Kittens are undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable pets you can have, as they provide us with a lot of entertainment while frolicking and playing, doing mischief and some downright silly situations. It’s the mischief that many homeowners worry about, and they feel they have to control it somehow.
Animal experts, including veterinarians, are often bombarded with questions from pet owners about how to “discipline” their new kitten. Some of the more disturbing comments include references to spanking the poor little things!
Perhaps because humans are generally raised with discipline that often translates into a system of reward and punishment, they believe it applies to both animals and children.
However, reward and punishment are rapidly losing their acceptability in a good training environment as people begin to notice that it is less effective with animals. For that to be useful at all, the subject must have the ability to learn to make judgments about their own behavior. This requires the ability to use logic and spend time thinking about things. Animals do not do this. They live in the moment, in the “now”. Yes, they can remember that certain actions produce certain results and they can learn from that. But if we are supposed to be smarter than animals, then it is up to us to be the ones to use logic and think about things.
NEVER use physical force, including spanking, on a kitten. It is simply not necessary and can cause injury, sometimes death. In fact, it is never necessary to hit a pet. Try using a reward vs. there is no reward system in place.
The following common mischievous kitten behaviors can be handled gently and lovingly by patient and loving owners:
1. Do not use the litter box. Under normal circumstances, this should never be a problem. Mothers teach kittens how to use litter. If a kitten is unfamiliar with litter or kitty litter, it is usually because the little one was separated from its mother too early. Kittens need to be with their mothers for at least 3 months, 12 weeks, but this is not usually the case. People want the pleasure of teaching their own kitten themselves as early as possible. Some even get a big bang from bottle feeding, but this makes sense only if the kitten has been orphaned and a suitable substitute cannot be found.
If you have an orphaned kitten, you will need to be a surrogate mother and teach her to use a litter box. Is not difficult. Simply place the kitten in the box shortly after he has eaten or drunk, and gently pat his butt, speaking quietly to cheer him up. If you have other cats, let the kitten observe the older ones using the box. Cats learn through observation and imitation.
Probably the most important thing any cat or kitten owner can do to ensure their pet continues to use the litter box is to always keep it clean.
2. Scratching furniture. Kittens absolutely must scratch. They can’t help not. It is up to you to provide the proper environment for them to stretch their toes and exercise their front legs and paws. If their nails are removed at this time, it can affect the normal development of the muscles of the legs and paws. However, de-clawing an adult cat has even more profound results, and some cats never outgrow them. Provide a scratching post or pad, and encourage them to use it by staying calm and happy each time. Don’t bother with catnip yet; kittens are not sensitive to it until they are much older, if at all. Some cats don’t seem to notice catnip. If you see your kitty scratching something that it shouldn’t, just pick it up and carry it to the post. Don’t yell, don’t hit, and don’t get angry. This only teaches him that you can be unpredictable and scary. They rarely associate their action with their reaction.
3. Get into things. All young people love and need to explore. It’s how they learn what’s in their world and how to navigate it. If they are not allowed to learn things this way, their social skills or even survival skills will atrophy. However, as their tutors, it is up to us to make sure they are safe while having fun while learning. With kittens, we need to provide lots of toys, hiding places, climbing opportunities, and best of all, time together, where they learn to trust and interact with you. Just remember to be kind and considerate. Never play rough with a kitten, or you will be responsible for creating a little monster that bites. It’s cute and not too painful to bear with its claws and teeth at 6 weeks old, but you don’t want to wonder what happened to your soft fluff ball when it’s 2 years old and it’s drawing blood.
Then once they’re old enough to jump on countertops, it’s time to nip that in the bud, or it may never stop them. The most effective tactics seem to be related to loud noises. Never hit a kitten with a counter. It could seriously injure you. You can continually pick it up and place it back on the ground, but most cats don’t seem to get it. Instead, make a loud noise. Hit the counter with something flat … a paddle, maybe … or use a can of compressed air that blasts a really loud horn. Sometimes a blast of air is enough.
If a kitten’s environment is interesting and safe enough, they will be less likely to get into things that don’t concern them. Homeowners can help by “protecting young children” in their home and protecting belongings they want to keep intact.