you want your kitten to be an open and active member of your family, it’s important to keep handling them, talking to them and stroking them right from the start.

Everyday objects

Everyday life is full of things that will appear strange to your kitten at first – like being in the car, or watching you vacuum the carpet. Get them used to them as early as you can. The more you expose your kitten to everyday life, the more confident they'll be.

Trying different foods

In the wild, big cats naturally experience a wide variety of tastes and textures. So it’s a good idea to let your kitten try lots of flavours and textures early on – this will also make it easier for you to vary their diet later. Whiskas® Kitten Complete pouches and dry food come in lots of different flavours that will not only satisfy their taste buds, but also meet their nutritional needs.