Many people think that cats just come perfectly trained when it comes to their cohabitation skills with humans. As such, it’s never really seen as a priority to train one’s newborn kitten. But this can actually be quite damaging to not only your pet but to you as well.
While it is true to some extent that cats do have a natural aptitude that’s higher than most pets when it comes to picking up household routines and learning how to live with their owners, this doesn’t just happen automatically. There is still a need for training if you’d like to keep your cat from scratching up your sofas, or from pooping in the flour tin. And there is no time that’s better suited to train your pet than when it’s still a cute and adorable kitten.
Below, we are going to delve deeper into this subject by unpacking our top tips for training kittens. These will be sure to provide your cat with a few basic but essential lessons that are best learned at a young age. So let’s get started…
1. Litter Box Training
One of the first things that you’ll need to train your kitten in is how to use their litter box. This is necessary for not only your cat’s well-being but for your sanity as well (because there is nothing worse than waking up day after day to discover that your cat has let loose in various areas all over the house). While some kittens may arrive pre-potty training, it’s important to understand that they’re still young. As such, if you don’t reinforce this training, they may start to pick up some bad potty habits.
For this, you’ll want to start by introducing your kitten to their litter and getting them comfortable in performing the deed on that space. Ensure that you purchase a little that’s not too big for your kitten, but small enough for comfort, then upgrade as your pet grows. In addition to this, taking them to their litter box regularly after meals may help them better form the connection that their litter is an acceptable place to potty.
2. Crate Training
Next up, we have crate training. Most cat owners don’t take this very seriously when their pets are young. As such, they usually end up struggling to get their cats into travel crates, which can make excursions such as going to the park or veterinary clinic quite difficult.
If you’d like to avoid this, it’s important to make your cat understand that their crate is a comfortable and safe place, rather than a dark barred prison. This can be done by introducing your kitten to their crate when they’re still quite young and making sure that the space inside is warm and comfortable.
At Concord Vets, we enjoy creating positive dynamics between pets and their owners. Reach out to us today or make a booking at one of our clinics, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions that you may have, as well as provide you with tips on how to keep your pet healthy and happy.