Kittens are the cutest things ever! Who doesn’t love bringing home a precious little kitten to join the family?
Most people assume that cats can’t be trained. That’s not true! Cats are very intelligent and are able to learn a variety of positive behaviors.
Cats are mysterious little creatures, and we love them that way. Their mystique makes them fun to watch and be around.
Your kitten is a social learner, and you want to give your sweet kitty the best chance to fit in with your family. To accomplish this, you should start training your kitten as soon you bring him home.
Your Kitten Is a Social Learner: 10 Training Tips for Your New Feline Friend
1. Teach Your Kitten to Sit
The more your kitten is rewarded for a positive behavior, the more likely he is to repeat the behavior.
To teach your kitten to sit, reward them immediately as their bottom sits on the floor. Then bring in the treat like a spoon of cat food or tuna.
If your kitten stands or reaches with his paw, move the treat away until he is sitting again. This prevents rewarding unwanted behavior.
2. Teach Your Kitten to Like his Crate
Getting your kitten accustomed to a crate from the beginning is a good idea. Feeding him some meals inside the crate gets him used to an enclosed space.
In the beginning, keep the door open. Then, as your kitten gets used to the crate, shut the door for short periods.
You will be so glad you did this later when it is time to travel. Your kitten will be comfortable and less anxious, and you will too!
3. Handle Your Kitten
Many cats don’t like being handled and can be especially disagreeable if held in awkward positions.
Getting your kitten accustomed to being held in various positions will come in handy on that trip to the vet or when being held by children.
Practice holding your kitten in a variety of ways – on his side, under his arms, and on his back and side. Touch his teeth and gums too.
Getting your kitty used to being held and touched when he is young will make grooming easier as he grows.
4. Socialize Your Kitten
The best time to start socialization training is between two to seven weeks old. Cats are often frightened of people and new situations because they weren’t exposed to people during the socialization period.
Expose your kitten to people and animals and take them with you on outings from time to time. Make sure your kitten has the necessary vaccinations before exposing him to other cats.
5. Teach Your Kitten to Play With Toys
Playing gently with your kitten is important, but you want your kitten to play with toys and not people’s hands.
If you roughhouse with your kitten, he will think it’s fine to use his teeth and claws on other’s skin.
To avoid this, provide your kitten with fun toys like balls, catnip, or a feather on a string.
6. Use a Clicker
You can use a clicker to make a sound when your kitten performs the desired behavior. It’s best to make the sound immediately and then offer a treat to reinforce the food behavior.
You should then repeat this whenever your kitten exhibits the positive behavior. You can buy a clicker from a pet store or just make a clicking sound with your tongue instead.
Clicker training reinforces positive behaviors in small bits to keep your kitty happy and learning.
7. Avoid Reprimands and Punishment
You want to keep things fun and a rewarding experience for your kitten. Avoid any kind of harsh reprimands.
Regular play and massages help your kitten feel safe and relaxed. When cats are neglected and bored, negative behaviors occur.
Giving him some special attention can solve this problem. Even litter box issues can be solved with play and attention.
8. Personalize the lessons
You know your kitten is a social learner, but every kitten is unique. You may find ways of training your kitty that suit his personality better than others.
Every kitten is different, so it’s okay to change your training methods from time to time to see what works best. You may find your kitty prefers a verbal cue to a visual one or vice versa.
As you spend time with your kitten, you will start to tune in on his individual personality.
9. Reward Positive Behaviors
Weren’t you excited to get a sticker or special treat when you were a child? Your kitty loves recognition too.
When offering treats, use only a small amount. Also, to avoid weight problems down the road, choose low calorie treats.
Try using touch and vocal praise as rewards rather than solely relying on treats. A loving owner is the best treat of all.
10. Be Patient
Cats are mysterious, independent creatures. Patience is essential when training your kitty.
They may lose interest quickly, and that’s okay. You can’t force a kitten into training, so most sessions will be short.
You will be surprised how much your kitten will learn in your short training sessions. Your kitty needs lots of chances to practice, make mistakes, and practice again.
Understanding Your Social Learner
It’s important to understand how your kitten learns. He is a social learner and doesn’t understand language or lecturing.
He learns best from experience and repetition. If those experiences are pleasant, he will repeat the behavior. If it’s unpleasant, your kitty will avoid it completely.
Whatever you want your kitty to learn must be rewarding and pleasurable to him. The best time for training is before mealtime when you know your kitty is hungry and can be motivated into action with food.
Only train in mini sessions – no longer than 15 minutes. When your kitten loses interest or stops responding, you should end the training session.
Try not to force your cat into training by picking them up and taking them to a certain spot like the litter box. This will confuse your kitten. And, remember to save the treats for training only.
Young kitties have sharp minds but short attention spans. So, be patient, love your kitten, and reward those positive behaviors.
And, more than anything you want your kitten to be healthy. The knowledgeable, caring staff at Sykesville Vet Clinic is here to help.