Memes about the wayward, independent character of cats have been one of the Internet hits for years. Although playful, they are not without right – pride and individualism are among the basic features of cats. Does this mean that raising a cat is impossible? Not at all – you just need to find the key to the animal’s behavior.
Cats learn simple things such as using a litter box quite easily. You need to put some effort and patience into a more complicated training of eating in designated places, walking with braces or performing tricks. Check how to raise a cat so that it impresses every guest with its behavior!
How to raise a cat well?
Of course, the easiest thing to do is to raise a little cat. Kittens’ minds are the most receptive and they do not have different habits that would make their training difficult. With the right dose of patience and consistency, it is also possible to train an adult individual. You don’t have to worry that the cat taken in from the shelter will do whatever he wants in his new home.
Time and sense of security and raising a cat
Give the cat time. The animal must get used to the new territory, accept the family and feel safe. Provide him with a quiet place to sleep and rest, do not impose yourself – especially with several people at once. Let yourself and at your own pace explore the apartment. In this way, small cats develop a sociable, friendly and open character. This way you will provide your cat with a sense of security. Forcing your pet to acclimatize and socialize quickly can be counterproductive. The cat will be afraid, it will develop distrust, and it will record an inappropriate reaction to stimuli.
Raising a cat at home – the golden rules
Cats are individualists, but very sensitive. How to raise a cat so as not to break its character? Best by working out a compromise. You can achieve it by following a few basic rules of dealing with a creature as sensitive and at the same time as independent as a cat.
Raising a cat with respect
Don’t try to dislodge your natural feline instincts. Better channel your pet’s energy in a way that is acceptable to you. Even an indoor cat should be able to hunt, but make sure that its prey is a toy, and not the handler’s favorite shoes. Before you start thinking about how to raise a cat, meet its needs. Do not prohibit him from scratching or climbing – create an environment where he can perform these activities, for example on scratching posts.
How to raise a cat? No penalties!
Cats are extremely sensitive and stressful animals, so shouting and physical aggression from the handler can lead to serious behavioral and even health problems. An animal can irretrievably lose its trust in humans. It is especially important to use positive reinforcement rather than punishments when it comes to raising your cat at home. Behaviorists advise you to ignore your pet’s inappropriate behavior, while rewarding your desired behavior. A cat can be scolded by a firm “no”, preferably combined with a sound, such as a clap of the hand. This is to distract the cat from the activity. When that happens, offer him an alternative.
Raising a cat and motivation
Motivation is the key to success. The cat must be motivated to the behavior we want to induce him to do. However, you need to find a form of motivation that will appeal to your cat. Each animal is different: some love delicacies, others prefer an extra caress or a new toy. It’s best to use trial and error. This may take some time, but it will help you discover how to raise your cat.
How to work with this method? Reward your cat in his favorite way as soon as he does what you want him to do. This method works well for clipping claws, taking a polite walk or redirecting scratching to a toy. A cat is an intelligent animal – it will quickly associate a reward with a specific behavior.
Consistency and patience are the key to raising a cat
The same motivation should always be used in order for the cat to understand the relationship between a particular behavior and reward. If you give him a treat once and a caress another time, the animal will not understand that it has just been rewarded. Other household members must also follow this rule. The enforcement of the desired cat behavior also requires consistency. If we forbid a cat one day, turn a blind eye the next, and then forbid it again, the animal will feel confused and will not understand what is actually expected of it.
Raising a cat and training time
If a treat is used as a reward, training should be carried out between or just before meals, never after. A well-fed pet will be less eager for the next portions, even of your favorite delicacies. You should choose a fixed time of training and rather adapt to your cat’s daily rhythm. For example, it is absolutely impossible to wake a pet during a nap, this is the basic rule of how to raise a cat.
Cats get bored quickly, so to keep your pet interested, training shouldn’t be long – ideally, it should last no more than 15 minutes. It is worth ending the session before the cat stops cooperating so that it associates the training well. It is worth carrying out workouts every day, even shorter, but more often. Moreover, each training should follow the same scenario.
Raising a cat step by step
How to properly raise a cat at home? First of all, teaching one thing at a time. Putting too many elements into your training will make your cat scratch and lose interest. Choose the behavior you want most and train only that behavior in the weeks or months to come. If you want your cat to use a scratching post, focus only on that. Do not introduce other exercises, such as eating at fixed times. Only after you have taught your pet one behavior, move on to learning another.
Raising a cat – what to teach
Does the cat have to shake hands and give a high-five? Not necessarily, but there are skills that are worth and even need to be taught to him. Mastering them will facilitate the daily functioning of the whole family. They include:
- use of the litter box;
- walking on a leash or harness;
- eating at the allotted time.
How to raise a cat? Cleanliness training
Learning to cleanse brings the fastest results, because cats need to take care of the cleanliness of the place where they stay. Additionally, the burying of dung is a demonstration of the subordinate position in the herd. How to raise a cat and get used to the use of the litter box? Put it in it as soon as you notice that the cat wants to defecate. Do it calmly, without sudden movements, so as not to scare the kitten and discourage him from using the toilet in the future. If your pet catches up with its litter box, reward it immediately. Remember that the ability to use the litter box is also instilled in kittens by the mother.
How to raise a cat to go for walks?
How to teach a cat to walk with a harness? Before you try to put them on for the first time, put the harness in places where the cat is often, e.g. near his bedding. In this way, the animal will get used to seeing them and will not be afraid of them. Only after some time should you try to put the harness on your cat – first without fastening it and walking around the house. Once your kitten accepts the harness, you can attach a leash to it, let it loose and let your four-legged pet roam the house. After a few days, grab the leash and hold it while training, and then go out for a walk.
Raising a cat and training in eating
How do you train a cat to eat its portion of food at a certain time? First of all, you need to determine how often you are able to feed your cat and how many meals it needs. Set fixed meal times and feed your cat food around this time. People who work outside the home should, at least initially, leave some food freely available to keep the cat from going hungry. The next step is to designate a specific place to serve meals. Behaviorists also advise to choose a sound (such as a clap or a word) that would be the equivalent of a human being “served to the table.” The cat will associate it with the feeding time.
How to raise a cat – alone or with an expert
Raising a cat at home is not as difficult as it may seem, but sometimes it takes some effort. This applies especially to cats taken in from the street or from a shelter, and therefore having negative experiences in contact with humans. In such cases, it is worth consulting an expert – preferably a behaviorist, who, after observing the cat, will suggest how to carry out the learning process. One visit is often enough to raise your pet on your own, based on his advice.
It is also worth asking for the support of an expert in the case of behaviors that occurred suddenly, for example, when a cat, who was willing to use the litter box, begins to urinate on the carpet. Such a change of behavior in an animal may indicate a health problem. A cat should first be checked by a vet to rule out possible disease, before you start thinking about how to raise your cat and persuade him to change his habit.
Raising a cat – do it wisely!
You already know how to raise a cat so that the results are satisfactory. The upbringing process is largely based on trust. Make sure your training progresses quickly. A well-mannered cat will be a great companion for you and your family.