Training a kitten is relatively easier to accomplish than training an adult cat. Cats are very independent, and can be too stubborn to train as they grow into adulthood. Kittens, however, are much easier to train, since they have not yet matured enough to shape their behavior. If you wish to train your cat, it is always best to start when they are still relatively young.
Here are some important tips that you can follow to properly train your kitten.
- Be sure to include playtime in your kitten’s daily activities. Playing with your kitten allows you to figure out what things interest them, and test their response to certain stimuli. If you are observant, you will be able to see how your kitten reacts to different types of toys, environmental objects, and situations. This allows you to have more leverage when deciding the best training method for your kitten.
- Don’t be afraid to reward your kitten for good behavior! Most kittens will respond well to training methods that use positive reinforcement, often in the form of food, treats, or catnip. Using food-based rewards will allow your cat to understand that this is their reward for good behavior. When teaching your kitten to obey certain commands, treats can also be used in order to reinforce proper execution of the training command.
- In addition to this, most kittens will thrive when given a lot of attention. At the kitten stage is when most cats will begin bonding with their owners. This process can be accelerated by being very affectionate towards your kitten.
- Kittens usually grow very fast, and will require a significant amount of exercise. If you are trying to train your kitten to be an indoor cat, exercise is an even more important part of pet care. Indoor cats are much more prone to becoming overweight, especially if they do not learn to exercise at an early age. Most kitten toys encourage exercise, and will also cause your kitten to engage in playtime on a daily basis. However, interactive playtime is the best way to teach your kitten to exercise. To make your own kitten toy, tie a feather or a piece of scrap cloth to the end of a piece of yarn. Drag the yarn back and forth in front of your kitten, and watch them attack! Kittens have a predatorial instinct that is native in most cats, and will eagerly engage in playtime if they are able to chase a moving target.
- Try to train your kitten to be fed at the same time each day. Regular feeding will help your kitten to stay healthy, and will help prevent them from becoming hungry in between meals. If you feed your kitten regularly, this will also help when trying to train your kitten to use the litter box.
Training a kitten involves a significant amount of responsibility, as you are shaping your kitten’s behavior for the rest of their life. However, if you are patient with your kitten, you will be able to correctly train them to be a well-behaved member of your household.
