The mother cat teaches the kittens how to take care of their fur coat, go to the litter box, hunt, and punishes them for pranks. If the kitten came to you as a baby, you will have to teach it everything yourself. This is not very difficult and will allow you to get even closer to your pet.
You need to raise a kitten as soon as it gets into your home. First of all, give your pet an easy to pronounce name that he will respond to, and do not change it. Then show the cat where his sleeping place, tray, feeder and scratching post are. At first, the animal will be confused by new smells and sounds, it will need to get used to it.
When you realize that the kitten has become accustomed to its new habitat, begin to correct the pet’s behavior. Clearly outline the boundaries where the baby is not allowed to go, for his safety. If a habit is learned in childhood, it is not so easy to get rid of it later, so say a clear “No!” or “Ugh!” when the kitten:
- plays with wires;
- tries to get into the washing machine;
- wants to playfully bite your arm or leg;
- tinkering in flower pots;
- scratches wallpaper or furniture.
It is important to secure the apartment as if there were a small child in it, because kittens are very curious and active.
The animal is considered a kitten until puberty, which occurs in different cat breeds at approximately 6-24 months.
If you don't want your cat to sleep in your bed in the future, don't let her lie on your bed. But no concessions, otherwise the pet will get confused in the commands and will do whatever he wants. Be logical and consistent in raising your kitten. Try to form the right habits in a timely manner and immediately correct unwanted behavior.
Should I leave the light on for my cat?
Answer: There is no need for this. But keep in mind that although cats can see in the dark, they cannot see in pitch darkness. If you have at least some kind of light source at home - even from the street, then everything is in order. There is no point in leaving the light on on purpose.
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How to train a kitten to use a litter box
Cats are clean and instinctively want to relieve themselves according to all the rules. All you have to do is provide the kitten with everything necessary. Place the tray in a quiet, secluded place with a small layer of litter or torn newspapers inside. After eating or sleeping, walk your pet to the toilet and show him burrowing movements; most likely, instinct will tell the kitten what to do.
When everything works out, pet the kitten and praise, but not too pompously. If something doesn't work out, be patient. You may need to change the location of the tray or the filler. You cannot scold or beat an animal, this will cause stress, mistrust of you and, as a result, puddles and piles in the most unexpected places.
If you cannot train your kitten to use the litter box, be sure to visit a veterinarian. Your pet may have health problems.
Teaching a kitten simple commands
Cats are not as trainable as dogs. But a little patience and diligence - and your pet will amaze you with its abilities! Choose a quiet place to study, without distracting sounds or people. It is better to conduct exercises at the same time before feeding, but do not spend too much time on exercises: 5-10 minutes will be enough so that the kitten’s attention does not wander.
Many cats have a tendency to perform certain actions since childhood, so watch your pet and study its habits.
Command "Give me a paw"
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Place a treat on your palm and clearly say: “Give me your paw.” The kitten will instinctively place its paw on its palm and reach for the treat. Praise him immediately and give him a treat. If your pet hesitates, carefully place his paw on your palm, and then treat him with a treat. It is important that the animal remembers that after a phrase and a certain action you can get food. It is advisable to repeat the command 4-5 times to consolidate it.
Team "Come to me"
This is an important command, although in some ways it goes against a cat's nature. Like, it’s not a royal thing to come running at the first call. Meanwhile, many cats successfully perform it if the phrase “Come to me” is immediately reinforced with the sound of food being poured into a bowl. Soon the cat will learn to run to the command “with all its paws,” but most importantly, it will remember the key phrase.
Commands “Sit” and “Lie Down”
Cats love to sit and lie imposingly without any commands. But it can be more interesting to train your pet in such a way that he does it according to your desire. Wait until the kitten is in a calm mood. Then get your pet's attention and clearly say, “Sit,” while applying gentle pressure on the lower body. When the kitten sits down, immediately reward him with a treat and reinforce the command several times.
In order for your pet to learn the “Lie Down” command, lightly roll the kitten onto its side, and then immediately give it a treat. Try to achieve an association: phrase - action - treat.
If a kitten does not comply with the training conditions, it should not be rewarded with food. Wait for exactly the desired behavior so that it becomes fixed in the animal’s mind.
Command "Bring"
If your kitten likes to hold toys in his teeth, try using this habit for training. Say: “Bring it” and entice your pet with a treat. No reaction? Then there is no refreshment. And if a kitten, even by accident, still comes up to you with a toy in its teeth, encourage it and try to consolidate the skill in the future.
Wash daily
When it comes to water procedures, people often go to extremes. Some people cannot bathe their pet for years, while others wash it like a child every day. Don't be overzealous - it could end badly.
Firstly, cats have a higher body temperature. Wool performs the functions of thermoregulation, so after bathing the animal can easily get sick.
Secondly, if your cat doesn't like water (this is a common problem), every bath becomes stressful for her. “Bath days” should be arranged only when necessary. It is recommended to wash long-haired cats after going to the litter box, but it is enough to limit yourself to “washing” the problem area.
Reasons for disobedience in mustaches
Despite the fact that many scientific and behavioral studies have been conducted, people still cannot fully understand the psychological relationship between a pet and a person. Meanwhile, for a comfortable coexistence, it is important to understand the language of your pet and know the reason for his actions. This is easy for some owners, more difficult for others.
Often there are completely reasonable explanations for bad actions. For example, if a furry dog urinates on the carpet, then he is most likely expressing dissatisfaction with the new filler, the arrival of a new family member, or the rearrangement of furniture in the room.
Stealing tasty morsels from the owner's table usually does not contain negativity on the part of the fluffy. This is just a purely physiological desire to eat. Torn furniture upholstery or scratched wallpaper can be a consequence of inattention on the part of a person or family members.
In general, the cause of disobedience can be determined through short-term or long-term observations. No one knows a cat better than the owner - and it is he who sooner or later guesses the reason behind all her actions.
Pull the tail
Soft, fluffy, mischievous. It resembles a moving brush and fascinates with its smooth movements. The temptation to pull a cat's tail is great, especially for children. But this is absolutely forbidden! It is important not to set a bad example and explain to children why.
A cat's tail is an extension of its spine. It can be easily injured, dislocated discs or pinched a nerve. If the tail is seriously injured, the cat can even be paralyzed. In addition, many nerve endings are concentrated in the tail. Even if it seems to you that you pulled “not too much,” it will be extremely painful for the cat.
How to stop a kitten from jumping on the kitchen table
This unpleasant habit is due to the fact that in nature cats love to jump onto elevated surfaces and from there observe what is happening around them. A table for this is an ideal springboard, and if there is also food on it, then the pet will come here more often. This behavior must be stopped immediately, because... it is unhygienic for you and dangerous for the animal (sharp knives, harmful products, etc.).
You can use repellent commands or immediately splash water on the kitten. A few drops of essential oil with a pungent odor and a cut onion will help to keep your pet away from the table. Also, the kitten will give up a bad habit if there are unpleasant objects waiting for him on the table, for example, a baking sheet with water, foil rustling under his paws, or empty tin cans that fall with a roar with every movement.
How to stop a kitten from tearing up furniture and wallpaper
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This kind of trouble can happen even if you bought a scratching post for your kitten. As soon as you notice this behavior, say strictly “No!” or “Ugh!” or spray your pet with water from a spray bottle. Then take the kitten to the scratching post and gently press it with your pet's paws so that he understands how to do it. When the animal becomes sexually mature, you can lightly spray the scratching post with valerian or catnip to attract its attention.
Advice from a veterinarian: how to help a street animal without harming yourself
What to do if you pick up an animal from the street
If a person picks up an animal from the street , first of all, you need to show the animal to a veterinarian.
The doctor has the opportunity to conduct an examination. He assesses the general condition of the skin, and checks for microsporia or ringworm with a Wood's ultraviolet lamp. If it is not possible to see a doctor immediately, the animal must be isolated at home. You cannot take him to bed, kiss him, you must wash your hands after talking to him. The animal may have fleas, lice, and worm eggs. Most worms are species specific, so cat worms will not live on humans. But there are also those that can live in dogs, cats, and humans - for example, echinococcus. The adult parasite lives in dogs, and the larva lives in humans. It causes quite severe liver diseases - echinococcosis.
If a puppy or kitten is sick or not feeling well , for example, it was hit by a car, it is necessary to restore it. Wait until he starts eating, drinking, going to the toilet, and then treat him for parasites.
Only a doctor can prescribe tablets to animals . Many medications for humans are contraindicated for animals. For example, “Paracetamol”, “Diclofenac”, “Ketoprofen”, “Dekaris” for worms is considered a good drug for humans, but extremely toxic for cats. Cats die from one tablet. Once the medicine is absorbed and affects the nervous system, the animal cannot be saved.
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Animal shelters are also worth checking out , because many animals are kept together there. We must pay tribute to Grodno animal rights activists: they have a lot of foster care. They don’t throw 20-30 kittens into one room, but distribute two or three kittens at a time. Zoo defenders conscientiously treat the animals, and only then hand them over to good hands.
Even if you bought a puppy for a lot of money , it may be sick. The puppy may vomit the deworming tablet, the drug may be expired, or the dosage of the drug may be incorrect. It’s better to play it safe and treat it yourself against parasites.
How not to get infected yourself
To avoid infection , you should not take the animal to bed or carry it in your arms. It is necessary to ensure quarantine: we need to wait for some time, see how the animal feels. It may not have stains, bald spots, or bald spots. But microsporia or trichophytosis may appear after two to three weeks. Even a healthy, active animal can be a carrier of the disease.
In most cases, these are diseases that can be treated without any problems, both in humans and in animals. But there are also more dangerous ones . For example, taxoplasmosis. This is a dangerous parasite that infects 50 to 90 percent of stray cats. In them it occurs hidden, but a person can become infected. An adult or child will tolerate it normally, but a pregnant girl may have serious problems.
Animal worms can be transmitted to humans, causing larva migrans syndrome. Worm larvae burrow through the intestinal walls and enter the bloodstream. They do not develop there, but can cause an allergic reaction and digestive upset. To get larva migrans syndrome, it is enough to remove the tray from a sick animal and not wash your hands.
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The most dangerous disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans is rabies . Recently, for the first time in three years, there was a case of rabies in Grodno. A fox was found on Devyatovka, and in the laboratory a section of the brain showed signs of rabies. This fox could have bitten a dog or puppy. If a person took such a puppy home, and it bit him, the problems would be very serious.
There is no cure for rabies. If a person shows signs of rabies, there is no salvation. If an animal from the street shows signs of aggression, it lunges and hisses, this should be taken seriously. The bite of such a dog must be washed with soap, pressure on the bite site and bleeding. It is better to go to a medical facility where they will get vaccinated against rabies. Even with inaction, the risk of getting sick is not one hundred percent. But I don't want to take risks.
The rabies virus travels along nerve endings very slowly. If a dog bites the leg, the virus will reach the head within two months. If it's in the neck, it's much faster. To prevent it from getting there, the body must produce antibodies as quickly as possible. If the virus reaches the head and clinical signs of rabies appear - hydrophobia, photophobia - the person cannot be saved.
What to treat animals for
As Garfield said, the main rules of caring for a cat are to love, feed and never leave. We need to make sure that he eats well, goes to the toilet well, feels normal, and is active. Otherwise, contact the veterinary service.
It is difficult for a non-specialist to understand whether a kitten is developing correctly and whether it has any congenital defects.
Flea treatment should be done as needed. When the animal goes for a walk, the time will come to treat ticks and fleas with collars, drops or tablets. If the kitten is clean and does not go outside, it does not need to be treated at all.
An adult animal should be treated for worms once every three months. We do this not only from the point of view of the animal’s health, but also for our own health. Professional treatment for parasites along with an examination will cost 20–30 rubles .
An animal from the street can bring an unpleasant surprise to the one at home. Therefore, it is worth vaccinating cats and dogs against major infectious diseases. Cats are vaccinated against feline distemper, herpes virus and calici virus. It is also established at the legislative level in Belarus that all predatory animals are vaccinated against rabies.
It is recommended to castrate before the onset of puberty - between the ages of six months and 7 months. At this time, it is worth castrating cats and females, males and females.
Animals should be washed as needed. A cat is a very clean animal. If she grooms herself and looks good, why wash her? But if she turned the trash can on herself, of course, she needs to give it a bath.
Washing dogs depends on the breed, shampoo and temperament of the animal. Yard dogs are never washed. Decorative breeds, which are often carried in the arms, are washed once a month.
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Psychological health of animals
An adequate animal gets used to going to the toilet where it needs to be. You want the litter box to smell at first: put a napkin with urine there and show the cat this place, after a while he will remember. For dogs, it all depends on the breed. Animals of large breeds get used to going outside earlier, small ones - later.
A healthy animal is interested in what is happening around, asks to eat, wants to play. A cat on its territory may not accept a cat that is placed with it. Animals can be aggressive, especially if both are not neutered. Every cat and dog needs games and communication.
If you cannot give him time and attention constantly, toys will be required. People go to work, but the cat is at home. He is bored, eats like crazy, gets fat and gradually turns into a piglet. It is useful to keep cats in pairs and several individuals - it will be more interesting for them to communicate with each other.
Mistake #4. Loud noises and screaming
Cats' hearing is more sensitive not only than that of humans, but also that of dogs. Accordingly, the sound wave you produce will have too strong an effect on your pet. Over thousands of years of living side by side with humans, cats have perfectly learned to read human emotions by smell, facial expressions, posture, and intonation. Screaming is more likely to scare the cat, but will not have a pedagogical effect. But the animal’s name, sternly pronounced in a slightly raised voice, will convey your dissatisfaction to the pet.
If the furry prankster is too carried away and does not respond to simple methods of influence, try hissing at him. In cat language, this means a warning that will let the animal know that you are serious. This technique is effective, but it should be used rarely so that the cat does not begin to see you as an enemy.
How to teach a kitten to be brushed
It is necessary to accustom a kitten to hygiene procedures from childhood. Cats with long hair and a thick undercoat need regular brushing, otherwise they will develop tangles and hair loss. To avoid this, first lightly stroke the kitten with a special comb mitt. Then gradually move on to the brushes. Choose a calm time for the procedure and try not to hold the baby by force, so as not to hurt him. You can gently brush it with a brush after waking up. Very soon the pet will get used to this procedure and even begin to enjoy it. If resistance is strong, try rewarding your pet with treats.
Summarize
From the cat’s point of view, if the owner punished her, then he is angry and inadequate, and it is not her fault. The only thing you can achieve by punishing a cat is to ruin your relationship with it, provoking fear, mistrust and worsening behavior. Yes, cats' conclusions rarely coincide with our desires, but by better understanding the reasons for their actions, we can correct the situation.
Especially many questions regarding behavior arise during the period of adaptation of cats to a new place. The well-being of the shelter’s residents is very important to us, so the Murkoshi team is always ready to help the owners of their graduates. And also for all cat lovers, we have prepared useful articles on care, behavior adjustment, documents, adaptation, pet health and the most exciting issues that you can find on our website.
How to toilet train a kitten
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If you don’t want to deal with the litter box every day, you can teach your kitten to use the toilet. But only on condition that the animal is completely healthy. Wait until your pet is older (small kittens can drown in the toilet) and start training. Smart individuals usually master this “science” in 3-4 weeks.
First, place the cat litter box on a slight elevation so that the kitten gets used to relieving itself this way. Gradually raise the tray higher and higher, but do not forget about stability. When the cat litter is the same height as the toilet, secure it firmly and securely to the seat. If the cat is not afraid to use such a tray, then everything is fine.
The next step is to remove the cat litter box and attach a strip of polyethylene with filler across the toilet. The kitten will jump on the seat and will not find its litter box, but the smell and location of the litter will tell it what to do. Then you can remove this “hint”.
What can you teach a cat
The commands that are taught to dogs can also be taught to cats, especially curious ones. She can learn to sit, lie down, give a paw, fetch a toy and do various tricks. You can teach your pet elements of a circus program: jumping through a hoop, walking on its hind legs, fetching a ball.
Of course, training cats is different from training dogs; these are different types of animals, and they need an individual approach.
Special training systems have been developed for cats and are used by people at home. With regular exercise, even a 2-month-old kitten will achieve positive results.
Special conditions must be created for training, then the result will be as effective as possible:
- Your four-legged friend must be in good health.
- It’s better if the cat ate a long time ago, then rewarding it with a treat works better.
- A good, playful mood between the owner and the cat - it is important that the pet enjoys the process.
- The lesson should not last long, no more than five minutes: cats quickly lose interest in training.
- Age also matters - you should not train small kittens, less than two months old or old kittens, most likely this will not bring the desired results.
