Bringing home a cute ball of fluff (otherwise known as a kitten) is always an exciting addition to anyone’s family. Now I know you didn’t forget the food dish with pouting fish to be sure that your kitten dines in fashion, and of course, you didn’t forget the litter box. You’re all set, right?

In the beginning your new kitten sniffed out every place in its reach. It ate half the bag of cat food, and had been faithfully breaking in its brand new litter box. Now you have noticed your new cuddle monster breaking in to more things then you intended.

When trying to correct cat problems, there are a few more things you should consider doing. Believe it or not, you are not the only person to need some tips on kitten training after bringing your new furry friend home.

How does one approach kitten training? How do you keep your kitten from jumping on the counters, climbing the walls, biting your hands and feet, wrestling on your tabletops and turning your brand new furniture into confetti? How do you train a kitten not to destroy your home?

Calm down and breathe, you’re not the only person to have encountered moster kitten syndrome. To start the adventures of kitten training there are a few investments you’ll want to purchase. First and foremost, you’ll want to preserve your furniture and buy a scratching post. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, any simple one from you local pet store will work.

What do you do if this fearsome little beast is still destroying your household belongings? If you catch her in the act, you should gently rub her paws along her new scratching post imitating the scratching she does on your couch or table or chairs.

Then caress her and let her know how pleased you are with her. It may require many repetitions, but after a while your new little one will begin to comprehend what it is you want her to do.

Next, get an aluminum can, fill it with rocks and put tape over the opening. And the next time you catch kitten in a place he shouldn’t be, such as wrestling with your newspaper on the kitchen table, shake the can loudly. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt him, but he’ll know every time he does something “naughty” he’ll hear a loud scary sound.

And a final note in kitten training is how to deal with the age old issue of kitten bites. Whenever you catch your kitten becoming unruly with your hands or feet give him a toy to replace your skin with. Any standard kitten toy will do such as a fur mouse or jingle bell ball.

Okay. You now know the essential elements of kitten training. Remember to let your kitten know how much you love him or her. Praise your pet for good behavior. Use positive reinforcement to create a strong bond with your cat for years to come. Your kitten and you, both, will be happier. Your pet will give you hours of enjoyment and will show you unconditional love.

Cats, being very independent-minded animals, require very different training motivations and methods than dogs, which usually want to please their owners. Training a cat can be frustrating for the new or inexperienced owner, but there are methods that work.

Kitten training is much easier than training an adult cat. If you train a cat while it is young, the cat will remember the training throughout its adult life. There are many ways in which cats can be trained. Contact a professional or visit your local library for advice on training your cat.

Cats enjoy being given toys and treats as rewards for their training. Treats, however, are quickly given and are gone within seconds, while toys can lead to distraction when the cat would rather play with the toy than train. Remember that the average cat’s brain is about the size of a peanut, and that cats do not tend to have long attention spans.

Cat training should begin with simple tasks, getting your cat to raise its front paws for a treat is fairly simple, simply wait until the cat is sitting, then hold the treat close above their head. The cat will fairly naturally reach up for the treat.

Repeat this action regularly on a daily basis. Soon your feline will put its paw in the air to meet yours as it approaches their cranium. Soon the same action will occur to receive a reward. This process can also be used to train your animal to sit.

Hold a treat between your cat’s front paws while it is sitting down, and your cat will lay down to try to pick up the treat. Start by giving your cat the treat immediately, then wait a bit longer each time. Eventually, your cat will learn to lie down and stay down until you give it the treat.

After the cat learns the behavior, introduce verbal commands associated with that behavior. Consistently verbalize the command after every time the cat performs the action. As this process is repeated over time, the cat learns to identify and associate the command with the desired behavior.

Cat training can be rewarding for both your cat and you. Keep in mind that if your cat isn’t having fun, he probably isn’t learning anything, so stop when you and your cat get frustrated. Start again when both of you are ready, and you will make better progress.