training
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How bad is it?
How bad is it to spray a cat with water when you’re training her? Cats don’t generally like getting wet and they are quite sensitive creatures. Surprise spritzes with water can really stress them out. Your best bet may be to provide a distraction and redirect your kitten’s attention to an approved activity. Some kittens may even think that a water spray is a game and continue the action that elicited the watery fun. So to prevent scratching on the sofa, place a scratching post or another scratching surface nearby to discourage destruction of your furniture piece. When you catch your furry friend clawing up the sofa, move her to…
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Socializing your new kitten
Of course, kittenhood is also a crucial time for socializing your cat. In order for him to grow into a well-balanced adult cat, he should be played with and comforted frequently. You should expose him to as many new sights, sounds, smells, and sensations as possible. Exposing your kitten to new people, animals, and experiences will help build a foundation for a lifetime of positive behavior. A kitten who hasn’t been properly socialized may develop fear aggression and avoid human contact. At this young age is the best time for him to get used to things such as wearing a collar, riding in a pet carrier, riding in a car,…
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Training Your Kitten
Training a kitten is usually about establishing and reinforcing boundaries and household rules. Using positive reinforcement to train your kitten is the best way to get your message across to your new feline companion. For every “no,” they need a “yes.” Avoid punishing or speaking harshly which will only scare your kitten. Never, ever hit or shake your kitten. Instead, ignore your kitten when she’s behaving badly and give her affection, treats and praise to reward her good behavior. If ignoring isn’t an option, redirect your kitten’s attention to something else. For example, if your kitten bites or scratches your hand, give her a toy to play with instead. If…
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So You Got a New Kitten…
Since this is usually where your pet ownership journey starts, I thought this would be a good beginning topic for this blog (puppies coming soon!). During the summer, which is in full force in my area of Texas, our area shelters are full of kittens looking for new homes. It’s a great time to find that special furry addition to your family and it allows your kids to form some early bonds with those kitties as they are spending time home away form school during their summer break. If you’ve considered bringing home a feline friend, you might have questions on how to integrate a new pet into your life…