Training Your New Kitten

The difference between dogs and cats is no more obvious then when they are puppies and kittens. Cats aren’t small dogs, so training a kitten is not the same as training a puppy. Training a cat is more challenging for people who are used to training dogs because of the notorious cat independence and their disinterest in the opinion of their owner. But with patience and diligence, you can train your kitten to be happy, healthy and obedient.

The Training Process
It is important to begin training as soon as possible for the purpose of the kitten growing up to learn and respect your boundaries. Kitten obedience will keep your cat’s mind active, teaching them good social skills, while also strengthening their bond with you.

Toys are an essential with a new kitten. If your kitten starts doing something she’s not supposed to, bring their attention back to the toys, providing them to it as a reward for avoiding bad behavior. Your kitten will be kept mentally and physically occupied by having toys to play with regularly.

Your cat can be willing to learn from you, but it can also be willing to ignore you, too. Being that every cat is different, training can be frustrating. The best thing to do is take time out every day to train your cat. Be aware that cats don’t like punishment. They will most likely run away from you, which can lead to stress and cause behavioral and health problems. The proper thing to do is encourage good behavior through rewards and affection. Keep training sessions short because cats have low attention spans and become bored quickly. Focusing on one command at a time, not moving on until the trick is learned, is the best approach.

Addressing Your Cat’s Bad Behavior

There are many possible reasons for your cat’s disobedience. Changes in their home environment, an unaddressed medical condition or the simple misunderstanding on your cat’s part that their behavior is wrong. It is important to remember that your cat is not misbehaving out of spite towards you.

Instead of punishing your cat like you would a dog, redirect their behavior. Doing so will put them back into an obedient state of mind. Unlike a dog, if you actually punish your cat, they may feel threatened by you and rebel or misbehave even more as a result, not to mention the break in the bond you two share. But they should still be made aware of their wrongdoing. One very effective way is through making them associate their bad behavior with something unpleasant. If your cat doesn’t like a certain perfume or cologne you wear, soak a cotton ball in the scent and rub them in places you don’t want your cat to go to. Always praise your cat for good behavior, too. Praise when your cat has done something good lets them know their good behavior comes with rewards.

Common Cat Behavior Problems

• Furniture Scratching 
• Urinating (or ‘Spraying’) 
• Avoiding their litter box 
• Aggressive behavior towards people or other animals.