You and your cat will have very different ideas about what it should be doing and where it should be doing it. So it’s best if you establish a routine from the start.
Litter training is probably the habit that owners consider the most important. You begin the training by putting the kitten in the litter box frequently, especially if it looks ready or has begun to crouch with its tail raised. Never rub the kitten’s nose in its mistakes; if you do it will regard that spot as a permanent toilet. Just clean up accident areas (hiding the scent if possible) and lavish praise and/or treats when kitty hits it right.
If your cat refuses to use the litter box, move it to another location. Cats don’t like their litter too close to their feeding or sleeping area. Using this knowledge to your advantage, you may want to place food near any accident area to keep the cat from using it again.
All cats should be taught to respond to their own names. Try to make the kitten associate its name with something good. Feeding time is the best time to use this strategy. Call the cat and when it comes, give it its meal. Try this between meals, too, and offer some food tidbit as a reward. In a matter of time the cat will come to associate coming with the name you call out.
If your cat will be going outside on its own, you might want to teach it to use a door flap. Many cats learn this by themselves, simply by employing their own curiosity. If yours doesn’t, you’ll want to show it some of the things that await it in the world outside.
Make sure the flap is firmly open before you start. Than let the cat investigates. To get it go through, place some food on the other side. After it is through, release the flap and use food to entice it back into the house. If necessary, show it that pushing will open the flap.
Some cats also need negative training to keep them from biting, jumping, scratching, relaxing on your bed, or whatever. Negative training means saying “No” or “Shoo.” Do not chase the cat; it will think you are playing. Give it a scratching post to avoid the need for negative training when it comes to clawing.
Some cats will learn to sit up, beg, eat with paws and perform if you reward them with food. But don’t expect your cat always to comply. Cats prefer to do tricks when they think it will benefit them, not when you want them to.
