If you are a first-time cat owner, it is best that you begin training your cat as soon as they become a member of your household. Training your cat is a very important part of cat pet care, since it allows you to shape your cat’s behavior around the rules of your home. In essence, you are your cat’s guide to the human world. As such, it is best if you adapt a training program to help train your cat to be well-behaved.
However, training your cat can be a difficult task, requiring a large amount of patience. Here are a few simple tips that you can follow when training your cat.
- Do not scold a kitten! Cats are a highly emotional animals, and will not usually respond well to verbal punishment. If your kitten becomes afraid of you at an early age, this will cause them to have behavioral problems once they grow into adulthood. Fear is never a good emotion to use when training your cat, as it destroys the bond between you and your cat. Try to use positive reinforcement on a regular basis, as it is much more constructive towards a successful training program. Cats may become destructive if they do not receive enough attention,
- Don’t forget to play with your cat on a regular basis. Playing games will help your cat to follow their instinctual behavior, and teach them that social interaction can be fun as well.
- Try to always keep your cat on a regular schedule. Just like humans, cats eventually develop a routine for their daily lifestyle. As your cat’s owner, you are in complete control of your cat’s routine. You should use this power carefully, in order to establish the best possible schedule for your cat. Most cats will do much better if they are fed at regularly scheduled times each day, so that they do not become hungry in between mealtimes. In addition to this, it is very important to praise your cat on a regular basis. Your cat thrives off of attention, and is always looking to please you through their behavior.
- Try to set your cat up in a comfortable environment. Make sure that your house is “cat friendly”, and try to keep any indoor smoking to a minimum. Smoking can irritate a cat’s respiratory system, and may produce asthma-like symptoms.
- Cats are sensitive to abrasive surfaces, and may try to use your furniture as a scratching post. To help train your cat to not scratch your furniture, try adhering double-sided sticky tape to the outside of your furniture. When your cat tries to scratch, they will get their paws caught on the sticky tape. Cats do not like sticky surfaces, and eventually your cat will learn to avoid scratching your furniture. It is best to purchase a designated scratching post for your cat, to help discourage destructive behavior.