Cats are very different from dogs and therefore it is not possible to adopt the same techniques in their training. In general, training a cat is more difficult for those who are used to working with dogs or other animals, because these cats are much more independent and less interested in their owners' opinion than other pets. However, by using the correct techniques and with great patience, it is possible to train your kitten to become a happy, healthy and obedient companion.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Socializing with the Kitten
Step 1. Let your kitten socialize with its mother for at least eight weeks
Generally, a cat needs at least two months with their mother before they can be separated. During this time, the parent should do much of the "training" that goes into forming well-behaved domestic cats.
- Kittens begin weaning after about a month of life and after eight weeks they are fully weaned and able to eat solid foods.
- If your cat is giving birth to kittens and you are weaning them, it is very important to wait at least two months before completely separating them from their mother. Mother cat should train them to know their strength, to eat right and to use the litter box.
Step 2. Avoid buying puppies that have been weaned too early
If you want to buy a kitten from a store, make sure you know exactly her age. Those who have been weaned too early have a tendency to be more aggressive and require more training than others.
Step 3. Continue socializing with your kitten
The best pets are those that have socialized properly as puppies. A kitten, to get used to living together, must come into contact with many different people from two weeks of age: young and old, men and women, people of different builds. These interactions should occur at least twice a day, ideally for 5-10 minutes, but more frequently if possible.
- If your cat is not used to socializing with humans, it is more difficult to train him, because he is afraid of people and does not trust them. In this case, your first goal is to gain their trust.
- If a kitten is already over eight weeks old and is not used to human presence, there is a good chance it will behave like a stray cat. Unfortunately, when these attitudes have become part of the character of the animal, it is difficult to change its habits and it is likely that as an adult it will become an antisocial cat.
Step 4. Be patient when socializing with your kitten
You can't force him to do what you want, so your best weapons are patience and rewards when he is around you, so that he connects your presence to positive experiences.
You can lie on the ground when watching television and keep a treat in your hand or pocket. While lying down, you are less threatening for the little cat, who, overcome by curiosity, may decide to approach. Leaving food on the ground will reward the animal's bravery and help it connect the man with delicious treats, convincing him to get closer to it more willingly in the future
Step 5. Use positive reinforcement
Scrubbing a cat's face where it has dirty or scolding it are bad training methods. Instead, prefer positive reinforcement, giving your pet rewards when it demonstrates a behavior you want it to repeat. This is the simplest way to change your cat's temperament and get him to abandon the attitudes to avoid.
- If a cat does something you don't like, ignore it. Usually, moaning at the door or scratching a piece of furniture are attempts to get your attention. If the animal does not get the desired result, it will stop behaving that way.
- You can choose a tasty morsel as a reward. Most cats are crazy about a specific food. If your kitten doesn't seem motivated by food, try feeding him lots of different foods, looking for the one that appeals to him the most.
Step 6. Avoid punishing the kitten
By scolding him you will get some superficial improvements, but you will only push him to become more devious. Consider the scenario where the animal urinates in the center of the living room rug. If you punished or frightened him, he would associate the punishment with you and not with the accident. As a result, she would be careful not to urinate in front of you in the future.
This type of training can be counterproductive, because it can make the kitten look for more hidden places to free himself, or it can make him hesitant to use the litter box when you are around because he is afraid of you
Step 7. Imitate the mother's sound when you disapprove of your kitten's behavior
When a cat's mother punishes it, it makes a clicking sound from the back of its throat that is quite easy to imitate. This is one of the most effective ways to train your pet and they will find it familiar.
Just click your tongue against the roof of your mouth when the kitten scratches something or takes some action against the house rules
Step 8. Use catnip to facilitate training
Training a cat with catnip can be a very effective teaching method, and rewarding them with rewards is a better strategy than scolding them. This way you can attract him to a scratching post and the toys he can use, or let him sleep in a specific area. Your kitty will have hours of fun with a bag filled with catnip.
Not all cats are attracted to catnip and this can make your job more complex. If your puppy doesn't seem interested, you can try using something he likes, like food, to lure him somewhere
Step 9. Give your kitty plenty of private space
If he keeps climbing up on the kitchen counter to observe what's happening or if he enters areas he shouldn't frequent, scaring him is not the right solution: you would only teach him that he must fear you. Instead, you should put a shelf or bench in the rooms he likes to be in and lure him there with catnip or food so he can jump onto the platform and observe the entire area from above.
Make it clear to the cat that this is their area. If he jumps onto the counter again, move him to his bench
Step 10. Play with the kitten often
To keep him from misbehaving, incorporate physical activity into his meal routine. Before eating, stimulate his predatory instincts by having him play with a rope, ribbon, laser pointer, or some other toy he likes. This is a key part of a cat's daily life, because without this type of stimulation, they can become moody or too agitated.
Grab a toy, make the cat jump and run, before giving him his meal. Generally, these animals bathe and sleep after eating. Play with your kitty for at least 20 minutes a day or until he loses interest
Method 2 of 6: Training a Kitten to Eat
Step 1. Find out if you can just leave out food for your cat all the time
There are two different philosophies for feeding your cat and you have to choose which one to adopt according to his personality. In general, you can make sure that he always has food at his disposal or that he can only eat at particular times; however, avoid adopting a mix of both approaches. Some cats do not mind always having a bowl full of food, from which they will eat until they feel full. This is probably the simplest method, as long as you can control the amount of food your cat eats.
The strategy of always leaving the bowl full mimics the cat's diet in nature, consisting of many small snacks. A cat who is not bored, has a lot of fun and is mentally stimulated, can almost always control their appetite and can be left free to eat when they feel the need
Step 2. If your kitten has a tendency to overeat, feed him at regular intervals
This problem occurs most often in bored or under-stimulated specimens, who start eating as a hobby and lose control of their diet.
Cats used to this type of feeding often complain when food is not present and therefore it is important that you feed them at fixed times. Puppies should eat four times a day for up to 12 weeks of age, then 3 times a day for up to 6 months. In adulthood, you can feed your cat twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, always at the same time
Step 3. Feed your kitten the right foods
Puppies often double or triple their weight in the first few weeks of life, which means they need to eat a diet that is higher in fat and calories than adult puppies. Commercially available sachets are specific to each stage of the pet's development, so choose puppy food.
Do not feed a puppy with adult cat food or vice versa. The two types of food have significantly different calorie contents; for this reason, a puppy that eats adult food can become undernourished and vice versa an adult cat can gain too much weight
Step 4. Make sure your cat always has access to clean water
These animals complain if they don't have something they need and this habit can be quite annoying in the long run. If you don't want to have to double-train your kitten, make sure you do it right now. Knowing that his water bowl is always full, he will never complain that he is thirsty. take care of all his needs.
Step 5. Do not feed him food from the dining table
Kittens should not eat some common foods in our diet, such as garlic, onions, chocolate and grapes, which are toxic to them. Also, by feeding a cat straight from your plate, it will make it a habit to approach each time you sit down at the table. Feed your puppy only cat food and always do it at the same time.
- Never give him cow's milk. Although there is a widespread popular belief that kittens love milk, these animals do not digest dairy and would make you find disgusting surprises in the litter box the next day.
- Cats shouldn't eat tuna more than once or twice a week. While many cats love this canned fish, it does not contain the nutrients needed for the health of the species. Furthermore, it can often happen that these animals develop an addiction to tuna that leads them to no longer eat the other foods that are more suitable for their diet. It would be as if a man only ate french fries.
Method 3 of 6: Train Your Kitten to Use the Litter Box
Step 1. Get a simple litter box
The simpler models are often the ones preferred by cats. A tub full of clean, fresh sand is enough to create an inviting environment for your kitty. A complex and automated litter box could instead scare him.
- Similarly, litter boxes that have a lid are useful for containing dirt, but make it more difficult for the animal to access. If you can't get your kitten to enter the litter box, try a simpler, more uncovered model.
- If you don't want to collect his pet supplies, don't buy one of these animals. There are many products and machinery designed to make this task more pleasant, but the reality is that to make your kitten happy, you have to clean when it gets dirty.
Step 2. Place the kitten in the litter box
If you want to use it, often just put it inside the tub. Cats prefer to break free in litter boxes, so it shouldn't be hard to get yours to do so.
- Some trainers recommend sitting with your cat, taking his paws and bringing them in contact with the sand, to get him used to the sensation and familiarize him with the environment. The goal is to trigger the animal's instinctive reaction to dig and cover its droppings after using the litter box.
- If the kitten fidgets when you grab its paw, avoid doing it.
Step 3. Place the litter box in a quiet place, preferably in the corner of a room
This is the best position because the animal feels vulnerable when it needs to be done. With a wall on two sides, the cat will be concerned to defend itself only from the frontal attacks of the "predators".
Also avoid placing the litter box next to the washing machine or other device that makes sudden sounds or starts to move by itself. If the appliance were to start spinning when the kitten is in the litter box, this would prompt him not to use it in the future
Step 4. Clean the litter box regularly
Cats, from an early age, want to use the litter box and it shouldn't be hard to get them to do so. The main reason an animal decides to free itself out of the tray is because it is not usable, because it is dirty, because it is not easy to access or because you change the sand too often.
You have to clean the tray every day. Use a scoop to remove stool and urine lumps, then change the sand regularly to keep it cool. If you notice that the litter box smells bad, it will be unbearable for your cat
Step 5. Always use the same type of sand
Changing the contents of the litter box would confuse your cat. The most suitable environment for these animals is odorless and natural sand made from pine shavings.
- Avoid using scented sand. For you it will smell good, but for the cat, which has a much more developed sense of smell than humans, the fragrance would be too strong. This could lead to him not using the litter box.
- The cat must be able to move around the litter box without getting dirty, so use an adequate amount of sand. These animals don't like walking in their own urine, just as you don't like it.
Step 6. Put only the sand in the litter box
Do not try to lure the cat with toys, treats or food. These animals don't want to eat where they need to and putting food in the litter box would confuse them.
Method 4 of 6: Training the Kitten with the Clicker
Step 1. Start training your cat with the clicker from a young age
This stage of development is ideal for adopting this type of training. The clicker is a tool that emits a click, which can be used to signal to the animal the exact moment in which it has performed a behavior to be repeated. This is a very effective training method for teaching your cat to follow your orders.
Step 2. Associate the clicker sound with a food reward
Start with a click and give your kitty a treat. When you play the instrument and feed the animal, it will form a connection between the noise and the reward. The kitten will start coming towards you expecting the treat and at that point you will have to press the clicker before giving it to him. Keep repeating this pattern until you are certain that the animal has learned to associate the sound with the reward.
- Treats are ideal rewards, but some cats are not motivated by food. However, each specimen is greedy for at least one food, so you just need to find out which one is their favorite.
- Experiment with different foods, including ham, tuna, chicken, fish, beef steak, and shrimp. You will know that you have found the right food when the kitten makes it disappear in a second and meows for more.
Step 3. Train your kitten when it doesn't have a full belly, as it would be less attracted to food rewards
To begin, offer him a treat and at the exact moment he takes it, press the clicker. Repeat this exercise three or four times, then resume your training in the next session, repeating what you just did.
Step 4. Indicate the desired behaviors with the clicker sound
Once the kitten has learned to associate the click with a tidbit, you can begin to play the instrument as a promise of a reward only when the animal is doing well.
Step 5. Once the cat has finished its action, click and give it a treat, so that it connects the act with the reward
You can even use a verbal command, such as "Sit", to complete the training.
Method 5 of 6: Train the Kitten to Come to You on Command
Step 1. Make a commitment to train your kitten to come to you on command, even if it will take time and dedication
This teaching can be very helpful for your pet and can help you find it if you lose sight of it.
In many cases, a lost kitten is terrified and as an instinctive reaction, tries to hide under something. However, if the cat is trained to come to you on command, it may be able to overcome its natural instincts that cause it to stay hidden when it is afraid
Step 2. Organize short but frequent training sessions
This is the most effective way to get good results. Cats have a lower attention span than dogs and most will start to get distracted after about five minutes. The best schedule is three five-minute sessions a day or, alternatively, short impromptu sessions when your cat is close to you and wants to play.
Step 3. Choose a password to call the kitten
As the animal moves towards you, say the command you have chosen to use. Choose a word that the cat will not hear in any other context, perhaps a made up or unusual term.
It is best NOT to use the cat's name to call it, as you will already say it in other circumstances. This could confuse him, because when you tell him "Fufi is a really nice cat" and don't try to get him to come to you, the order will lose some of its power
Step 4. Use clicker training to teach the kitten to come to you on command
Say the order and as soon as the animal turns towards you, use the clicker, to signal the moment in which it has performed a desired action. Give him a treat right away when he arrives. If you repeat this training regularly, your cat will learn to follow your orders after a few sessions.
You can use this principle to train your cat to do any action you want, such as jumping off a surface or giving you a paw
Method 6 of 6: Train Your Kitten Not to Scratch
Step 1. Make sure the kitten has an object that it can scratch
If you are concerned that the animal will scratch your clothes or furniture in your home, you need to provide it with a special tool for nailing. In general, catnip flavored scratching posts or a cardboard board with catnip underneath are the best solutions.
Cats need to use their nails to keep them healthy and the desired length, so they need something to scratch. There is no reason to punish an animal that scratches something, because it is not driven by evil, but by necessity
Step 2. Reward him when he uses the scratching post
If you notice that he claws on the wooden post, give him a treat to reinforce his behavior.
Step 3. Keep a spray bottle handy
Spraying water on your cat is a great way to keep them from scratching the most valuable items in the house. Thanks to this ploy, you'll get him out of the area right away. After wetting the animal, hide the bottle. If he realizes it was you, he might be afraid of you.
Step 4. Use peppermint oil on the areas you want to protect from your cat's scratches
By applying a small amount of peppermint essential oil to the area you want to protect, you will keep your cat away. This solution is ideal for keeping kittens away from areas they don't have to frequent.
- The mint flavor is a natural repellent for cats, who don't like it. It is not dangerous for them, but they find it simply unpleasant.
- Be sure to be careful when applying essential oil to surfaces that could be damaged. Test the product on a hidden spot in the area before applying it to a visible one.
Advice
- Entertain your kitty by waving a thread or string in front of him. He will be very happy.
- Try to observe your kitten carefully, evaluating his bad habits. Think about the methods you can use to correct negative behaviors and reinforce positive ones.
- If you are affectionate with your kitten, he will be affectionate with you.
- Play with your kitten often and call him by name to teach him.
- Do not keep the kitten locked in a small cage. It would fidget and might bite you.
