How to teach your cat good manners

 There is a myth that cats are not trainable and only do what they want “here and now.” However, perseverance and patience allow, for example, to instill good manners in a cat: use a tray instead of your shoes as a toilet, sharpen your claws on a scratching post, and not on a sofa, and even walk on a harness.

 Despite external independence, domestic cats, as a rule, are still guided by the opinion of the owners and are ready to master the basic program. The main thing is not to “break” the cat, but to use its natural inclinations. For example, curiosity will allow you to teach your pet how to use a scratching post. You can run your nails over this wonderful object several times – in front of your pet. The kitten will certainly be interested in the scratching sound, he may repeat your movements and find that the scratching post, in general, is not at all as bad as it might seem at first glance.

In the photo: cat scratching post To arouse even more interest, you can treat the scratching post with something attractive, such as catnip. You can repeat the treatment in a few days. One of the biggest mistakes is to take the kitten by the paws and try to “teach” the scratching post by force. Compulsion is something that cats hate with all their heart. The kitten will be indignant, and it will be quite difficult for you to overcome his disgust for this subject. You can accustom the cat to a harness that is suitable in size. At first, they put it on for a short time so that the fluffy gets used to it. Then you can start walking on a leash – first around the house, then briefly go out into the yard. Your main thing at the same time is to ensure the safety of a four-legged friend.

It is best to start training a kitten from an early age, as soon as he has appeared in your home.

 Cats can also be taught funny tricks. Take a look at your pet’s habits. If your cat likes to jump, you can teach her to jump on your shoulder or jump over small barriers. If the purr likes to carry toys in his mouth, you can learn to fetch. There are cats that love to get up on their hind legs. But remember that you won’t teach your pet anything by force. Keep in mind that cats get tired pretty quickly. Therefore, classes should be short (several minutes), and one action should not be repeated more than 2 – 3 times. Praise, treats or affection can serve as a reward – it all depends on the cat’s preferences. Remember that you need to encourage exactly at the moment when she made the right action. Act in stages, do not demand everything at once. Your main resource is patience, stock up on it.

 If the cat is doing something lewd (from your point of view), you can distract it by offering a treat. Or say a firm no. A sharp short sound is quite unpleasant for cats. But you need to correct the kitten at the very moment when he “commits a crime.” Because even if two seconds pass after an unwanted action, he will no longer understand what exactly you are unhappy with.

Loud yelling, swearing, and physical punishment should be an absolute taboo.

 Cats are very emotional, and doing this on your part will make them fearful or angry. If the cat is afraid of the owner, she is constantly in suspense. And when she is left alone, she is simply forced to actively move as a discharge, including scratching objects or involuntarily emptying her bladder. A cat never takes revenge on a person for anything. If you tend to blame your pet for something like this, it means that she is experiencing tremendous discomfort and thus signals to you that something is wrong.