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Contrary to popular opinion, it's possible to train your kitten with some useful skills. Kittens can be trained to recognise their name, as well as to come on command. And the earlier you start training, the greater likelihood of success. Just bear in mind that you'll need to be patient - and be careful: your kitten is just as likely to be training you.

Starting out

Kittens should be rewarded every time they perform a new task correctly. Once it's learned, only offer the reward every so often.

Teach your kitten to associate a food reward with a sound such as a bell. Once the association between the noise and the reward is learned, always hit the bell or clicker at the exact moment your kitten performs the desired behaviour.

If your kitten isn't succeeding with the desired behaviour, you may be trying to progress too quickly.

Training for specific situations

Kittens that habitually go to the toilet outside the litter box should be gently brought to the box once or twice a day. You could also try placing the litter tray where your kitten keeps going to associate the tray with the toilet. If your kitten chooses to go in a very unsociable place, try putting pieces of silver foil down - they don't like the texture on their paws.

Some kittens that spend time outdoors can become frustrated or even destructive in their efforts to come back inside. Try suspending a small but loud bell on a string at your kitten's eye level. Eventually, your kitten will touch that bell and make it ring, at which point you can open the door.

Training Tips

1. Train your kitten before mealtimes, as a food reward won’t be so tempting on a full stomach.

2. Eliminate any distractions by turning off the TV etc.

3. Keep sessions short. 15 minutes is ideal

4. Make sure the trainer, commands, signals and rewards are always the same.

5. Try to spend a minimum of 10-15 minutes every day and stick with it.

PLAY

Play is very important to your kitten. In fact, playing with your cat is one of the most enjoyable things about owning one. It also offers great health benefits too.

Why cats play

Your kitten’s playful behaviour can be both adorable and at times a little bit frustrating. Kittens start to play from four weeks old, spending most of their time wrestling with other kittens. By the time a kitten is seven to eight weeks old, they’ll begin predatory play with inanimate objects.

Benefits of exercise

Playing with your cat for just 20 minutes a day not only provides both physical and mental stimulation, but also strengthens the bond between you.

• Play with your pet before you go to bed so your kitten will be ready to sleep when you are.
• Toys are fun, but interactive play is also entertaining and one of the best ways to keep your kitten healthy and responsive to you.
• Always make some toys available to your cat
• Solitary kittens may play more roughly with their owners. They only have you to play with and need to learn to control playful nips and scratches.
• Set aside time for at least two good play sessions a day.
• A kitten is far more interested in a toy if it is wiggling under a sofa or a cabinet, has just hidden under a mat, or makes sudden darting movements. Make the toy behave as a mouse would!

Playing with your kitten

The best games are those involving toys. Use feathers or cloth strips dangling from sticks, catnip-filled mice, or wind-up toys. If you’re stuck for toy ideas, here are a few simple ideas for turning everyday household objects into entertaining toys.

• A bucket filled with crumpled paper or ping-pong balls can make a useful distraction.
• Leave a large paper bag on the floor for diving into and ripping to pieces.
• Some cats enjoy chasing and jumping at the light beams from a small flashlight.

Once you've finished, put the toy out of sight to keep things exciting when you bring it out again.

Catnip heaven

Catnip can really spice up your play sessions. This is a natural herb and completely safe. Most cats go wild for catnip.

Some Cats Are More Active Than Others

 

Some breeds of cat have a reputation for being asleep much of the time, whilst others are traditionally a good deal more energetic. Cats are like people when it comes to exercise: some are simply more active than others.

House cats tend to take on their owner's schedule of sleeping at night and being awake throughout the day with the odd catnap in between. However, if your kitten seems to sleep all the time, should you be worried?

It may be that your kitten is just plain lazy. Inactive cats make great lap cats and are far less mischievous. As long as they are physically healthy, quiet cats are perfectly normal. To get your kitten to be more active, you could try bringing home new toys or playing a new game.

If you're still worried, take your cat to the vet for a thorough physical examination. Even subtle problems, such as arthritis or upper respiratory diseases, can make cats seem lethargic.

Remember, as long as your kitten is physically healthy and maintains a correct weight, its particular level of activity is unimportant.