Feline leukemia virus, a retrovirus, is a common infection of cats. It is the cause of more cat deaths, directly or indirectly, than any other organism and is widespread in the cat population.

How the cat responds to a new baby or child will depend upon previous experiences as well as the cat ’ s genetic temperament. The most sensitive time for cats to begin learning positive social experiences is in the fi rst 2 months of life, although ongoing positive exposures through to adolescence also play an important role.

Even though cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, each new kitten that comes into our world must learn about humans. Socialization is the process during which kittens develop positive relationships with other living beings. The most sensitive period for successful socialization is during the fi rst 3 months of life, especially from 3 to 9 weeks of age.

An enriched environment for a cat offers a wealth of resources spread throughout the home that offer outlets for species-typical behaviors. Resources can include watering and feeding sites, elimination sites, scratching sites, resting/perching sites, toys and play activities.