will hand rearing affect behaviour?

[SillyTilly]

Hi,
My two kittens have been hand reared from 2.5 weeks. They lived in a home from then until 6.5 weeks, when they moved into the rescue centre cattery.

Can I expect any problems due to them being hand reared? Will there be socialisation issues I need to deal with. There are no other cats living in the house.

I hope this isn't a stupid question - I only really know about horses where hand rearing can cause big problems!!!

Cheers

Olivia

[Hreow]

Same with cats. They won't have had mum to teach them all sorts of things. At least there are two of them so they can teach eachother about playing nice.

[CJK]

I dont know anything about hand rearing I am afraid.Ia m sure if they have always been together that they should be ok. At least they have had each other to learn from.
Hopefully one of the other members here can help you

[smudgley]

No reason to be worried about their social skills. :) If anything they will have had more human contact than most kittens which is good & the fact that they've had 6 weeks indoors is also good.

I would be a lot more worried about their social interaction if they'd had a mom - but no human handling.:?

They'll be fine. :)

[Fran]

I agree with Smudgley, you often find that hand raised puppies and kittens make better pets because of the human handling and contact they have had. It's a totally different ball game with horses. Try to relax they should be fine :)

[Kay]

Shouldn't be any worries. I had to hand rear one kitten out of a litter of 5. That kitten has grown into one of the most loving and well behaved babies I have ever bred and his new owners are over the moon.

[Kim]

I don't think you have any worries at all. Hand rearing makes them very friendly and socialised. Cat behaviour seems to come instinctively, the cats we hand reared were all lovely pets.