What is the best way to train my kittens?

Question

One of my kittens absolutely loves all food. We don't feed him table scraps or anything, but he loves when he gets ahold of it on his own. I need to know what is the best way to keep him from getting into our food on the table when we happen to not be looking. I don't want to yell, and I know positive reinforcement sometimes works with dogs, but what about cats? Does the water bottle method work, or is that just cruel?

Answer 1

Awww, kitty is hunting his dinner!

That's so cute! But you're wise to prevent him from getting too fond of human food; it doesn't meet his nutritional needs. (And I suppose you'd rather not have your meals slobbered on and walked in by cats, too...)

Positive reinforcement definitely works with cats!

The water bottle thing? It works with most cats. Whether or not it's cruel depends on how kitty responds to it. If it really freaks him out, it's cruel. Otherwise it's harmless.

You might also try telling him in his own language, the way his momcat would, that he's doing something unacceptable. Don't yell, hiss!

When he jumps up and attacks your food grab him gently by the scruff, hold him firmly but gently on the table so he can't move (don't pick him up by the scruff at this point, just hold him still), look right at him, close up and wide eyed, and hiss at him. Then gently pick him up and set him down gently on the floor.

Once he's down on the floor tell him he's a good boy, pet him and kiss him.

If you follow your hiss with the word no, spoken clearly and firmly (loudly is not required) he'll soon learn the meaning of the word and (maybe) the other parts of the act might become unnecessary.

Good luck!

Answer 2

I would suggest the water bottle method. Cat's do not like water in their faces. He will get the idea that the table is not for him to be on and will stop. of course when you are not looking it is hard to catch him. positive reinforcement doesn't always work with cats as they tend to have more of a mind of their own. Keep food off the table when you are not there, so as to not tempt him. when you are spray him everytime you see him on the table or you will never be able to break him of it.

Answer 3

Negative reinforcement works too! Scare him off the table by clapping loudly or shaking pennies in a can or something that makes noise. You can also get a spray bottle and give him a spray of water. He needs to learn that he CAN'T go up there and won't learn it if you just reinforce the good stuff.
I used a spray bottle with both my cats and now all I have to do is shake it and say the name of whoever is misbehaving.
Don't let your cat run over you. He'll try to dominate you and the other kitties. He won't love you any less. I promise!

Answer 4

Cats and dogs are very different. Dogs care what you think. Cats don't. A water bottle or squirt gun isn't cruel, but you have to use it immediately. Don't yell, don't say anything, just squirt as soon as he's on the table. You can also try making a hissing sound - a sharp "tssstt" - when he jumps up, then push him off the table. The hiss works well for our cats, as does the squirt gun and spray bottle. The thing to remember is, they may know that you don't want them to do something, but as soon as you aren't there, they'll do it anyway. Try to train him to stay off the table (and counters) all of the time. When you aren't there, put sheets of aluminum foil on the surfaces - crinkle them slightly so they don't lie smoothly. You can also put out cookie sheets with water in them. Cats don't like to get wet, so if they hop up on the table and land in water, they'll stop hopping up.

Answer 5

My kitten is the same way. You either have to secure him somewhere else while you eat. Or don't leave anything out. COULD be a good thing though... keeps things from pile'n away. My kitten is half Maincoon and LOVES water. So squirting water isn't a solution for me. My older cat is a complete opposite. She didn't care for anything but dry cat food. Not even tuna. She did however liked to get onto the counter tops. I would repet DOWN SASSIE (or just down) in a mad tone. Eventually she listen to me when I gave her the tone.

Answer 6

frequently, there is not so much trailing neccessary. Every cat I've ever had took to the field on their possess....my men even "sprayed" within the muddle field once they to that age (to my shock and RELIEF). Just make certain the kitten is aware of in which to uncover the field....rather than that, you might go away the kitten in a small room (like a rest room, or a significant cardboard field) for quite a lot of intervals of time with the muddle field untill they determine it out....rather than that...when you do capture it going to the toilet, instantly position it within the muddle field. Most of the time, even kittens will scratch across the field they wish to head earlier than they cross, so pay attention for the scratching. Good Luck!

Answer 7

water bottle is not cruel! it works well actually!