Proper raising of a kitten: advice and recommendations from experts

When it comes to raising a kitten, the philosophy of judgment is almost identical to raising children. The quality of care and training of the baby while he is at a receptive age determines the pet's disposition in the future. In addition, the psychological aspect of the formation of an animal directly affects the adult cat’s adaptability to “survival” and its health in general.

When should you start parenting?

Veterinarians and trainers unanimously agree that raising a kitten should begin as early as possible. Children under the age of six months are best suited for learning and development. It is this time that should be devoted to the development of the baby, instilling in him certain behavioral skills. If time is lost, re-educating a teenage kitten will be much more difficult.

Despite the fact that you really want to pamper your baby, you need to explain to him from a very early age what he can and cannot do. Already a three-month-old kitten should know where its toilet and toys are located. Understand that damaging furniture, sharpening claws on walls, scratching and biting is strictly prohibited.

However, you should use the right tactics. Physical punishment and loud screams will make the kitten nervous, embittered, and intimidated. In addition, many cats to whom such measures are applied begin to take revenge on their owners.

The best method of raising a kitten is to prevent unwanted behavior. However, what to do if the offense has already been committed? For educational purposes, clapping your hands loudly or sprinkling the baby with water will be enough. If you repeat these actions regularly, the baby will clearly understand what he should not do and will not receive psycho-emotional trauma.

You should accustom your pet to order by strictly observing its regime and daily routine. The kitten must have its own sleeping place, toilet, and place for feeding. It is recommended to give food to the baby at certain hours, at the same time. At the same time, it is important for the owner not to violate the rules he himself has established. For example, if one time the owner punished the child for an offense, and another time he ignored his action, the educational moment will be missed.

If the owner accustoms the animal to eat in a strictly defined place, then under no circumstances should you feed it from the table, etc. Proper upbringing of a kitten is based not on severity and cruelty, but on maintaining order and discipline.

scratching post

Sharpening claws is not a whim, but a necessity. In the process, the cat manages to relax, hone its skills in retracting and releasing the plates, and also remove excess layers of tissue. If your pet does not have a scratching post, he will begin to damage furniture and walls.

The main mistake owners make when training is choosing the wrong scratching post. It should match the pet's preferences. Observe your ward: some companions like vertical surfaces, others like horizontal ones, and others like inclined plates. Large cats need fairly high posts. Some animals prefer special furniture pads.

If a bad habit has already taken hold, you can cover the kitten’s favorite surfaces with foil to make them less attractive; personal presence is required as the pet may swallow the packaging

In order for the kitten to understand what he needs to do, you should carefully take him by the front paws and place them on the scratching post. Most often this is enough. If your baby has a negative attitude towards touch, you can show him a personal example and scratch your fingers on the surface. Spray is allowed.

Education of personal qualities

Most people who get a cat dream of it being affectionate and tame. But few people know that the character of an animal is also formed at a young age and depends on upbringing.

If the owner wants to raise a kitten to be tame and kind, then it is necessary to try to devote enough time to him, not to leave him alone for a long time, to take the baby in his arms more often, to play and talk to him. Scientists have proven that cats, although they do not understand words, receive certain information from a person’s tone and intonation.

Taming an adult wild cat

An adult feral cat has either never had a home of its own, or has had negative experiences with people and has forgotten how to trust them. To establish contact with an animal, the following conditions must be met:

• Communicate with wild animals in a calm environment.
• Do not grab or make sudden movements.
• You can wait until the cat shows interest and lure it with a treat.
• Try to pet the animal if the cat comes close or jumps onto your lap. But at the first sign of dissatisfaction, it is better to remove your hand.

You need to make sure that the cat is not frightened by the strong smell from clothes, too loud a voice, or any other factors of the new external environment. Cats are very careful animals; in order to relax, they need to feel completely safe.

How to train a kitten to sleep

When purchasing a kitten, it is recommended to take care of a comfortable sleeping place for it. Experts do not recommend that owners allow their cat to sleep in the same bed with them. Not only is this unhygienic, but also in the understanding of the animal, by sharing a sleeping place with it, the owner seems to equalize positions, and the owner must still be the clear leader.

In addition, sleeping with a kitten is simply dangerous. For example, you can accidentally crush a baby, causing him serious injuries. There are cases where cats scratched people in their sleep. If claws accidentally get into the eye, the most tragic consequences are possible, including complete blindness.

It is necessary to equip the kitten with a comfortable sleeping place, suitable in size, protected from noise and drafts. Often babies do not want to sleep alone and come to bed with their owners. In this case, you should calm the kitten down and then take it to its own sleeping place.

In this matter, you should be gentle, but at the same time firmly adhere to your positions. Once you let the kitten fall asleep in bed with its owner, the process of further accustoming it to a sleeping place will be extremely difficult and can take a long time.

What is important for the educational process

Remember, as soon as you have a furry family member, you need to raise him right away. Elementary, getting used to a new place, a cup.

It is advisable to immediately show what can be done and what is prohibited. Any adjustment to your pet's behavior should be gentle. Remember, if an adult pet is aggressive and vindictive, it is your fault.

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Toilet training

It is necessary to accustom a kitten to the tray from the moment it arrives in the house. It is recommended to choose a comfortable tray and high-quality filler for the animal. So that your baby can figure out where to go to the toilet, you just need to take him there after eating or when he exhibits restless behavior.

In the event that the kitten nevertheless did his “tricks” in the wrong place, you should refrain from shouting at the baby, much less hitting him. You just need to carefully poke his muzzle into the puddle, explain that you can’t do that and take him to the potty. You can also blot the cat’s urine with a cloth and place it in the tray; the smell will help the baby figure out where exactly his litter box is located.

Often the fault that a cat goes to the toilet in the wrong places lies with the owners themselves. It should be remembered that these animals are very clean. Therefore, it is worth regularly checking the condition of the tray, washing it and changing the filler.

Sterilization

The absence of a sexual partner certainly does not contribute to affection. Moreover, both females and males suffer to the same extent. Therefore, even before the kitten is brought into the house, you should think about how this problem will be solved. The most reasonable step is castration or sterilization. Such animals, firstly, live much longer and happier, and secondly, without suffering from hormonal storms, the cat will remain gentle and trusting all its life.

A very affectionate cat is a contented cat.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that even if just one of these conditions is ignored, the cat may remain angry. Also, we must not forget about genes. As you know, you can’t crush them with your finger, so if a cat is naturally harsh, then you shouldn’t count on drastic changes. Most likely, she will soften, but not to the extreme.

Wildness, based on genes and childhood experience, may be indeducible. And don’t forget that aggressive behavior on the part of a pet, especially if it appears out of the blue, can be a sign of illness. In this case, you need to contact a veterinarian.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8B2Ny3QpCbE

Feeding mode

Raising and disciplining a kitten also involves maintaining a proper feeding regimen. Kittens, like small children, should be fed according to a certain pattern. It looks like this:

It is recommended to feed the kitten strictly at certain hours. After feeding, the food bowls are removed. Only an adult cat over a year old can independently determine the time of meals and its quantity. As for water, the kitten should have constant access to it. The water in the drinking bowl should be changed 2-3 times throughout the day.

First 60 days of life

From birth until two months, the babies are under the care of their mother cat. They have enough communication with each other. Learn to build relationships. This is a kind of basic integration.

The first disagreements to be resolved: some attack, others retreat. During this period, the quadrupeds still have poor body control, but every day their strength increases, which is expressed in confidence.

Nail sharpener

Both kittens and adult cats love to sharpen their claws. The owner of the animal should make sure that it does not do this against furniture or wallpaper. To do this, the baby needs to purchase a special scratching post and teach how to use it (read how to accustom a kitten to a scratching post).

This is done simply. You just need to place your baby's paws on the surface of the scratching post so that he can feel how his claws cling to it. Soon the kitten will be happy to use this toy.

But what to do in cases where the baby still prefers the upholstery of a sofa or apartment wall to a scratching post? In such a situation, you should strictly explain to the kitten that this cannot be done and take it to the scratching post.

In addition, you can treat the furniture with orange peel. Cats don't like the smell of citrus fruits, so this simple trick will help stop your kitten from ruining your apartment's decor.

How long will it take to tame

The duration of the taming process depends on the character of the animal and the patience of the owner. It is different for everyone, so it is impossible to give an exact answer - for some the process will take a month, and for others even a year will not be enough. If you do everything correctly and calmly, the result will not be long in coming.

If the cat does not go into your arms, but he is calm, has a good appetite, and there is no reason to worry, then it is better to leave him alone.

Important! There is no need to try to forcibly accustom the animal to contact, this will only make him angry. Knowing how to tame a kitten in your hands, it is easy to achieve the desired effect

If you follow the necessary rules and have patience, you can achieve the desired results in a fairly short time. It is recommended to remember that not all breeds are prone to constant contact with humans, so you should not try to pick up the animal by force

Knowing how to tame a kitten in your hands, it is easy to achieve the desired effect. If you follow the necessary rules and have patience, you can achieve the desired results in a fairly short time. It is recommended to remember that not all breeds are prone to constant contact with humans, so you should not try to pick up the animal by force.

Play with the kitten

Raising a tame, flexible, healthy and fully developed kitten is simply impossible without games. You should definitely find time to communicate and have fun with your baby. For these purposes, special toys, balls and candy wrappers tied to a string are suitable.

The main thing is to make sure that the toy is made of safe materials and is not too small so that the kitten accidentally swallows it.

You should not allow your baby to play with the owner’s hands, hair, clothes, or scratch himself. When the baby turns into an adult cat, it will be extremely difficult to wean him from this habit, and such games can lead to injury, cause damaged clothes, jewelry, etc.

How to stop a kitten from chewing plants

In most cases, cats begin to chew indoor plants not because of their malicious nature or lack of upbringing, but because of a deficiency of vitamins. This problem can be solved by providing the kitten with a properly balanced diet and fortified supplements appropriate for its age category.

You can also plant special grass for cats on the windowsill, the seeds of which are sold at any pet store. You can stop a kitten from gnawing indoor flowers using a spray bottle or the same loud clap of your hands. It should be remembered that some indoor plants are poisonous and dangerous for the baby, so just in case, they should be removed where the kitten cannot reach them.

Proper care

Raising a kitten includes proper care for the baby. In order to provide it to your pet, you should pay attention to the following recommendations from experts:

1. From an early age, teach your kitten to hygiene procedures. Brush his fur regularly.
2. Give your kitten water treatments. It is best to accustom your baby to water from an early age.
3. Once every 1.5-2 weeks, trim the kitten’s claws, clean the eyes and ears. If you do not accustom your baby to such procedures, caring for an adult cat will be extremely problematic.
4. When bathing your kitten, use high-quality shampoos designed for its age category and coat type.

Caring for a kitten in this way will teach it discipline and help the owner establish contact with his pet.

How to deal with cat aggression

What should you do if your beloved furry pet bites, scratches, or gets into trouble with other pets? Such behavior may indicate a lack of attention from the owner or the animal’s desire to assert a leading position.

In such cases, the best method of training is to ignore the cat. It is recommended to strictly explain to the animal that this cannot be done and not to communicate or play with it for several hours.

What mistakes should you avoid?

Very often, owners make serious mistakes in raising a kitten, which later results in quite serious consequences and problems with the animal’s behavior:

1. Loud screaming and physical punishment . Such training methods are completely unsuitable for pets, especially sensitive and receptive ones like cats. If the owner hits his kitten and raises his voice at him, the pet will not become obedient, but will simply be afraid. Such animals grow up unsociable, wary, often have bad habits and even take revenge on their owners (for example, by wearing their favorite shoes). The kitten should be influenced by changing intonation and observing the established disciplinary rules.
2. Lack of encouragement . Raising a kitten involves not only prohibitions, but also encouragement. If the baby went to the potty or used the scratching post, you definitely need to praise him, pet him, and treat him to something tasty.
3. Lack of toys . You should not blame the kitten for spoiling furnishings if the owner did not provide him with toys, a scratching post, etc. in advance.

By avoiding such mistakes, the owner will significantly speed up and make it easier to raise his little furry pet.

Raising a kitten is a rather complex process. The most important condition is care, love, affection combined with strict discipline. It is important to be consistent and patient. In this case, you will definitely be able to raise a worthy, flexible, well-mannered and obedient pet.

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How to train a kitten

Cats are much less trainable than dogs. But if desired, they can also be taught certain commands. Training should begin at an early age, around 2.5-3 months. When training kittens, you should definitely use the reward method. You need to be persistent but patient.

You can’t scold a kitten if it doesn’t follow commands, but it’s important to praise and encourage it for every success, no matter how small.

Lures, encouragement with favorite food, treats, cat vitamins, etc. will help to attract the baby to a new activity and interest in training. It is not recommended to exercise after feeding the kitten. When the stomach is full, the animal's motor activity decreases significantly, as does its interest in rewards in the form of its favorite treats.

It is necessary to start training by performing the simplest commands. First, you should teach the kitten to respond to its name. To do this, you can call the baby by name, offering him food, or while playing, etc. When the baby begins to respond to his nickname, do not forget to reward him with something tasty.

It is important to limit your training time. Small kittens get tired quickly and lose interest, so long-term training is not suitable for them. The optimal training time is about 5 minutes. After this, you should take a break and, if desired, return to training again. What can you teach a kitten? At home, with enough time and patience, your cat can be taught the following commands:

• give paw;
• jump on the spot;
• bring a ball and other items.

Any person, even those without training skills, can teach such simple tricks to a kitten. It may take about 2-3 months to achieve the desired result.

Also see how to properly raise a kitten:

Who is the head in this house

All people understand that they are stronger, smarter and bigger, but often the reason for restraint on the part of a cat is the awareness of the same thing. And if the owner demonstrates that he is in charge at every opportunity, then you should not be surprised that the cat will feel uncomfortable.

Do not forget that cats living in natural conditions are loners, and if they feel that they are being subjugated, they simply leave their territory to where they will be the absolute masters. A domestic cat cannot do this, so it only experiences aggression and stress. There is no need to confuse dogs and cats. Under no circumstances should dogs be placed on the same level as you, but a cat will be more affectionate the more self-confident she feels.

To make a cat become affectionate, you should try hard.

Therefore, it is better to be careful with manifestations of your superiority and various punishments: an increasingly frightened cat is almost unable to perceive information. However, you shouldn’t spoil your pet either. You should not confuse an affectionate cat with an insolent one. It is quite enough to simply control yourself and not stoop to shouting, coercion and punishment.

By being patient and having free time, you can make even the most inert cat affectionate and trusting.

The main weapon should be cunning and persuasion. If a cat has done something wrong, you can pretend to be a big cat and hiss, but if she has done something right, she must be praised.