Cat and Kitten Training Tips

Litter Box Training

Taking care of your cat’s litter box is very important.  If you break some of the “litter box” rules your cat may get confused and have an accident.  All of us do not want your cat to have accidents!  To avoid this problem, please follow all of the below guidelines: 

• Location:  The litter box should be in a private, but convenient, location for your cat.
• Litter:  Use non-scented litter that is finely granular. Studies have shown that most cats prefer the clumping litter types.  Do not change litter brands if your cat is using the box normally.  If you must change litter brands, do a gradual litter mixture change. 
• Clean:  Scoop your litter box every 24 hours. 
• Litter box/cat:  Have one litter box per cat in the household.
• Litter box size:  The bigger the better!  Plastic, “under the bed” storage containers are wonderful with low sides and plenty of room!

Playtime and Toys

• Playtime.  Purchase toys such as feline flyers, scratch posts, and balls.  Use household items such as milk jug tops, plastic bags, boxes, paper sacks and aluminum foil! 
• Do not use your hands or feet to tease or play with your cat.  This behavior may teach your cat to be aggressive toward human hands and feet.  A kitten’s biting may be cute, but an adult cat’s bite is not!   
• Behavior.  Most cats have an enormous play drive until about 12 months of age.  Help your cat learn to play appropriately! 

Why Do Cats Scratch?

Although some people think a cat's scratching behavior is a reflection of his distaste for a couch's upholstery, a not-so-subtle hint to open the drapes, or a poorly conceived Zorro impersonation, the fact is that cats scratch objects in their environment for many perfectly normal reasons. For instance, cats scratch:

• To remove the dead outer layer of their claws.
• To mark their territory by leaving both a visual mark and a scent—they have scent glands on their paws.
• To stretch their bodies and flex their feet and claws.
• To work off energy.   

Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it's unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects.

Training Your Cat to Scratch Acceptable Objects

You must provide objects for scratching that are appealing, attractive, and convenient from your cat's point of view. Start by observing the features of the objects your cat is scratching. The answers to the following questions will help you understand your cat's scratching preferences:

• Where are they located? Prominent objects, objects close to sleeping areas, and objects near the entrance to a room are often chosen.
• What texture do they have—are they soft or coarse?
• What shape do they have—are they horizontal or vertical?
• How tall are they? At what height does your cat scratch?

Now, considering your cat's preferences, substitute similar objects for her to scratch (rope-wrapped posts, corrugated cardboard, or even a log). Place the acceptable objects near the inappropriate objects that it is using.  Make sure the objects are stable and will not fall over or move around when it uses them.

• Cover the inappropriate objects with something your cat will find unappealing, such as double-sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, sheets of sandpaper, or a plastic carpet runner with the pointy side up.
• Or you may give the objects an aversive odor by attaching cotton balls containing perfume, a muscle rub, or other safe yet unpleasant substance. Be careful with odors, though, because you don't want the nearby acceptable objects to also smell unpleasant.

When your cat is consistently using the appropriate object, it can be moved very gradually (no more than three inches each day) to a location more suitable to you. It's best, however, to keep the appropriate scratching objects as close to your cat's preferred scratching locations as possible.

Don't remove the unappealing coverings or odors from the inappropriate objects until your cat is consistently using the appropriate objects in their permanent locations for several weeks, or even a month. They should then be removed gradually, not all at once.

Should I Punish My Cat for Scratching?

No! Punishment is effective only if you catch your cat in the act of scratching unacceptable objects and have provided her with acceptable scratching objects. When you see your cat scratching, make a loud noise (using a whistle, shaking a soda can filled with rocks, or slapping the wall) or use a water-filled squirt bottle.  This may be effective in teaching your cat were it should not scratch.

How to Trim Cat Toenails.

Begin by handling your cat’s paws.  Gently apply pressure to expose the nail.  During these simple handling sessions, look at the nail and identify the “quick” (nerve and blood supply area - red/pink in color) of the nail.   As you cat relaxes during these handling sessions, you can take your toenail trimmers and trim the end of the sharp nail.  Use caution to not trim into the cat’s toe nail quick. We recommend that you have a professional demonstrate this procedure before you make your solo attempt.        

Declawing. 

If you decide to have your kitten or cat declawed, we recommend that you discuss this decision with your veterinarian.  Your veterinarian can make this procedure safe and provide pain medication for your cat.