Train a kitten for playing
Motivated aggressive behaviors for play is common in kittens
when cats play the have a variety of behaviors that they share
in their play. Exploratory, predatory, and instigative play
provides a kitten the opportunity to practice these skills. All
of these skills are normal need for survival. Kittens will
explore new thing that moves. They like to bounce, bite, and
swing at objects that are great to play with.
Kittens learn to bite from the mother and offspring. If you take
a kitten from their mother to soon, it can have adverse effects
of rough playing. The kitten does not have time to spend with
the family to learn rough playing with out the hurting.
Do not let the kitten play with your hand or feet, as this will
allow the behavior to be a positive behavior. You will need to
teach your kitten that this type of behavior is not acceptable.
Train your kitten with the correct behaviors for rough play.
Have toys that will intrigue the kitten to play with, pull toys,
put a small stuff toy on a string, and pull the toy. Allow the
kitten to pounce, bite, or chase the toy. Allow the cat to rough
play with a larger toy; this will help to stimulate the
aggression behavior that is natural in a kitten.
You will want to set up daily sessions, with the kitten a day
for this type of activity. This is let the kitten know that this
is ok to do, with the toys or items that you have let them play
with. This only gives a cat the signal that it is ok for the cat
to use the object for rough play.
When your kitten is playing rough and does use an object to play
rough, play with you will want to say "NO" in a stern voice. Do
not yell or scream at the kitten, as they really do not
understand you and sure do not at this time understand the word
meaning. Say no, the kitten's name, and the behavior he is
doing. "NO tabby, you can not play rough with my hand."
If this does not work, you can try using the spray bottle method
to distract the attention from the rough play of the object.
Cats do not like the spray in the face and will turn from what
they are doing, you might have to repeat yourself for a few
times, but tabby will get the hint soon. Try not to spray the
fur or coat as this will mat the fur, and when grooming comes,
it will not be a great experience for your or your kitten.
If you want the cat not to claw or sit on furniture or articles,
you should put uncomfortable things on them so the cat does not
feel the comfort to sit or claw on them.
Such things as a net, should be placed over the couch for
discomfort. When the cat starts to claw, they will get their
claws snagged and they do not like that. Therefore, the cat will
learn that it is not a comfort zone for them to be sitting or
lying on.
When the kitten is playing correctly you will want to have small
treats, bite size as a reward for the kitten, this will assure
the kitten that when doing good rough playing is done that some
things special is coming. Once you see that behavior for this is
under control at this time you can decrease the treat until you
are not to do that. You can use this special one when you want
to just to let the kitten know they are doing a great job.
Never tap hit or flick your kitten for rough play, this will not
work your kitten will fear you and or that this is great rough
play and try to continue. In addition, never harm your cat or
kitten for any reason.
There a lot of toys, scratch post, and other items that you will
be able to purchase for your cat. Learn more about the different
toys and items on the internet by searching for toys for cats.