Kitten Training Explained by Kathrynn Kelley

Bringing home a kitten is a great addition to any family. But don't forget these following items, food dish with a design that fits your cat's fashion, and of course the litter box. Food would also be helpful. If you have all of these items you're all set for the kitten to come into your home.

Maybe not after all. In the beginning your kitty explored all over the house, consumed way too much food, and has been using his litter box with no accidents at all. Recently, however, you've realized your kitten is starting to have problems that you had not anticipated before.

Maybe there are a few more items that you want to take into account when overcoming these unwanted cat problems. Believe me; many other have already come across the necessity of some basic tips on kitten training to better the behavior of their new kitten.

So how do you go about kitten training when every time you turn around kitten is jumping off the walls, attacking your feet and hands, jumping on the countertops and tables to use as a wrestling arena, and that new furniture you just bought is now well on its way to being shredded in two.

Relax. Many a pet owner has been appalled to find that his or her sweet little kitten has turned into a fearsome beast! You can handle this, and your initial step will be to pick up a few necessary items. The first is a scratching post. Don't spend lavishly on a fancy one, since an ordinary one from your neighborhood pet store or department store will be just fine.

What if the monster kitten is still destroying furniture? When you catch him, rub his paws up and down the scratching post, using the same motion he used on the sofa. When done, make sure you praise him for using the post! Repeat this process as many times as needed until your new family member uses his post- and not the furniture- to sharpen those claws!

If you want to be able to keep your kitty in line, fill an aluminum can with rocks and put tape over the front. The next time you see your kitten doing something he shouldn't be doing, shake the can vigorously. The loud sound will scare him and he will develop an association between the scary sound and doing something wrong.

And a final note in kitten training is how to deal with the age old issue of kitten bites. Whenever you catch your kitten becoming unruly with your hands or feet give him a toy to replace your skin with. Any standard kitten toy will do such as a fur mouse or jingle bell ball.

Okay. You now know the essential elements of kitten training. Remember to let your kitten know how much you love him or her. Praise your pet for good behavior. Use positive reinforcement to create a strong bond with your cat for years to come. Your kitten and you, both, will be happier. Your pet will give you hours of enjoyment and will show you unconditional love.

About the Author

Bringing home a kitten is a great addition to any family. But don't forget these following items: a food dish, food, water bowl, and of course the litter box. When trying to correct cat problems, there are a few more things you should consider doing.