Secrets to Training a Cat

The idea of training a cat may raise some eyebrows, but believe it or not, it is possible to break a cat of bad behaviors and train him or her. While cats won’t do tricks like dogs, they are highly intelligent and able to learn. Following these tips will help to improve your chances of training even the most independent and headstrong of kitties:

1. Stick to Short Sessions.

Cats have short attention spans and will quickly become distracted by training efforts. Make the most of your efforts by trying to train your cat for only about 10 minutes at a time.

2. Eliminate Distractions.

Even a 10-minute session can go awry if your cat notices something that strikes his or her fancy. Do your best to train your kitty in a place with minimal distractions, including other people, other animals and even windows.

3. Correct Your Cat Correctly.

Hitting a cat when it misbehaves is not an effective way to discipline him or her. All that you will succeed in doing is destroying your cat’s trust, and top of that, physical punishment of that kind is a cruel form of abuse. A better way to correct your cat is by giving him or her a spritz with a water bottle. Only spray your kitty’s side or back, never his or her face to ensure safety.

4. Make Sure Your Cat Gets to Play.

Cats that are rambunctious are more likely to misbehave. Play with your cat on a daily basis to help him or her get out all of that extra kitty energy. Not only will he or she be more mellow other times, but your cat will be able to better focus on training when he or she gets to let off some steam.

5. Do Your Part.

Make sure that you’re giving your cat what he or she needs to succeed. For example, cats have a natural need to scratch. You can’t expect your kitty to stop clawing at the furniture if you don’t provide him or her with a scratching post or some other way to act on the scratching instinct.