Another thing.......................

[Nurse_Jamie]

I know it is normal for young kittens to be frisky and playful and I am ok with that, in fact, I enjoy her being playful. But I don't want her to be destructive. I want her to know what is acceptable and what is not. I have a vase with a fake plant in it on my floor (no dirt in it) and she is constantly pulling and tugging and playing with the leaves on it. I tell her NO and yell at her, but she ignores it. And if I am eating on the couch she wants to walk right on my shoulders. I say NO and put her on the floor and she jumps right back on my shoulder. I just want to train her to be a good kitty and mind me. I know she is still young, but I want to train her while she is still young, so we won't have this problem when she gets older. Does anyone have any good training tips? I want to discipline her, but I want her to understand that I am not being mean to her. I just don't want an unruly kitty.

Any suggestions?

[jason]

Does anyone have any good training tips? I want to discipline her, but I want her to understand that I am not being mean to her.

it really does depend on the personality of each cat as to what will work the best. first off, maintain patience as you try...your cat will notice lack of patience and will associate negative feelings to your discipline and can contribute to great amounts of stress.

in my experience with my two cats (uh, best cats in the world of course) i have used both mists of water (from spray bottle) and time out.

the water is obvious in how to administer and is used only for small offenses like jumping up into areas that are a "no-no" (like on top of the stove).

the time out is basically going into the smallest bedroom in the house and having the door shut for roughly 15-30 minutes. i am very careful to pick the cat up immediately after some bad behavior has been made as to not confuse them. i use this form typically when one of them (and its always just one in particular) is being way to aggressive in play mode for too long.

if you wait to discipline bad behavior, they wont get it...need to be quick on the feet with it or best to pretty much ignore it till it happens again.

good luck

[Traci]

And, P.S.......could you please keep your posts all in one topic? Hard to sort through several different topics from same user. Thanks!

[Mini-Me's Mom]

I've read a few of your postings and I applaude your decision to use this forum to seek advice for living with your kitten. I am concerned with your expectations. There are many good suggestions offered here, but there is another that I think you need to consider. This kitten is very young and for whatever reason, removed at a very young age from the one soul that could teach her appropriate behavior - her mother. All animals are very sensitive creatures and without speaking our language have a keener sense of our emotions and behavior than we ourselves do at times. She is very aware of your discpline, but what attempt have you made to bond with her. I believe cats to be intelligent, sentient creatures, but I do know they do not make an moral distinction between an oriental rug or the Welcome mat. I am not suggesting that you don't have a real affection for this creature, but your frustration is evident (the baby is very aware of this) and your description of your socialization with this baby very "clinical" ("sterility" is another word that comes to my mind). Love is messy but it's fun and comes with rewards you can't imagine. She will learn to socialize with you if you socialize with her.

Just a thought.

[Cleo]

Be sure to supply her with plenty of cat toys for stimulation and entertainment. Just about anything fuzzy and jingly and pet approved will entertain them. Better they learn young playing with their *own* toys and not your pen caps, q-tips, hair clips .....

Cleo

[Mona]

Well I have two cats, one 5 years old, and one 3 months old.

I actually picked up my silk plants and put them up out of reach for now. They have small leaves and other things which could be harmful for Chloe my kitten.

I intend to put them back when she is older. I say "no" firmly and use the time out method to have her calm down some. I do not believe in spraying water as this tends to make them associate this as an assault (my opinion).

I use distraction with toys and saying "no" and removing them from the danger or whatever they are doing.

Chloe is running on the sofa, so this is difficult to control right now.

I am getting a large cat tree which should help things. She has boundless energy and is teething.

Mona, Honeybun and Little Chloe