Cat training

[Labradorks]

So, as some of you know, I have a cat now. I'm not really a cat person, but decided to get one as a companion to the dogs when I take just one dog with me as well as for mouse control (maybe). Not to mention for me.

The cat likes treats so I imagine I can use treats for training like a dog. Does positive reinforcement work on cats? For example, if the cat jumps on the counter, can I shoo him off then give him a treat when he's got all paws on the floor?

Scratching is also a big no-no. While I wanted to adopt a previously declawed cat, that didn't work out. I would personally not declaw a cat so I need to work with that. I will keep nails short and there is a scratching thing with catnip on it that he likes to use. What else should I do and what should I do if he scratches the furniture? Squirt bottle?

Finally, the kitty is super whiny and loud. He's in the utility room right now but I open the door when he can be supervised. I really can't believe the noise that comes from that tiny thing! Right now I ignore all of his meows. For example, I don't open the door until he's been quiet for a few seconds and is settled down. He doesn't seem to be picking it up as quickly as a puppy. Does ignoring unwanted behavior work for cats?

Any other tricks and advice is welcome!

[doubledip1]

You can't train a cat. Cats train you.

We have a 15 year old, pre-declawed cat. When she's being a bleeping pest, we either spray her with a water bottle or pick her up and close her in a closet until she's quiet. She thrives on interaction with her people, so closing her in the closet seems to work the best for her pestering.

I would get a cat tower with scratching posts. Have plenty of appropriate scratching options! The more scratching posts, the merrier.

[Sue-Ram]

You can't train a cat. Cats train you.

Totally agree.

Closing a door on a cat will guarantee whining and meowing. I have a carpeted kitty condo that mine will scratch on only.

Just be glad it's only whining. Cat Alarm Clock - YouTube

[Snowshoe]

You can train cats to do tricks and even use a clicker. Personally I just remove from the counter, table or whatever furniture it is and drop them from a safe height to the floor. Insult works very well on cats. Vinegar and orange peel work on all surfaces for me.

I show them where I want them to sharpen and put them on it when they try on the wrong thing. I move their little front feet in a sharpening motion on it. This has always worked for me. The wrong thing is usually something I can't put vinegar on but others have successfully covered stuff up with tinfoil or double sided sticky tape. Some cat show a marked preference for vertical or horizontal surfaces so offer both. All my cats really like a piece of cedar left over from our fence. It's about 15 inches long, a big piece of rail. They can really dig their claws in and it leaves little piles of tiny wood chips which we have to vacuum.

Ignoring the yowls might work. It might not. The only yowlers I have are deaf and they can't help it.

Are you playing with him? Roger needs active play just as much as dogs do. You can get him running after a string till he's panting (ribs heaving, he might not open his mouth) and that will help quiet him down as he'll be ready to sleep when left alone. He's probably lonely in there by himself. Is it screened? Can he at least see out? That might help.

[Scoutpout]

Roger is still a wee baby, so I would try and have him interact with the humans and the dogs as much as possible, you want him to be a super-social kitty as he grows up. Chasing is usually high on a cat's fun list, so a string on a stick, or similar, work well. they love tinfoil balls, but thats a recipe for trouble with the dogs. As Snowshoe says, good success with showing whats appropriate to scratch and a quick "no" and repositioning Roger to the appropriate scratching device, worked well for my cats. He's probably lonely and bored, hence the noise. Also still adjusting to his new home.

[Archie]

The only training I ever really did was to cover any inappropriate scratch surfaces that the kitty seemed interested in tin foil. The tin foil stayed on for months while the cat learned to scratch on appropriate surfaces - we have two cat trees. I also did a LOT of playing. Running around with a string, throwing a catnip mouse, like Snowshoe said we'd go til kitty was panting.

I agree - try to involve him in as much household activity as possible. I never supervised kittens. They got free reign of the house from day one and I've never had an issue.

Pics of Roger?

[Labradorks]

This all sounds reasonable and relatively easy.

I open the utility room door for Roger in the morning while I'm getting ready and I play with him with the laser for about 30 minutes and let him interact with the dogs. For the most part he just wants affection but will get cat zoomies and have some crazy moments. I have the dog walker let him out and play with him as well when she comes by for the dogs. Then, in the evenings I open the door for a few hours while I'm in the house. We play with the laser and interact with the dogs some more. And of course, affection which seems to be his goal in life. At night we play hard until he goes to sleep. So, we haven't had any night time meowing. I would know because the utility room shares a wall with my headboard.

I have toys on a stick but the dogs think it's for them. They are not interested in the laser so we use that. I do have some toys for Roger but they are actually dog toys so that mine don't swallow them. They are too small for my guys but at least they aren't dangerous. Roger seems to like them. Roger has not yet ventured from the kitchen which is off of the utility room, but he's getting braver and braver every day.

He is in the utility room when I can't supervise because the cat is new to the dogs and I want to make sure they are all going to get along before I allow unsupervised time together. I envision a game of tug-o-war and shudder at that thought. Things seem to be going smoothly so far so I imagine he will have full access very soon.

Does anyone have any ideas regarding propping the utility door open so the cat can get in but the dogs can't? I will probably get one of those cat doors soon but will need to find someone to install it (I'm not very good at that stuff).

[CraftHer]

Does anyone have any ideas regarding propping the utility door open so the cat can get in but the dogs can't? I will probably get one of those cat doors soon but will need to find someone to install it (I'm not very good at that stuff).

We use a gate in the back hallway. The gate has a door so we can walk through without stepping over. This separates our bedroom, laundry room (where the litter box is) and back door. Duchess (cat) can get through but Mocha can't get to her (or her litter box) and she has her safe space. It uses tension to hold to the door or you can screw it in the wall.

Amazon.com: Carlson 0930PW Extra-Wide Walk-Thru Gate with Pet Door, White: Pet Supplies

Our cat loves affection and hates getting squirted with water. So when she's on the table or scratching where she shouldn't, she gets squirted. When she's being good, she gets affection.

[doubledip1]

We use the same baby gate, but just a caution... Luna is somehow able to squeeze herself through the pet door, so we keep it permanently latched and the cat jumps over.

[Snowshoe]

WE have home made heavy duty screen gates in three places. They are about 50 inches high and till she got old and a bit feeble Itty Bitty Kitty could simply jump and climb over. Actually, she still can, it's the landing on the other side we fear is not good for her aging joints. So the OH cut cat sized holes in near the bottom. These work unless Oban is lying with his head stuck through the hole.

At another door it just so happens we can pull out a drawer to limit the door opening to cat size.

Failing any of these, string on the door knob and a nail in the doorframe?