cat training

[llghoney]

My older cat is around 10 yrears old & we have just gotten a kitten. When we got our first cat he was probably a year old. This kitten we have had since he was about 5 weeks. What do you use to let the kitten scratch on? My older cat scratches in boxes or cardboard. I am having a problem getting this kitten to do that. I know there are those scratching polls & such but I was hoping to train this one to use cardboard. Also, how do you stop them from jumping out at you? I have tried it all it seems.

Thanks

 

[FlatpickingJD]

My cats just kind of picked the scratching things up on their own; both somehow knew what the scratching post was for. I read a suggestion in a book that came from the Humane Society with one of the cats that said to train the cat to scratch where you want it to you should take the kitten's paws and make the scratching motion on whatever object you want it to scratch on. So in your case, the carboard or boxes.

As I said, my cats just kind of knew what to do, so I really didn't have to do much, though I did the scratch thing once with my current cat.

As for jumping out at you, I think that's just part of being a kitten, them playing and learning how to hunt and all. I think you pretty much have to learn to live with it. I always found it amusing, and at least I knew where the beast was.

Hope this helps.

 

[llghoney]

Yeah I have been doing that I willt ake him to the boxes & do the scratching motion with his paws. He doesn't know what in the heck I am doing that for though! lol

And as the jumping out part the reason being is I have scratches ALL over my legs & scars from him. Not fun & doesn't feel good. I think I am getting him to where he knows better.

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[bumblebee62331]

About the jumping out thing, I think they think you are playing with them and they are to 'pounce' on you whenever they hear you coming. Can you clip his nails? That might help a little... Also a firm "NO" is an option. When my cat jumps out and scratches me, I stop and look at her, or pick her up and look in her eyes and say "NO" and for some reason, her ears go flat and she knows she's in trouble. She doesn't jump out at me anymore, unless we are playing and even then she knows not to use her claws. Your cat might just be too young to understand when to use his claws and when not to?

Also with the scratching thing - if he is scratching something that you don't want him to scratch on, you can stop him and tap him lightly on his back and say "NO". Then pick him up and take him over to the cardboard box and make scratching motions with his hands and pat him. This is to say "NO" to the furniture (for example) but YES, GOOD BOY to the cardboard box.

I hope this helps a little!

 

[llghoney]

Thanks again for the advice. I think the jumping out thing I have gotten him broken of that. Thank goodness I was tired of being scratched!!

I went & bought one of those cardboard scratching things to get him use to scratching on cardboard & he LOVES it! SO that is a start!

 

[Kahalachan]

My older cat is around 10 yrears old & we have just gotten a kitten. When we got our first cat he was probably a year old. This kitten we have had since he was about 5 weeks. What do you use to let the kitten scratch on? My older cat scratches in boxes or cardboard. I am having a problem getting this kitten to do that. I know there are those scratching polls & such but I was hoping to train this one to use cardboard. Also, how do you stop them from jumping out at you? I have tried it all it seems.

Thanks

They like arching their back and using their front claws to scratch things. Scratching posts don't seem to work unless they are tall because they like to reach up. They like something their claws stick into, so I don't think cardboard would work well. Maybe, but you'd have to get new cardboard lots.

When I didn't want my kitten to jump up I'd just put my hand above their head, palm flat and parallel to the ground.

Those both worked for my 2 cats.

 

[Sabina41]

My cat (a former outdoor cat who scratched on stuff naturally) has adapted well to being indoors only. I have a flat cardboard scratcher for him. I apply catnip to it occasionally, so that might be a good idea for you too. It makes it more appealing for him. You can buy it at Walmart or petstores. Sometimes he does test me and try to use the couch but I just do my best to yell, shout and generally scare him to pieces when he does it so he knows that that is a very very bad thing to do. I keep his nails trimmed short also so there's less need to scratch. These are all ideas you could use. Keep your kitten's nails short (trim every 2-4 weeks with standard human fingernail clippers), offer him positive scratching places in multiple rooms (possibly near wherever there's a bad place he likes to scratch), praise him when he uses the scratcher, scare the crap out of him when he scratches a bad place.

-Ashley

 

[bumblebee62331]

My cat (a former outdoor cat who scratched on stuff naturally) has adapted well to being indoors only. I have a flat cardboard scratcher for him. I apply catnip to it occasionally, so that might be a good idea for you too. It makes it more appealing for him. You can buy it at Walmart or petstores. Sometimes he does test me and try to use the couch but I just do my best to yell, shout and generally scare him to pieces when he does it so he knows that that is a very very bad thing to do. I keep his nails trimmed short also so there's less need to scratch. These are all ideas you could use. Keep your kitten's nails short (trim every 2-4 weeks with standard human fingernail clippers), offer him positive scratching places in multiple rooms (possibly near wherever there's a bad place he likes to scratch), praise him when he uses the scratcher, scare the crap out of him when he scratches a bad place.

-Ashley

Great advice.

I've highlighted a bit that I'd like to stress ....

Make sure you do a bit of research before attempting to clip your cat's nails. There are certain parts of the nail that can really really hurt the cat if you cut it. You need to make sure you know exactly what you are cutting and how to do it so it doesn't splinter.

Also, may I recommend doing it while the cat is half asleep.... and have plenty of treats within reach ....

 

[llghoney]

Ok so this kitten is still jumping & biting too. I was sitting on the couch the other night & he jumped up on my face & bit my forehead & scratched my face. So we took him yesterday to get neutered to hopefully cure some of that. The vet said that some cats are more agressive than others. I don't know if this kitty is more aggressice or thinking I am his toy? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[bumblebee62331]

Ok so this kitten is still jumping & biting too. I was sitting on the couch the other night & he jumped up on my face & bit my forehead & scratched my face. So we took him yesterday to get neutered to hopefully cure some of that. The vet said that some cats are more agressive than others. I don't know if this kitty is more aggressice or thinking I am his toy? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Your cat needs to know what he did was wrong.

If he attacks your face, you need to immediately say "NO!" in a loud, firm voice, and take him to another room and leave him there for a 5 minute time out. You can also (gently) smack his bottom while saying "NO!". Leave him completely alone in the time-out room. After this happens a few times, he will associate that behaviour with a time-out and hopefully stop doing it.

My cat attacked my face once. Once only because she was put in the shower (no water running) for a time-out and learnt that that behaviour resulted in a not very pleasant time-out.

He probably thought he was only playing with you, but even cats need to know when it's gone too far. Many people might say "it's just a cat, that's what they do" but if you have children running around or even other adults, they can still get hurt by cats swiping at their faces. Cats can learn that certain behaviours are not acceptable. Sometimes it just takes more time. The neutering might help (it's certainly good to get them neutered!).

 

[llghoney]

Yeah I think the neutering has helped some! So I hope anyway!!

I did exactly what you have said I put him in our bedroom when he has done that. ANd told him "NO". I just never had to do this with my other cat is why it has been freightning to me.

 

[bumblebee62331]

Yeah I think the neutering has helped some! So I hope anyway!!

I did exactly what you have said I put him in our bedroom when he has done that. ANd told him "NO". I just never had to do this with my other cat is why it has been freightning to me.

Cats are like children.

Take my sister and I. She was wild, running around, screaming, throwing things. I would sit and read books and make cookies.

Cats are the same. One might just want to sleep all day and snuggle. Another might want to fight or play. There's nothing wrong with your cat, he's just a little more ... exciteable ... than the other. Maybe he doesn't realise what's too much, whereas your other cat does?

Either way, well done for putting him in the bedroom. Keep it up if he keeps attacking you and hopefully you will see results soon!

 

[llghoney]

Right! I'll try to let ya know how he does!

Thanks for the advice!