Is it true that the more you handle a cat as a kitten, the more you can as an adult?

Question

My friend owns two cats. one is rescued the other she raised as a kitten. The kitten she didnt pick up or play with very much because she worked for 12 hours a day (i know 12 hours isnt good!). but, when the kitten got to about 2 year old, my friend started playing with her more and my friend only worked for 5 hours. (The kitten is called molly) So as molly grew up, my friend couldnt pick her up and hug her or put her on her knee. molly just didnt like it. i asked my friend why she did this and she said: "its because she wasnt handled or picked up as a kitten"

Is that true? Her other cat just flops on your lap when you pick her up and loves being handled so its a tad strange!

And is it also true that if you DO handle a kitten and i mean all teh time like pick it up and stroke it and play with it, will they be allow you to pick them up as an adult, and are more playful as an adult?

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

it depends on the cat!

i got a kitten a few years ago; i let her sleep with me, i played with her, i held her all the time, etc. she was the sweetest thing!

she grew up and now she doesnt like being even touched. she hates when people pick her up or pet her or anything! she's a real sour puss!

of course she is a calico...

Answer 2

Yes, it is true the more you handle and play with a kitten, the better socialized it will be as an adult cat. Cats that are not socialized as kittens are called feral, and usually it is very difficult to ever handle them as adults.

Answer 3

each cat has different personalities just like us humans. a child can be raised with all the love in the world and grow up and be an angry person.  that is how cats are too. they each have their own personality, and holding them a lot as kittens, that doesnt mean that they will adjust to it and happen to like it when they are adult cats. the cat that was rescued prob had a rough life growing up, so wouldnt this mean from what your friend is saying that this cat should not like to be held, pet, etc too??

so to answer your question, i dont believe that your friend is right.    

Answer 4

Yes of course! As a kitten they will learn that humans are friends. When mine was a kitten she was a stray. She is 17 and has lived with me since she was a teenager. (Maybe when she was 1ish?)

She is ok with people. She loves me to death and ever since I've had her I will say "Hey kitty kitty kitty!" and she comes. She hates my brother's friends however and will hide when there's  a lot of people over.

It's the same way with rabbits. If you play with a baby rabbit when it's young a lot it will be used to you.