training a kitten

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:52 am

Hello, any cat lovers out there. I know I know we used to joke about 100 uses for a dead cat, but this thing is just too cute. Black with white feet and nose. We named him Zorro.

He just is a bundle of energy and is scratching and biting everything in sight, including us! I know this is natural behavior for cats, but any experience in modifying this behavior (other than using him for a carpet beater) would be greatly appreciated.

ken k

Philip Jensen · Post by **Philip Jensen** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:26 am

Buy several toys of the mini fishing pole type and make Zorro do lots of chasing. Or figure out what toys Zorro likes and spend a lot of time playing with him - particulary just before you head to bed. Get him all tired from chasing and he'll sleep through the night.

Make sure he knows you are the top cat. If he misbehaves let him know it. When our cats really misbehave I stomp after them, and chase them around the house yelling menacingly while shaking my finger at them. They got the message. Now we have very well behaved cats - for the most part - and only rarely have to put my foot down. N ow it is usually when the big cat does a little too much picking on the smaller one.

Another option is to get another kitten as a playmate.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:32 am

Just install a carpet over him (and if you feel guilty, throw in a few scraps every now and then). Eventually he'll become an adult cat and ignore you entirely.

pulseczar · Post by **pulseczar** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:07 am

When my cat tried to bite me, I always gave him more than he bargained by shoving my hand into his mouth. This scared the crap out of him and after a couple of times, he got the message.

I've had no problems with scratching, but I've gotten a suggestion of buying scratching post and spraying it with some catnip to encourage your cat to use only the post.

Playing with him imo is the best suggestion so far. Kittens are a huge bundle of energy and require alot of playtime. Pretty soon though, Zorro will reach the teen years and become moody and ignore you etc so enjoy it while it lasts.

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:59 am

Forget trying to train a cat! They do as they damned well please. it's a good thing that using a litter box comes natural to them.!

My cats NEVER go outside. In my opinion... the first thing that needs to be done is to spay/neuter them. There is NOTHING worse that a stinky male cat or a sexy female cat! At the same time they are neutered (so you don't have to pay for anesthesia twice) have them declawed, too. With my cats, I just have the front claws removed. The back claws can stay... just in case they ever do get loose, they will have some means of defense. Some folks contend that having a cat declawed is inhumane. I don't really understand that philosophy since the same folks think it's just fine to cut off their balls!

XtremeEuph · Post by **XtremeEuph** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 12:12 pm

I just got a kitten 9 months ago ...pain in the *** I know! Bites everything and loves attacking us too haha. Just make sure that what you dont want it to do, it doesnt do it again. If it scratches the couches once, make sure it knows to NOT go near there with its claws...... (one mistake we made, this one here is stubborn as hell). IF its going somewhere shes not supposed to, keep moving it out. IF its using your pillow as a litter box, use the old tissue wiped in pee, then thrown into litter box with kitten method........ Or you could just put tons of detergents on your pillow . 1. So the cat doesnt go there. 2. So you dotn smell like piss in the morning.

Good luck! He loves you back

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:03 pm

You could introduce her to Barney:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5240832.stm?ls

Charlie Goodman · Post by **Charlie Goodman** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:34 pm

When you train your cat, start out with making it carry buckets of water up a long staircase all day. This only lasts a few weeks, at which point you switch your kitten to trying to snatch pebbles out of your hand or walking on rice paper without tearing it.

Remember, discipline is everything.

Brassdad · Post by **Brassdad** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:43 pm

Charlie Goodman wrote:When you train your cat, start out with making it carry buckets of water up a long staircase all day. This only lasts a few weeks, at which point you switch your kitten to trying to snatch pebbles out of your hand or walking on rice paper without tearing it.

Remember, discipline is everything.

Too good!

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:18 pm

You don't train cats. They train you.