The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Kittens , like fry , learn how to behave appropriately at a youthful age — and during this outgrowth , they might often misbehave . Kittens are constantly hear about the world around them and acquaint themselves with ripe demeanour through overconfident and minus enforcement . If you ’re training your kitten to break off misconduct , you ’ll have to plow and decline the bad conduct with management and discipline .
Patience is fundamental when training a kitten , and we ’re divvy up tips for correcting unwashed misbehavior , like scratch , pungent , and start .
Credit:The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Why Do Kittens Misbehave?
kitty are like baby . They are always learning about the world around them and what demeanor is acceptable and what is n’t through positively charged and minus reinforcement . When your kitten misbehaves , it’snot tryingto be high-risk . It ’s just find out how to behave .
Mostkittensare glad to use a bedding material box and scratch post . Sometimes kittens are unwilling or ineffectual to do one or the other . Occasionally , they start using the litter box and excise post decently and then on the spur of the moment stop doing so .
Much of kitten orcat disciplineinvolves troubleshooting to describe the reason for the undesirable demeanour and then counterbalance the situations that caused it .
Credit:The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Scratching and Clawing
kitty and cats need their claws , and they need to scratch to keep their claws healthy . The trick is to redirect them from furniture and other objects to more appropriate aerofoil for them to sharpen their pincer . The keystone is teaching the kitty to avoid destructive scrape .
Litter Box Training
Most kittens readily adapt to a litter box , especially if they were raised with a female parent cat . Otherwise , it ’s usually easy to train a kitten to use the box . check that the box is easily accessible , fill with upright - quality litter , and clean at least once a day . now after a meal , place your kitty in the box . You may have to demonstrate by guiding its mitt for a few scratches in the bedding , but the jackpot will quickly get the thought . prospect are , under right context , your kitten will not make mistakes and learn to habituate the box regularly . In the rare event your kitten does n’t take to the box , poorlitter box maintenancemay be the cause .
Chewing and Biting
Like human babies , kittens examine everything with their mouthpiece , especially when they’reteething . As with bambino , it ’s crucial to keep harmful token out of kittens ' reach . Kittens make out to play fight , and if other cats are n’t around to hold them , they ’ll subside for the near human paw or ankle , especially if you ’ve encourage this form of child’s play early on . They also might manducate on houseplants if they are within reaching .
Jumping
Kittens fuck heights , and many are skillful jumpers . They can hurl themselves upward with little notice and seemingly little effort . Problems occur when they oft jump on a tabletop or a countertop that you opt they head off .
Nighttime Behavior
cat and especially kittens can exhibit overactive behavior at Nox . Most cats will be awake and active at night , but the winder is learn them to leave you alone and go back to sleep .
Attention Seeking Disobedience
Some kittens are especially rambunctious . While kitty are expected to be queer and playful , some can escalate these trait to unsound deportment . They are likely essay attention from their owner or are bored and under - stimulated ( or both ) .
How to Discipline a Kitten and Stop Bad Behavior
There are numerous humane effectual technique for expressing your displeasure with a khat . It ’s always impudent to check with your vet to check that there is n’t a health issue causing the regretful behavior . One simple alternative is to keep a atomiser nursing bottle filled with water William Christopher Handy . This can avail when you see speculative conduct in action . Give your kitten a small pip-squeak to discourage the behaviour .
Provide Scratching Posts
To stop your cat from expunge furniture or other places it does n’t go , provide desirable cancel surfaces . Scratching station diverge in price and style and cater a selection of scratching surfaces for your kitten . One popular and inexpensive option is a corrugate cardboard manakin . Adding a small amount of catmint to the scrawl post can make it more attractive for your cat . For a variety of level-headed scratching options , offer as many scratchers as you could give and/or have room for .
Manage Your Kitten’s Claws
Whileharmful to your kitty ’s healthto have it declaw , it ’s a good idea to trim those needle - sharp claws from meter to time . Not only will this make destructive scrub less of an issue , but it will also diminish the fortune that you ’ll be scratched by an energetic feline playfellow . Another pick is to use plastic nail caps . They are well-situated to utilize and do not interfere with the normal extension and retraction of your cat ’s nipper .
Keep the Litter Box Clean
Because litter box shunning is a major intellect why mass cede their cats to shelters , it ’s significant to provide your cat with an immaculately clean litter box . Another alternative is to spray your kitten ’s litter box with an attractive scent , such as Cat Attract , which is sold at pet stores . cater multiple boxes for your cat-o'-nine-tails . You also may need to try several steel and type of bedding . Some cats avoid covered bedding material box , while others prefer the privacy they allow . Be sure there are no implicit in wellness take , such as a urinary tract infection , that may be causing your kitty to miss the litter box . Your veterinarian should be able to well rule out this and other illnesses with a unsubdivided uranalysis .
Avoid Play Fighting
While run oppose with your kitty can be fun , it can escalate . kitten learn to suppress the severity of sting and scratching from their litter - mate and mother . If they sting or scratch too hard , they will be reprimand with a growl or hiss and an as boisterous swat or seize with teeth right back . If your kitty was separate from its family too early on , it may not have con proper play - fighting behavior . Consider wear gloves , using toy rather of hand , or simply walking aside if your kitten gets too grating . This will help the cat learn to avoid bite or come up , even in play . Remove tempting plants or put them in an sphere that is off - limits to your kitten .
Set Boundaries for Jumping
Ideally , you ’ll have pattern in mind for your kitten before it startle jump . Which counters , couch , and shelves are fair game ? Which are off - bound ? A simple training method involve praising and pet your kitten when it leaps onto satisfactory surfaces while dress down and remove it from unacceptable surfaces . The spray bottle can facilitate train your kitty to appease off specific control surface . dual - side sticky tape can warn some cat-o'-nine-tails from jump as they dislike the feel of the tape on their paws . Providing alternative climbing surfaces , such as a cat tree , may also help slenderize the fortune of your Caterpillar jumping on your countertop .
Daytime Activity
design on some synergistic romp sessions with your kitty in the evening . Keep playing until your kitten seems to exhaust . bung them a bigger meal before bedtime ; most CT sleep after eating . Keep your cat busy during the daylight with playful and challenging toys or puzzle .
Stopping Attention-Seeking Disobedience
Alwaysplay with your kittenevery day . Some extra quality prison term may help terminate the bad demeanor . Disobedient cats may also be bored , so provide foreplay and exercise . ultimately , praise the cat when it is being good . Use kind words , gentle petting , and kickshaw to reinforce good behavior .
Treatment of Behavioral Problems in Cats . Merck Veterinary Manual .
Behavioral problem in Cats : Play Aggression . Merck Veterinary Manual .
Credit:The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Yamada , Ryoko , et al . Prevalence of 17 feline behavioural job and relevant factors of each behaviour in Japan . The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science vol . 82,3 ( 2020 ): 272 - 278 . doi:10.1292 / jvms.19 - 0519
Feline Behavior Guidelines . American Association of Feline Practitioners .
Frayne , Jennifer , et al . The Behavioural Effects of Innovative Litter Developed to Attract Cats . beast : an open memory access diary from MDPI vol . 9,9 683 . doi:10.3390 / ani9090683
Credit:The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
finagle Your Kitten ’s Rough Play . University of California Davis Veterinary Medicine .
Credit:The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
