The kitten in its earliest childhood is an animal extremely naughty. As soon as his baby teeth start to come in, around the third week of age, he will begin to behave in a way that humans may not like too much. And he is going to want to explore everything ... with his mouth and with his nails. At this age it does not do much damage, but it can do it so many times a day that more than once we wonder if it will continue to be that way once an adult.
But we have the answer to that question ourselves. Yes Yes. Depending on what we teach him - consciously or unconsciously - the little one will behave in one way or another. For tomorrow to behave well, it is necessary to know how to train a 2 month old kitten. Let's see what we have to do to transform the "little monster" into a social feline.
What do I need to raise a 2-month-old kitten?
What you will need most is patience. A lot, a lot of patience. The kitten is going to test you several times a day, every day. It will climb on your lap, sometimes to sleep, but other times to play, and you have to know that the word 'play' at this age involves scratching and biting everything in sight, including hands, arms and legs.
But neither can the sweetie. In fact, this is critical. If the little one does not receive affection every day, then it will be an adult cat that will behave in an inappropriate way with the family and with the visitors.
How to educate it?
It is very important to always keep in mind that we must not let it scratch or bite us. Never (or almost never). Thus, we have to make sure that we always have a toy or rope nearby, since that will be what we will use to play with him.
In the event that we have nothing, if for example you get on the sofa, we will lower it; and if it rises again and attacks us again, we will lower it again. So until he is calm. At first it will be difficult for him to learn that he cannot attack us, but with time and patience we will get it.
Another point that we cannot forget is that of socialization. The kitten should be with the family the longer the better. If we keep him locked up in a room all day, with hardly any human contact, he will grow up to become an 'antisocial' cat, avoiding people. The animal must be picked up, be caressed by children and adults, it has to have fun playing with them and with the other animals that live at home,… in short, it has to make a family life.
Only then will he learn to live with us. And, at night, you will rest easy.
How to teach a kitten two months and older
Although of course, when a cat is over two months old, you have to continue educating it, because only in that way can it become an adult cat willing to behave well and give you love all the time without destroying anything in the house. Then we are going to give you some indications so that you teach your cat to have good behavior since he was little.
Socialize with your cat
For your cat to get used to you it is important that you socialize with him from the beginning. Like people, cats learn a lot by watching the behaviors around them. For your cat to develop positive behaviors, you will have to start socializing them from a very young age, from two weeks of age!
It is ideal that you hug your baby, that you have him on you for a little while, like 10 minutes. It's also a good idea to introduce yourself to other people to get them used to human interaction. The habit of playing with your cat will also give him the opportunity to channel bad or overly active behavior.
You will have to have dedication and above all patience. Remember not to punish him and treat him badly. He needs all your love so that he can prosper by your side.
Teach him to follow directions
Although not a dog, cats can also be taught to follow simple directions. Having a cat that heeds instructions will make it more fun and you will be helping it to have a better physical and mental development. What's more, it is very beneficial to raise an obedient and receptive cat.
Incentive and positive reinforcement will be your secret weapons in this step. If, for example, you want to teach your cat to sit and stay on a stool, guide and motivate your cat through the process using food as an incentive. Another way to teach cats to obey is to use a noise with food so that your cat will begin to associate the sound with positive behavior and the promise of a reward.
Teach him to use the litter box well
This step is one of the most important, and the most difficult. Fortunately, it all comes down to persistence on your part and encouragement from your cat. Take the position of the litter box. If you want your cat to use it, you must give them a reason. Choose an area that is quiet and easy for your kitty to access.
You have to make sure that you accommodate not only the litter box, but also essential items like food, water, and bedding, as well as your kitty's favorite toys. With everything they need in one place, they will start to get used to using the litter box.
Another effective trick is to place your kitty in her litter box every time she wakes up or finishes eating. Even more important is to do it when you notice signs that he is ready to go to the bathroom. How is such a feat accomplished? Start observing your cat as much as possible. This will help reduce accidents and make litter box training less tedious.
Play with your cat
It is important that you play with your cat so that it progresses in its development. We don't just mean that he plays with small cat toys, but rather, that he plays with you. That the toys used are suitable to play with and that you can interact together. Play gives your cat an outlet for his energetic, mental and physical stimulation, the opportunity to satisfy his hunting instinct and the opportunity to bond with you..
Like other types of training, there is a correct way to play. You must adapt the game to meet your cat's particular needs and ensure that the games you play are progressing, without regressing your cat. Even the toys you choose have a substantial bearing on your cat's willingness to play. When shopping for toys, you have to make sure you buy toys that are suitable for kittens, not adult cats.
Positive reinforcement
When good behavior is reinforced with positive reinforcement, cats learn to behave correctly. You may have noticed the importance of positive reinforcement in other stages of your life, because it is the same with cats. This It gives your cat the reason to continue behaving correctly.
Positive reinforcement helps promote healthy behavior and curb bad behavior. This is crucial to remember when your cat acts, since you can resort to punishing him ... but it is never a good option for him to really internalize good behavior.
Punishing your cat for what they have done wrong is not a good idea at all as it increases their stress and anxiety and can even destabilize the positive relationship that you have worked so hard to build. Conversely, positive reinforcement shows that good behavior is recognized and rewarded, and in that it prepares your cat for success.
In conclusion, although teaching your little kitten may seem like a complicated task at first, little by little you will see it much easier as you get to know your cat and your cat gets to know you better. By following these tips, everything will be much easier for both of you. Your cat will be well-behaved and you will feel relaxed about his upbringing. You will have an adorable cat with whom you can be calm and who will listen to your commands whenever necessary!