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Facebook Twitter Email Print A. The lyrics to "Wild Thing" kept running through my mind as I read your question. Luckily, your adolescent female hasn’t yet taken to swinging from the curtains Tarzan-style, complete with a bellowing howl, but it sounds like she’s on her way. Your cat’s behavior is normal, even though this normal behavior doesn’t always fit easily with the expectations of a well-behaved feline in the home. She is trying to express her natural desire to claw, climb and communicate with you through vocalization. The best solution is to take your cat’s natural desires and direct them toward a more appropriate outlet that will still fulfill her but that fits comfortably with your expectations for your home. Assess Your Cat’s VocalizationLet’s begin with her excessive vocalization. Vocalization is your cat’s way of communicating with you. Certain cats, especially the oriental breeds, are more prone to being vocal. If your cat is using her voice excessively, it’s important to figure out the reason for the vocalization in order to provide for a solution. Excess vocalization is often based on attention-getting behavior. Many times, the noisy cat is rewarded with a meal, some type of attention (even negative attention is rewarding for certain cats), a trip outside, or playtime. It’s important to reward your cat only when she is quiet for at least five to 10 seconds. Cats in heat will have increased vocalization, which is yet another reason why it’s beneficial to spay your cat. Excessive vocalization can also be an indicator of stress or tension, which will need to be addressed at its root cause in order for the extra meowing to stop.Create a High-Rise SpaceCats enjoy exploring elevated spaces where they can look down on a room. The high spaces expand the area of a cat’s home, which gives them options for exploration, rest and, if needed, escape. Give your cat various places to climb and rest at elevation, for example, a cat tower or cat condo, optimally with scratching areas integrated into the climbing areas. The most amazing home environment I’ve seen that caters completely to cats is Bob Walker’s famous Cat House, which has provided countless cat guardians with inspiration for making their homes more critter-friendly.Offer Appropriate Objects to ScratchKittens naturally scratch at objects to release energy and to sharpen their claws, but they also scratch in order to mark their territory; cats have scent glands, which are unique for each individual cat, located in their paws. The desire to scratch isn’t going to abate completely, but you can make a cat’s natural behavior more conducive to the home by providing acceptable places to claw. First, trim your cat’s nails on a regular basis, and offer your cat a variety of scratching areas. Certain cats enjoy vertical scratching areas while other cats enjoy slanted scratching areas. Cat houses and climbing trees fill both the desire to climb and to claw, and can be made more desirable by using catnip, toys or treats to encourage the cat to use these areas rather than your sofa. Second, as important as it is to give your pet an acceptable clawing outlet, it’s also important to make the old scratching areas less desirable. Although it’s inconvenient, while you’re trying to break the habit, cover the old scratching area with a plastic covering (for a big area, like the top of a couch) or double-sided tape (for smaller, vertical areas). Block access to the areas where your cat previously enjoyed climbing or clawing when you are not there to supervise. A designated cat room can be extremely helpful in preventing your cat from destroying your house when you’re not there.Catch Her in the ActBe consistent about redirecting your cat to an appropriate outlet when you catch her in the act of scratching or climbing in inappropriate areas. Let go of punishment, which only heightens anxiety and frustration and exacerbates the problem; instead, use praise, petting and treats, and provide your cat with plenty of attention when she is clawing or climbing the right areas. Redirect your cat when she is caught in the wrong area by picking her up and taking her to the proper area, or directing her toward the proper area with a toy or treat. With training and management, your wild cat can be tamed in a way that both satisfies her natural desires and fits with your lifestyle. 17 April 2019 Grumpy Cat’s “cattitude” has been a popular internet meme, but having a cat like Sir Grumpy is not what most new kitten parents have in mind for their babies. Most of them just want to raise a sweet, friendly cat. But just like human children, cat temperaments differ. However, following these 6 tips can help you train your kitten to enjoy human contact, be less anxious around noises and unfamiliar objects, and generally grow into a well-socialised cat: 1. Don’t Treat Your Kitten Like an AdultIdeally, kittens need to spend the first 8 weeks with their mom and siblings—if that isn’t possible, you may need to bottle-feed, cuddle, and nurture your little kitten. This will require nearly around-the-clock care, the younger the kitten is. If your kitten is younger than 8 weeks, the same care you give to ensure its good health will help it to begin to rely on and trust you as its human parent. Bear in mind that at this age, you will need to:
Learn more about the developmental stages of kittens and take appropriate care at each stage. 2. Gentleness Breeds GentlenessRegardless of how many weeks old your kitten is, you will need to treat it with gentleness if you want it to learn the best way for it to interact with others, whether animal or human. Use these gentleness tips to condition your kitties so they trust you and learn about gentleness:
3. Reward Good BehaviorKittens can’t be “naughty”—they just do what comes naturally. So, don’t get angry or yell at your kitten. Instead, re-direct your kitten to a toy or scratching post if they bite or scratch during play—don’t censure. In fact, make sure to have safe, quiet places for your kitten to rest if it becomes overwhelmed, and a designated scratching post for it to use when its natural cat inclination strikes. After a fun playtime, reward your kitten with a special treat and lots of affection if it has behaved well. (Just be sure not to give too many treats at a time so it doesn’t become overweight. Limit them to less than 10% of your kitten’s daily caloric intake, with the other 90% being a highly-nutritious kitten food.) 4. Socialise & ConditionIt’s very important not to isolate your kittens, particularly once they’ve been weaned and had their vaccinations, or they won’t be used to people and other animals as adults. As they grow beyond 8 weeks of age, make sure to include them in more appropriate social interactions with humans and other animals in the home. For instance:
5. Be Present for PlaytimeThe importance of personal engagement with your kitten cannot be understated. The more you and other family members are directly involved in face-to-face, hand-to-paw playtime, the easier it will be for your kitten to engage with other humans in a friendly way. 6. Keep Your Kitten HealthyBehaviour is often a secret indicator of how your cat feels. If she is feeling under-the-weather, she may not want to socialise or be affectionate. So, keeping your kitten healthy and providing it with the best nutrition for growth and development will help you raise an affectionate cat. Ensure your kitten gets all of the essential preventative veterinary care like vaccinations and de-worming and keep them on a healthy diet so they always feel their best and act their best. And if you’re looking for a way to better manage your cat’s well-being, contact us at Knose and find your plan today. We provide individualised pet care plans that may prevent certain emergencies. They are tailored for your pet’s needs and give you some peace of mind. Are you eager to learn more about the best way to care for your kittens? Get more kitten care wisdom by subscribing to Knose’s pet health tips today. |