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Understanding kitten fostering and socialisation practices using mixed methods.

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Volunteer foster caretakers provide crucial socialization for kittens (2-9 weeks). Most offer recommended experiences, but some use non-recommended methods for fearful kittens, influenced by personality and pandemic factors. Support and challenges impact kitten welfare.

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Area of Science:

  • Animal Behavior
  • Veterinary Science
  • Shelter Medicine

Background:

  • Kitten socialization during the sensitive period (2-9 weeks) is critical for behavioral development and welfare.
  • Shelter kittens often rely on foster caretakers for essential early life experiences.
  • Understanding current fostering practices is key to optimizing kitten outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore current kitten fostering practices related to behavioral development and welfare.
  • To identify supports and challenges faced by foster caretakers during kitten socialization.
  • To investigate factors influencing the use of recommended and non-recommended socialization techniques.

Main Methods:

  • A mixed-method survey was administered to 487 foster caretakers.
  • Participants described their socialization practices and provided open-ended feedback.
  • Statistical analysis examined correlations between personality traits, pandemic impact, and socialization techniques.

Main Results:

  • Most foster caretakers provided recommended socialization experiences (handling, toys, exploration).
  • Fearful kittens sometimes received non-recommended techniques (e.g., flooding), influenced by caretaker agreeableness and pandemic impact.
  • Fosters reported support from resources but faced challenges like time constraints and kitten illness.

Conclusions:

  • Foster caretakers' perspectives are vital for understanding kitten socialization, development, and welfare.
  • Reviewing socialization guidelines provided to fosters is essential for improvement.
  • Enhancing kitten socialization can improve welfare, adoption rates, and caretaker satisfaction.