Dos and Don’ts of Training Your Cat

Cats can be mysterious creatures, and sometimes that means training them requires a bit more patience. It’s easy to get frustrated, but we have a few good tips that can apply to solving your cat’s behavior issue, no matter what it is!

DO…Provide your cat with plenty of enrichment!

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Chances are, their behavior is due to boredom or stress. They need plenty of toys, scratching posts and places to perch, preferably so they can see out the window.

DON’T…Ignore the problem

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Kitten attacking your hands during play time? Even if you think that’s fine, your visitors might not appreciate it. Keep in mind, a scratch from an adult cat is a lot worse than a scratch from a kitten. Cat scratching up the furniture? It may seem like it isn’t a big deal at first, but over time your couch isn’t going to look so good anymore. Identify the behavior problem, try to determine why the problem is occurring and experiment with different solutions until the behavior ceases.

DO…Be consistent

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Make sure everyone in the house, including visitors, enforces the rules for the cat. Whether you’re trying to get your cat to stop using claws during playtime or jumping on the counter, consistency is key. Cats will test the limit of what they can get away with in front of who. The team effort from all members of the household will help drill into the cat’s mind that the behavior is not accepted under any circumstances.

DON’T…Punish your cat.

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Yelling or physical punishment will only associate you with negative experiences to your cat. The idea behind punishment is to make the cat respect you, but it will only foster fear and deteriorate the relationship. Fear and respect are very different things. Hint: you want their respect.

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Want more tips on cat behavior and training? Visit spca.org/pettips to learn more!