Creating Good Habits For Life

Your cat’s behavior is influenced by a number of things in their environment and daily life with you. You can use these to start creating good habits today - whether your cat is new to your home or a long-time family member.

Preventing Bad Behavior Before it Starts

Most cat behavior problems are easier to prevent than to stop. You can encourage good behavior by setting up your home to meet your cat’s needs.

Play and Enrichment   
Cats are natural-born hunters. They need outlets for their energy and predatory behaviors like stalking, pouncing, and chasing. This should include:

  • Daily Interactive Play: Use a “fishing pole”-type toy to mimic prey for your cat to hunt.
  • Food Puzzles: Encourage hunting and foraging behavior by ditching the food bowl.
  • Enrichment: Make your home more exciting with small toys, scent enrichment like catnip, and window perches. 

Home Setup
​ A cat’s territory is very important to their well-being and behavior. Cats that don’t feel secure may show stress-related behavior problems. Without appropriate outlets for natural behavior, a cat may also cause damage to your home. 

  • Vertical Space: Provide options for your cat to get off the ground so they can feel safe and avoid conflict with other pets.
  • Scratching Posts: Give your cat places where they are allowed to scratch and save your furniture. These need to be in the main areas of the home where they are easily accessible. Some cats prefer vertical, horizontal, or angled scratchers. 
  • Litter Box Setup: Create a clean, safe place for your cat to eliminate. Most cats prefer large, open boxes with unscented, fine-grained litter. Keep it clean by scooping daily and fully dumping every 1-2 weeks. Multiple cats need multiple litter boxes in different parts of the home.

Cat Proofing  
Cats will be cats; we can’t train out every unwanted behavior. Make adjustments that keep your cat and your belongings safe. Kittens in particular need cat proofing as they are more likely to get into things.

  • Dangerous Plants and Chemicals: Don’t trust training or deterrents to keep your cat safe. Always keep toxic and poisonous things completely out of reach of your cat. 
  • Cords and Cables: Remove or cover cables that can be chewed and dangling cords that are play targets.
  • Bookshelves: Push books to the back of shelves and use museum wax on small items to prevent them from being knocked down.
  • Counter Surfing: Keep food off of kitchen counters to prevent your cat from stealing a snack.

How Cats Learn

Cats are always learning about their world. They learn in two ways: by emotional associations (the emotions connected to something) and by consequences (if I do this, that happens). 

Safe vs. Dangerous
Emotional associations separate what a cat thinks is safe (or fun or desirable) or dangerous (or uncomfortable or undesirable). No matter what you think your cat should feel about something (nail trims are no big deal), your cat is the one who defines what they feel is dangerous (nail trims are torture).

To ensure your cat labels something as “safe,” always listen to what they are saying and don’t force an interaction on them. Instead, pair the situation or experience with positives like food or toys to help the cat create a positive association with that thing. For example, don’t introduce your cat to another pet while they are in a carrier and unable to move away. Instead give them space to choose how close they get and pair the meeting with special treats and play.

What Works vs. What Doesn't
The other way your cat learns is by connecting a behavior with a consequence. They understand when what they do leads to something they want, something they want to avoid, or nothing. These connections only work for immediate consequences; your cat can’t learn the connection between their past behavior and a later punishment, for example. 

To make sure your cat learns only what you want them to, use your home setup to prevent unwanted behaviors. For example, make sure your cat never finds food on the counters and they won’t have a reason to keep going up there - it doesn’t “work”. Also remember to reward behavior you like, such as hanging out on a cat tree, scratching their post, or coming to you when you call them. If these behaviors always “work” to earn a reward, your cat will keep doing them.

Valuable Skills

Cats can learn some important behaviors that will make their life, and yours, easier.

  • Carrier Training: Teach your cat to go into their carrier by hiding treats inside. 
  • Harness Training: Introduce a harness in small, easy steps and pair it with treats.
  • Come When Called: Start indoors and close by so it is easy for your cat to get it right and earn attention, treats, or play. This is an important safety skill.
  • Nail Trims and Handling: Do only a tiny bit at a time, at your cat’s comfort level, and pair with treats.

This material was written in collaboration with cat behavior consultant Jessica Char.
Learn more at  www.FelineEngineering.com