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Is there anything in the world cuter than a kitten? Obviously they are some of the most adorable animals on the planet and beloved by millions worldwide as favorite pets and members of the family. But one thing is for certain, getting an animal that young will mean some serious kitten training.

Commitment Is Key

Typically they don't arrive on your doorstep just knowing how to use the litter box or how to come when called, and their curious nature can get them into some very unfortunate situations in your home. It's important however to be fully committed to kitten training because it's much easier than cat training!

When you're trying to train an adult cat, chances are he's already very set in his ways and may lack the energy and drive that a kitten does. One reason that kitten training is usually easier than cat training is that kittens haven't yet learned certain behaviors that they'll need to unlearn at a later day. For example, kittens haven't necessary learned how to fear dogs and other cats and so may accept other pets in the home more readily. But trying to train a full grown cat to accept a dog or new cat in the home can be very difficult. With kitten training, they're usually more open to these changes and to other animals so you simply need to let them get adjusted, rather than needing to overcome their fear or aggression the way you do with an adult cat.

Praise And Attention

Cat training is also more difficult than kitten training because older cats are generally very tired and have less energy than kittens. This means that they often just don't care about whatever it is that you're trying to teach them and they're happy to find a sunny spot where they can nap rather than listen to you. With kitten training, your kitten is energetic and ready to play, and you can use this when training him. If you need to train your kitten to use the litter box, you need to be sure to give him praise and rewards and lots of attention when he does; this will make him look forward to using it and it will be a pleasant experience for him. But if you're trying to train a full grown cat, he might not care that much about all your extra attention. This is one reason why kitten training is so much easier than cat training.

Early Training for a Happy Kitten

This is also why it's good to start any training with your cat as early as possible. If your cat is already full grown then there may not be much you can do by way of training, so effective kitten training is vitally important for a happy and healthy adult cat. While the cat is young you can teach him how to use the litter box and can teach him to avoid certain areas of the home, and whatever else he needs to learn to be safe and happy.

If you'd like more of my Cat Training Tips, check out my "Insider Tricks and Secrets to Training Your Cat".

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