Care Pet Wellness Group / Kitten Behavior

Kitten Behavior

Litter Boxes

most kittens come ‘litter trained’ but don’t take this for granted!
number of litter boxes = number of cats PLUS ONE
convenient/quiet places away from food and water and where they won’t be frightened or interrupted by sudden noises (toilet, furnace)
scrupulously clean, with unscented, dust-free litter
scoop DAILY, empty & wash WEEKLY (no pinesol or ammonia, just hot soapy water and a thorough rinse. Dilute bleach (40:1) monthly
boxes with LOW sides for kittens and old cats
avoid changing brands or locations once you’ve found ones that work for your cat(s)
accidents happen: punishment NEVER works with cats; cleanse area thoroughly with an ENZYMATIC odour eliminator; block access to unacceptable area or place food bowl or clean litter box there
if your cat continues to eliminate outside the box, schedule a veterinary visit to rule out a physical problem—do not allow a bad habit to become ingrained!

Scratching Posts

scratching is a normal feline behavior and cannot be prevented (even declawed cats will go through the motions!) so must be redirected to an acceptable object to spare your furniture & carpets
facilitates nail care and is a marking behavior
the post needs to be TALL (the cat has to be able to stretch out to its full length with the front paws extended) and STABLE (if it rocks, your cat will likely never use it!)
different cats prefer different substrates: short pile carpet, sisal/rope, bark covered log nailed to sturdy base, even corrugated cardboard
a multi-level kitty condo with combinations of materials is generally a very good investment and increases the vertical space too in multicat households
encourage its use with catnip, dangling strings and sporadic treats
interrupt scratching behavior on unacceptable surfaces with a water pistol or bean bag thrown NEAR, not at the cat while it’s in the act
if kitten persists, pick it up and carry to the post and make gentle scratching motions with its paws
confine/supervise as necessary until trained
consider a motion-activated electronic alarm if your couch continues to be at risk

Training

very important to accustom your kitten to handling, teeth brushing and grooming with short, twice daily sessions of ‘work time’ using lots of positive reinforcement and a few treats now & then
it is possible and lots of fun to teach your kitten to sit, come & fetch
a little patience, persistence and a few treats are all that’s required
environmental enrichment will be crutial for cats kept strictly indoors; we highly recommend you visit the following link: vet.osu.edu/indoorcat.htm