Kitten training is seldom the first thing on our minds when we bring home a new kitten. With the big eyes, soft fur, and adorable little paws, who has time to think about actually training the kitten? You will start thinking about kitten training the first time the kitten fails to use the litter box, scratches up the arm of the couch, or attacks your foot as if it was a mouse. When that time comes, there are a few tips that you can use to make the process easier for everyone involved, you and the kitten included.
- Start right away. Any kitten training regime needs to be started right away and kept consistent. Starting right away prevents the kitten from developing any bad habits, and consistency helps the kitten learn what exactly is expected. Everyone in the house needs to be on the same page when it comes to punishment methods and improper behaviors.
- Most kittens don’t actually need any litter box training, other than simply being shown where it is and physically being able to climb inside it. However, if your kitten consistently fails to make use of it, a bit of kitten training may be necessary. Simply take the kitten to the litter box every time it starts to relieve itself and dig into the kitty litter with its paws. It will get the idea soon enough.
- Never physically punish the kitten, especially with spanking or slapping. Little kitten bodies are very delicate and can be hurt very easily. When engaging in kitten training, you have to use alternative methods to get your point across.
- Do not neglect your kitten when it is behaving properly. Some people feel that when you train your kitten, the focus needs to be on simply punishing bad behavior. Doing this results in the kitten seeing you as someone to be feared, not someone to be loved. You also need to praise the kitten for good behaviors and make sure it knows that you love it. If there is a secret to kitten training, it is making the kitten know that you are a friend, but that you will not tolerate improper behavior.
- Find outlets for your kitten’s energy. It is very difficult to train a kitten when that kitten is bouncing all over due to a buildup of excess energy. Play with your kitten and give it toys to play with on its own. If it has a tendency to scratch at things, give it a scratching post and help it learn that you want it to scratch at the post instead of the furniture.
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