How to train your cat

[DiannaVM]

So today at my office we rescued an abandoned kitten. She was so sweet and I took it upon myself to take care of her until the Humane Society came to get her. I had bonded with her and my coworker is an animal lover, so we explained to the ambulance driver that once she is fixed up (she was full of fleas and was dirty and had eye boogers ), that they could call us and one of us would collect her because we would like to keep her.

So, we called this afternoon to check on her and she is doing great but they want to keep her under observation until Monday. I am still trying to get my husband convinced and I am halfway there, so that's why I am asking for tips lol

I have never owned a cat so I have no real idea were to begin when it comes to a kitten. They think she is about 4 or 5 weeks, so I need to know how to litter train her. Also any other advice when it comes to cats is welcomed. My husband actually wanted to know if there was any way we could train her into being a sociable cat that is nice and friendly to most other people and not just us.

Anyway cat lovers, I have always been a dog person so I need all help I can get!!

 

[CPanther95]

You don't train cats, they train you.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

You don't train cats, they train you.

This. You can't control how cats are socially but in terms of a litter box no matter how young the cats are that we have rescued they all just use it once you show them where it is. There really isn't a lot of training like you have to do with a dog.

The best thing you can do to help socialize the cat though is be as loving with it as possible and try to get it as used to people as possible while it is young. One thing about cats though is that even the most unsocial cat in the world will warm right up to someone who visits and proclaims they don't like cats. It's like they have a sense for anti-cat people and just flock to them.

 

[tvguy]

Put the kitten in the litter box, show the kitten where the food and water are, that is about all the training you can do.
While I suspect their personality plays a roll in this too, how you treat them will have a huge roll in their socialization.
We had 2 cats when our kids were born, and they were social, but liked their space.
The cat we got when DD was 10 and DS was 14, got carried and handled a lot. While there were times in her life that she wanted her space, she was much more inclined to want to be in physical contact with one of us most of the time.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

You don't have to housebreak a kitten; they instinctively use the litter. Personality is probably the biggest determining factor in whether a cat will be outgoing around strangers, but lots of early socialization and friendly handling by other people while they're young will go a long way.

 

[mnrose]

Like others have said, litter box training is easy. Show the cat where it is by putting them in there, and voila', training done. We've had 5 cats in our lives, and not a one of them had any issue with litter box usage (except if they were sick, which is a different issue). Cats strongly prefer to bury their waste, and look for places to do that. So long as you don't have random sand boxes in your house, they will gravitate to the litter box if they can easily get to it (so it has to be in a place without a closed door in between them and the box, for example).

Personality of the cat plays a HUGE role in how social they are, and this (just like people) varies. We've had very social cats, and then we've had cats who would ONLY be social with us (no strangers) and then only after weeks of warming up to us. So, that is probably a fairly unchangeable thing.

Cats aren't a tremendous amount of work. They don't need to be walked. They are generally content with love and affection on THEIR terms, and content to be left alone otherwise. They sleep a lot. The litter box is the "biggest" amount of work, and that's way less time consuming than walking them several times a day like a dog.

 

[scrhsa]

I got at kitten about that young 12yrs ago. I hand fed her for awhile just to make sure she was eating. I was homeschooling at the time so my girls and I were constantly holding her and messing with her. She is now my little shadow. I can't go anywhere with out her. She is social with the family but she has never been very social with other people or animals. Her brother didn't care. I think a lot depends on the temperament of the animal coupled with how much it is handled. The cat we got from my dd was a kitten when she got him and they played ROUGH with him...he is a little tyrant now. Plus they were always working and kept him in the bathroom when they were gone. He was SO full of energy when we got him. Since we have let him outside and had him fixed he has calmed down a bit but he isn't near as cuddly as my little girl. As a side note: My husband wasn't a cat person until he married me Oh, he'll still say he doesn't like cats but I caught him the other day going outside and calling for his little boy

 

[cluvsdisney]

I agree with all of the above regarding training. And I lucked out with a social cat. I'm her favorite but she comes out when we have company and let's other people per or play with her. I didn't do anything special. It was her personality when she picked me at the shelter. But I think showing lots of affection and showing her that she's safe will help that.

 

[cmarsh31]

Socialization is the key. We've had 6 cats total. First two were in my tiny college apartment, with me all the time, etc - and they loved us. Next two (still had one of the originals) we adopted right after I had my DD. I was holding/nursing/etc the new baby, and didn't spend a ton of time with the cats. DH did a great job teaching DS (who was 3 at the time) to be gentle with the kittens - but they didn't get enough of the being hauled around, held frequently, etc bc he always thinks the cat should come to you - they're INSANELY skittish. They adore us, but on their terms only. Last year, we adopted two more kittens (we're now at 4, if you're keeping count DD has HELD them, hauled them around, given then more love than you could possibly imagine - and I told DH to back off when he tried to tell her to be more gentle (she's not hurting them, but she's picking them up at every opportunity) - now they adore her and she can fling them up on her shoulder, carry them all over, etc, plus they aren't afraid of people coming in the house etc. Lots of handling - "flying kitten" is my favorite method (my dad used it when we were growing up) holding the kitten (very securely of course) up in the air, over your head, away from your body, etc with some movement, teaching them that they're safe when you hold them. DD did a different method - ever time she picked up the kittens she held them like babies (belly-up) in her arms. It took a bit and we're always careful not to scare them, but now at 9-10lb cats, she can just do that anytime and they flop and purr in her arms. Oh, also, HANDS are not TOYS! We never, ever let the kittens wrestle or attack our hands - makes sleeping better

Litter box is basically innate. The only thing we attempt to "train" is jumping on tables/counters - squirt gun or spray bottle, doesn't take long.

More importantly, one kitten is not always the easy way. They want to play and be crazy. If they don't have another kitten to play with, your feet, hands, etc will end up being their playmate. Pairs are better for the cats and the people (and then the tiny baby isn't lonely when you're not home). It's kitten season anyway and the adoption agency we use won't let a single baby go to a house without other cats.

 

[Atlas722]

You don't train cats, they train you.

 

[tictac]

Agree with everyone, but want to add that you should also look into nail caps to cover the tiny claws. Get the kitten accustomed to wearing them now. Also provide scratchers and scratching posts

 

[Jennasis]

We adopted two new barn kittens last weekend. They are about 8 weeks old and belonged to a friend whose essentially feral barn cat had a litter. We picked two, caught them, and brought them home. They were, like their mother, very unsocialized and spent the first two days hiding from us under the cat bed we gave them. I persisted by going in the stall in the barn we keep them in many times a day with canned food and petting them while they ate. Fast forward a week and they are HIGHLY social now LOL. They love people. Love playing. Love snuggles. They're awesome.

 

[scrapquitler]

You don't train cats, they train you.

This was said jokingly, but this is the truth.

The cat doesn't need to be trained to use the litter box, it's instinctual, just show her where it is (put her in it). For a tiny kitten, get a very small one with low sides to start.

Before long you will be fully trained and at the kittens beck and call 24/7/365. And if you mess up, she'll let you know.

 

[DawnM]

I don't have cats (allergies) but I watched a very sweet video where a deaf man taught his cat to use sign language to get treats.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I will say that even though it's instinct for a cat to use a litter box, sometimes they need a little encouragement. The first cat we had we got when he was just about 5 weeks old - a tiny 1.5 lb handful. I had always thought using a litter box was normal for a cat, but he tried to go on the carpet when we first got him. As soon as we saw him start to squat, we'd grab him and take him to the litter box. We had to keep it in the corner of the living room for a few days until he got the hang of it and could get there in time. Then we were able to put it in the laundry room where we wanted it. He was bigger and stronger and able to get there on his own. One of our current cats was about 4 months when we got her and she knew exactly what to do when we showed her where the box was.

 

[DiannaVM]

Thanks for all the responses. I just realized I neglected to buy a scratching post. The cat that usually visits us uses the welcome mat we have to the front door (the ones that have like that fake grass looking stuff?) so I am hoping if I encourage her, our cat will use that as well until I can get one....

 

[zoemurr]

Somewhere to climb/perch is great too. My son taped some large boxes together and we put an old mat on top. She loves it. They don't need anything fancy. It sounds silly ('cause it is) but this is the second cat I have had that is leash "trained". Meaning they tolerate the harness well and let me follow them around. If you have any interest in doing this I think you should start early. Get a scratching thing that is horizontal and one that is vertical. Different cats like different ones. Have fun!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I don't have cats (allergies) but I watched a very sweet video where a deaf man taught his cat to use sign language to get treats.

This is the most precious thing I've seen all day!! We need a "love it" button.

...It sounds silly ('cause it is) but this is the second cat I have had that is leash "trained". Meaning they tolerate the harness well and let me follow them around...

So are both of mine! Some people definitely do a double-take, but we don't live in a place that's safe for them to run loose, and I think the fresh air is good for all of us.

 

[DiannaVM]

My aunt does the leash thing with hers. He is an indoor cat so that's the only way he ever goes out.

So far not bad. She is just a baby so she squeaks when you hold her. But she is taking to us, already purring. She still hisses when you first approach her after leaving her alone for a while but she doesn't pull back anymore. I even stood there without prompting her and she started to approach me on her own and nudged me for rubs lol. Spoiled already. And sure enough she took to the litter box right away. By the looks of it she keeps going in there (although has only used it once from what I can see). She ate a few nibbles of wet food but I left the rest (I only gave her two spoonfuls!) in her dish with some water in the bathroom which is were she is going to be sleeping.


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