| A little training when your cat first comes home | | | | this bad habit. Best solution: find another spot in |
| will help to prevent any bad habits from becoming | | | | the kitchen where its ok for your cat to hang out |
| established. If you try to "think like a cat" to | | | | from on high, like the top of the refrigerator. |
| discover why they perform a certain unwanted | | | | Then persistently move your kitty there every |
| behavior, you can help to establish more | | | | time she jumps on the counter. Repetition and |
| acceptable routines. Here are some tips on the | | | | consistency are key here, but eventually your cat |
| three most common bad habits: | | | | will get the idea. |
| 1. Scratching. Scratching is a normal cat behavior | | | | 3. Not Using The Litterbox. First, have your cat |
| to leave its scent on its territory, get exercise, | | | | checked by your vet to rule out a urinary tract |
| and groom its nails. Most cats will leave your | | | | infection. Next, try changing the type of litter, for |
| expensive furniture alone if you redirect their | | | | many cats are very sensitive to particular litters. |
| scratching instincts to an acceptable spot. Invest | | | | Try unscented litters, removing hoods from |
| in a kitty condo big enough for your cat to | | | | boxes, moving the box to a more private |
| stretch out on, and if you see him scratching, | | | | location, or cleaning the box more often. Provide |
| take him to the post. Rub a little catnip on the | | | | multiple boxes in multiple cat households. Also, if |
| condo to enhance its appeal. You can also put | | | | you have a kitten, be sure it actually remembers |
| strips of aluminum foil down the edges of your | | | | where the litter box is! Sometimes in a big house |
| sofa during the training period as a deterrent. And | | | | a small kitten can get lost, in which case it will look |
| have a spray water bottle handy to spray your | | | | for the nearest unobtrusive corner to go! |
| cat while firmly saying "NO" if he scratches the | | | | A new cat owner must alwyas remeber new |
| couch. | | | | kitties are very curious and are prone to to try |
| 2. Jumping. Cats love high places, so the kitchen | | | | get into anything and everything. Please keep an |
| counter strikes them as a great place to watch | | | | eye on them so they don't develop bad habits |
| the world go by. If your cat also finds food up | | | | that they keep through a lifetime. |
| there, they've just had major reinforcement for | | | | |