That being said, it's never too late to teach an adult cat a few new tricks or even correct certain bad behaviors. From infants to already weaned kitties, here's your ultimate guide to
It may come as a surprise, but the answer is a resounding yes! You can train cats of all ages to do tricks, respond to commands and even walk on a leash!
Cats can be trained at any age - it's never too late!
You can start litter training kittens at around 4 weeks of age by offering kitten-friendly litter boxes. This coincides with the time that kittens start weaning. If you adopt an older kitten or adult cat, you can start litter box training as soon as you bring them home.
Provide your cat with plenty of toys and spend some time every day throwing a ball or crumpled up piece of paper for your cat to chase. Redirecting your cat to perform these natural behaviors where and when you feel is appropriate is the best way to deal with these problems.
In-home dog and cat obedience training typically requires one to two sessions depending on what you want your pet to learn. Behavioral work consisting of fears, phobias and aggression typically take 2-3 sessions which are scheduled bi-weekly or monthly depending on the particular circumstances.
Cat harness training is much easier if you start at an early age, but just because you have an adult cat, don't think you can't follow these steps too! The harness quickly becomes a normal part of life when introduced to cats when they're young; an older cat will need more time to feel comfortable wearing a harness.
While leash training can be done at any age, it may be easier for an energetic kitten than an older cat already stuck in her ways. “Most kittens are comfortable and social, so they're pretty outgoing,” Woodard tells The Dodo. If the cat doesn't seem comfortable right away, take things slow.
If there is no interest in play or exercise, your cat may be feeling unwell, stressed, or be in pain. Being proactive can help get to the root of a health concern earlier rather than later. Cats have preferences, just like us. Whatever activity or toy you have introduced to your fur friend simply may not interest him.
Cats, while often independent creatures, still crave attention and love, in addition to their obvious nutritional needs of fresh water, clean litter, and food. If you decide to bring a cat or kitten into your home, you should be prepared to spend at least 20 minutes a day giving your cat loving one-on-one attention.
Experts believe that a feline's intelligence is comparable to that of a 2-year-old human.
By one year old, your kitten will be an adult cat. She may still act like a mischievous kitten, but her needs will have changed. Now that she's fully grown, she'll require an adult cat food that will provide her with the appropriate levels of nutrients, vitamins and minerals she needs through adulthood.
After year 1
The transition to adulthood ordinarily occurs from 1 to 2 years old. At this time, and possibly after neutering, a cat may retain a lot of energy but should be notably calmer with it reaching full maturity at 2. From 3 to 10 years old, a cat is relatively calm but remains active.
Like all babies, young cats need frequent meals and careful supervision. A neighbour or friend could pop in to feed your kitten if you're at work, for example. By the time they're a year old and fully grown, a healthy cat should be fine if left overnight – but as Nicky suggests, never leave them for more than 24 hours.
We would recommend letting your kitten out with supervised access to the outside once they're about 4 months old, and have been neutered, had all their vaccinations, and are fully settled into your home.
A good place to start is two 15 – 20 minute sessions each day, which you can increase as they get fitter and more enthusiastic. Make sure you keep play sessions short, and always give them enough time to rest in between. Never force your cat to do anything they don't want to.
Once your cat shows interest in trying to leave the room, or is begging at the door to come out, they're ready to explore the rest of the house! Most cats will adjust within one to two weeks. If you have a multiple-animal household, it may take several months for everyone to fully adjust.
Many cats like going outside and one way to keep them safe is to teach them to walk on a leash. Before you take them outside, get them used to wearing a harness. Most cats have never had something wrapped around their body like a dog has.
Our team of vets agree that using water bottles to discipline cats isn't the best course of action. According to Dr. Dwight Alleyne, “Spraying cats with water can create a negative association with humans. As a result, they may become more anxious or even aggressive over time.”
Positive reinforcement is the most effective method of training, and is key to ingraining positive behaviors in your cat. Positive reinforcement focuses on rewarding your pet for good behavior, rather than punishing bad behavior.