How to Train a Cat

Place the litter box in a quiet area. Cats prefer to relieve themselves in a private spot, away from activity or loud noises. However, they also dislike placing the litter box too far away or in an inaccessible area.

• Make sure the cat can easily access the litter box. Don’t place it on a high shelf or in a hard-to-reach area, especially if the cat is older and has trouble jumping or climbing.
• Avoid noisy or busy areas. For example, do not place the litter box next to the washing machine or in a heavily trafficked hallway. Cats need privacy and quiet, but it should still be convenient.
• Do not place the litter box near food and water dishes. If you do, your cat may refuse to use it.

Place the cat in the litter box immediately after meals. Additionally, you should place them in the box after they wake up and after playing, as these are the times when cats are most likely to need to relieve themselves. Putting them in the litter box at these moments, like after eating or waking up, will help remind your cat to use the box whenever necessary.

Clean the litter box regularly. Cats dislike using a dirty litter box, which may lead them to relieve themselves around the house.

• Wear rubber gloves when handling the litter to minimize the risk of parasites from the cat.
• Dispose of waste and soiled litter daily. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling dirty litter, even if wearing gloves.
• Give the box a thorough cleaning once a week. This process involves removing the old litter, washing the box with mild detergent, rinsing thoroughly, air drying the box, and refilling it with fresh litter, using about 5 to 7 cm of new litter.

Use the type of litter that your cat prefers. There is a wide variety of cat litter available in different types and materials. The important thing is to find the one your cat likes. Most cats prefer clumping, unscented litter. However, your cat might have a preference for a different type, especially if they were adopted and accustomed to the kind their previous owner used. Observe your cat’s reactions and adjust accordingly.

• Some popular types of cat litter include clay, clumping, crystal/silica gel, and biodegradable litter.
• Gradually transition to a new type of litter rather than switching suddenly, to avoid shocking or confusing your cat. You can mix a little of the new litter with the old litter each day for three to five days. This gradual change will help your cat not notice the difference.
• If your cat continues to relieve itself in plant pots, they may prefer natural soil over litter. This can be a tricky situation if your cat has lived outdoors. You can try adding natural soil to the box and see if your cat uses it.

Reward your cat for using the litter box. You should praise them right after they relieve themselves in the box. This helps establish a positive routine and teaches your cat that this is the place to go when nature calls.

Do not punish your cat for accidents outside the litter box. Negative punishment is ineffective and may cause your cat to avoid the litter box.

• If your cat eliminates outside the box, clean the spot immediately with an enzymatic cleaner to eliminate any odor. If your cat smells its urine on the carpet, it may associate that spot with where to go next time.
• If your cat has accidents, you can use paper towels or gloves to pick up the waste and place it in the litter box. This will allow your cat to smell its own waste and recognize that the box is the proper place.
• You can make the areas where your cat tends to have accidents less appealing. If your cat frequently eliminates in a specific area, you can cover the floor with aluminum foil or apply double-sided tape to prevent them from going near that spot.

Use confinement training as a last resort. If your cat dislikes the litter box and other training methods have not worked, you can temporarily confine your cat to a room with the litter box, helping the cat associate the box with the need to relieve itself.

• This method should only be used when other attempts have failed.
• Do not keep your cat in a small room for an extended period. Prolonged confinement is a cruel action.
• Along with the litter box, ensure there is food, water, and a resting area in the room. Place the litter box in a corner opposite to the food and resting area.
• If your cat eliminates on the floor, you should move the waste into the litter box to mark the scent and encourage them to return. If your cat only prefers certain types of substrate, such as natural soil or carpet, and refuses the litter box, you can place that material in the box. You may also consider cutting small pieces of carpet to place inside the box. Once the cat begins using the box with carpet inside, you can slowly add litter on top of the carpet to help the cat adapt. Replace the wet carpet with fresh carpet in the box.

Play dead. If your cat becomes overly aggressive during play, using its teeth and claws to bite and scratch, you should immediately stop playing, either stand still or sit quietly, and ignore them. The cat will want to continue playing, and by disengaging, they will quickly learn that such behavior is not acceptable.

• Avoid hitting your cat. Also, do not shout at or spray them with water if they bite. Over time, these negative reactions could cause your cat to become fearful of you.
• Alter your playstyle if your cat becomes too aggressive. They may be in hunting mode. You can use a string or wand toy to let your cat satisfy its hunting instincts without causing you harm or engaging in undesirable behaviors.

Respect your cat’s boundaries. Cats may bite or scratch you if you touch them too roughly or cause them to enter a defensive posture. If your cat needs privacy, do not disturb them. If your cat does not like to be touched, refrain from handling them in that manner.

Provide tools to satisfy your cat's hunting instincts. If your cat is not fully active or lacks the stimulation needed to fulfill its hunting instincts, you should offer toys like bouncing balls or toy mice. These help simulate the experience of hunting prey. Additionally, you can use string toys or wands to allow you and your cat to play together.

• Use catnip toys. Many cat toys come with zippered pouches containing catnip, or you can sprinkle some catnip on the floor and let your cat roll around in it. About half of all cats are not interested in catnip, but the other half will play for a short time before relaxing into a blissful state.

Provide a scratching post for your cat. If your cat keeps scratching your furniture or your skin, it could be because they need to sharpen their claws. Cats scratch objects to mark them with their scent (from scent glands under their paws) and to shed the outer layer of their claws. You should provide a scratching post or similar item to allow your cat to meet this need without causing damage.

• If you catch your cat scratching furniture, rugs, or anything else they can scratch, intervene immediately with a sudden sound. You can clap your hands or shake a glass bottle with coins inside to startle them and stop the scratching.
• Direct your cat towards the scratching post right away. You can redirect their scratching behavior to something acceptable, like the scratching post, to reinforce the idea that some things are okay to scratch, while others are not.

Use citrus or peppermint essential oils. Cats typically dislike the scent of citrus and peppermint oils. You can apply a little bit of this oil to the items your cat frequently scratches to discourage them from continuing this behavior.

• Dip some cotton balls in citrus essential oil or peppermint-infused pain relief cream.
• Rub the cotton balls on the legs or edges of the items your cat targets. Be aware that this solution may leave a mild odor or cause yellowing of your furniture. Citrus oil tends to leave fewer stains. If you're concerned about oil seeping into your furniture, you can dab the cotton on chair legs or table legs where your cat scratches most often.

Use a spray method. If your cat keeps swatting at your hands or feet or damaging your furniture, it's time to try a spray bottle. Fill a spray bottle with cold water. When your cat attempts to swat, quickly spray them. Cats generally dislike being sprayed with water and will soon associate this unpleasant feeling with their scratching or biting behavior.

• However, you need to be cautious as your cat may start to associate you with the discomfort of the water spray. This could lead to them becoming fearful of you.

Do not declaw your cat. No matter how problematic your cat’s scratching may be, declawing them will only make things worse. The declawing process is extremely painful for cats and can lead to serious, long-term issues such as tissue necrosis, persistent pain, refusal to use the litter box, and aggressive behavior towards humans. You should consult with a veterinarian for alternative methods to manage your cat's scratching behavior if it becomes difficult to control.

Clear away food. If you leave food on the kitchen counter, including your cat's food bowl, they will think it's a good place to search for a meal. It's best to remove any food from the counter and place your cat's food on the floor (while they're eating) or in the sink to prevent them from jumping up onto the counter.

Make the kitchen counter unappealing. One way to stop your cat from jumping onto the counter is by making it a place they find uncomfortable.

• Apply double-sided tape along the edges of a plastic placemat.
• Place the placemat on the counter.
• Over time, your cat will associate the kitchen counter with the unpleasant feeling of stepping on sticky tape.

Provide climbing options for your cat. Cats love to climb because they enjoy getting as high off the ground as possible. The kitchen counter may be the highest place they can reach. You can give them an alternative, such as a "cat tower" that can be placed anywhere in your home, to fulfill their need for climbing and exploring.

Keep your cat out of the kitchen. If your cat continues to jump onto the counter while you're cooking, try confining them to a bedroom or bathroom if possible. This will prevent them from jumping onto the counter and ruining your meal. Once you're finished cooking, you can let your cat out again.

Use enticing rewards. Training a cat is slightly different from training a dog. While dogs follow commands to please their owners, cats require respect for their independence and an interesting reason to listen. Dry cat food won't be effective, as it's too large of a reward and won't interest the cat as much as it would a dog. It's better to use high-quality treats that cats love, such as catnip, chicken pieces, or fresh tuna.

Encourage your cat to engage. Before starting to teach your cat any new command, make sure they understand that you're trying to teach them something new.

• Hold the treat in front of your cat's nose so they know a reward is waiting.
• Gently move the treat behind your cat's head. Repeat this until your cat raises their head and sits down.
• Give them lots of praise and reward them immediately after they complete the "sit" command.

Use a clicker (a sound-making tool for training pets). If you don't have a clicker, you can use a click pen to produce a similar sound. Reward your cat with treats every time you use the clicker so they associate the sound with getting a treat. Then, use the clicker and the treat whenever your cat completes a new command, like chasing after a stick you throw. Eventually, your cat will react every time you throw the stick and click the clicker.

Don't extend training or playtime sessions too long. Remember that your cat will tire quickly. Therefore, keep training or play sessions to about 15 minutes, once or twice a day.

Respect your cat. As a cat owner, it's important to understand the unique personality traits and independent instincts of cats. Never force them to follow commands when they are not interested. Some cats may happily learn to use the toilet and flush afterward, or jump onto your shoulders as you walk around the house, while others might prefer not to be disturbed or touched. It's essential to learn how to coexist with your cat in a way that maintains a positive relationship for both of you.