Have you recently decided to adopt a kitten? Congratulations! Your feline friend is sure to melt your heart. As you set out on this wonderful journey of companionship with your tiny furball, you’ll want to take steps now to help little Fluffy grow into a friendly, well-behaved adult. In this article, a local Marietta, GA vet offers tips on how to raise a polite kitten.
Socialize
Socializing your cat is the official term for making sure little Fluffy gets lots of attention! Cuddle your cat, play with her, and let her sleep on your lap. This will help your tiny feline get used to being handled and being around people. Feel free to invite a few friends over to play with the little one!
Discourage Play Fighting
We know, playing with kittens is really fun! Just take care not to encourage bad manners. Letting your little one think that pouncing on feet and biting fingers is acceptable can lead to serious behavioral issues down the road. Your kitten may instinctively think of you as a giant toy, so it’s up to you to discourage bad play habits. When Fluffy bites or scratches, tell her ‘No’ in a firm voice, and then walk away and ignore her.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Never punish your cat for misbehaving. Because our furry friends often act on instinct, your little furball won’t know what she did wrong. This could make your kitten feel frightened, anxious, or even angry, and can lead to serious behavioral issues. Instead, focus on rewarding good behavior and offer treats and toys when your furry friend is being good.
Offer Proper Scratching Options
Scratching is one of the most common complaints from cat owners. It’s much easier to teach a kitten proper scratching habits than to retrain an adult cat who thinks the sofa is a perfectly acceptable manicure station. Give little Fluffy scratching posts, boards, or towers, and discourage improper scratching.
Play/Stimulation
This is the fun part! Take time to play with your baby feline every day. This will help her relieve boredom, and burn off any excess energy, which she may otherwise channel into bad behavior. Also, make sure to provide plenty of toys to keep your tiny furball amused when you’re away.
Please contact us, your Marietta, GA veterinary clinic, anytime! We are always happy to serve all your pet care needs!
