How to Raise a Well-Behaved Cat

Have you recently adopted a kitten? Congratulations! Your new pet is probably going to have you wrapped around those tiny paws of hers pretty quickly. While it may be hard to resist spoiling your feline pal, you do want your adorable ball of fur to grow into a polite kitty. Read on as a local Oconomowoc, WI vet offers tips on raising a friendly furball.

Little Fluffy may not have quite figured out how all those claws work, but she’ll be instinctively driven to pounce and scratch things … including you. Don’t let her start thinking of you as a giant cat toy! This may be cute now, but it can develop into some very undesired and dangerous behavior. If your kitten attacks you, tell her ‘No’ in a firm tone of voice. You can also tell your tiny furball not to bite, or instruct her to put her claws away. Then, ignore your cat for a while. Sooner or later, she’ll get the hint!

Pay lots of attention to your cat. Talk to little Fluffy, pet her, and play with her. Kittens love to cuddle and snuggle: it helps them feel safe and secure. If your pet tries to knead you, put a towel on your lap before settling down with her.

Teach your tiny pet proper nail-care habits from the start. Get your kitty a good scratching post. A cat tower is a wonderful option for this. Choose something sturdy: cats don’t like wobbly manicure stations. You also want to pick something tall, so that your kitty can stretch out to her full length when she is doing her nails. Be sure to offer little Fluffy toys, treats, and praise for using her scratching post.

Baby cats are quite rambunctious. Play with your frisky pet every day, so she gets used to attacking her toys, rather than you. Use playthings that you can manipulate, like a laser pointer.

Never punish or yell at little Fluffy for doing something wrong. You can say ‘No’ or ‘Bad Kitty’ firmly, but anything more than that could backfire. Instead, curb bad behavior by making a loud noise, or squirting your kitty with water.

Do you have questions or concerns about caring for your kitten? Contact us, your Oconomowoc, WI animal clinic. We are always here to help!