7 tips for raising your cat
A new pet brings a lot of life to the house and that is very nice! But to make it even nicer, it is best to give your pet a good education. Without that good education, it is possible that your pet will show unwanted behavior. In this blog you will read 7 important tips about the education of your cat and how to unlearn negative behavior.
1. Reward good behavior
Just like with people, you can stimulate good behavior by rewarding it. For example, will your cat or kitten do its business in its litter box instead of in the kitchen on the floor? Then you can reward it. Does your cat scratch the scratching post instead of the furniture? Then reward it! Does your cat play with its own toys instead of your stuff? Reward! Cats are wise enough to know that bad behavior is not rewarded and good behavior is, so they learn the difference between good and bad. This is one of the easiest ways to get your cat to stop bad behavior.
2. Provide enough scratching posts
Scratching is in their nature. Cats scratch to keep their nails sharp, to mark their territory and to blow off steam. And rather that they do the scratching on a scratching post and not your furniture, right? So provide a scratching post for your cats in the rooms where they spend most of their time. That way your cat is happy and your furniture remains undamaged.
3. Provide enough litter boxes
In order to housebreak your cat, you must provide enough litter boxes. This way your cat has plenty of opportunity to leave its needs in the right place. There is also a good rule of thumb for litter boxes: Provide as many litter boxes in the house as there are cats, plus one extra box!
Tip: Don't place them too close together either, but rather spread them out throughout your home.
4. Provide enough places to sleep
Cats love naps but they also love having peace and quiet around them. So make sure there are enough sleeping places, not only to sleep in but also as a 'refuge base' if it gets a bit too busy in the house. This way you will keep your cat's stress level under control.
5. Preparation is key!
Cats do not like things or situations that they are not used to such as combing, a lot of fuss in the house by visitors, the vet, nails being clipped, checking their teeth, you name it! By practicing these things often with the necessary rewards, you ensure that your cat gets used to them. This way you will not have any more surprises when you have visitors or have to go to the vet.
6. Spend time with your cat
Spend enough time with your cat each day. The more time you spend with your cat and the more you involve it in the house, the less it will show negative or destructive behavior. If you really give your cat too little attention, it will very quickly draw your attention by scratching the furniture, for example. So spend enough time with your cat in advance to avoid such situations.
7. Provide your cat with the right food
Cats have different needs for nutrients through all stages of their lives. For example, kittens have a totally different nutritional need than senior cats. So it is important to think carefully about what kind of food is best for your cat. Do you have doubts about which food to give your cat? Take a look at our product finder.