Cat Training Tips

Top Tips For Training Your Unruly Kitty

Having a cat that thinks that it rules your entire house can lead to some major problems. It may start with your cat simply scratching walls or furniture but if left to get out of control your cat will be using your carpets as it's toilet and attacking members of your family for invading their territory. Of couse this is a very extreme case however the point is that any unwanted behaviour needs to be stopped as soon as it starts so that it doesn't escalate into something worse.

Firstly, if your cat has suddenly changed in his behaviour then I would strongly recommend getting him checked out by a vet as the changes in behaviour may be caused by an underlying illness. Remember that a cat that is ill does not always look ill.

Before you can train your cat you need to understand why your cat is behaving the way that he is. By understanding your cats instincts and natural behaviours you can easily find the underlying cause for the bad behaviour and then attempt to resolve the problem.

Dont try to train your cat for more than one problem at a time. If you try to do more then it will only confuse your cat and take you longer to train him.

Before you start, make a list of all the behaviours that you want to change. Make sure than any potentially dangerous behaviours to your cat or to members of your family are taken on first.

Rewards in the form of kitty treats will work for some cats however not for all. Other training aides that you could try are a clicker.

Never shout at your cat or hit him when he does something wrong. Not only will your cat not make the connection between why you are shouting at him and the bad behaviour but it can also make a situation worse. For example, shouting at a timid cat will only make him more scared of you, whereas shouting at an aggresive cat may make him see you as a threat and attack you.

When you are training a cat remember that you are the one that is in control and your cat needs to learn this. Decide on what behaviour is unacceptable and be consistant with it. It may take a little time to train your cat but if you stick with it it will work eventually.