How to Teach Your Kitten These 3 Basic Training Commands

Puppy parents usually consider training their canine companions; however, this aspect rarely crosses the mind of many cat owners who assume their feline knows what, when, and how to do things. Most cats are fiercely independent, curious, and resilient creatures infamous for redirected aggression, territorial spraying, biting, scratching, and killing birds and rodents.

Although some of your cat’s qualities can be annoying, don’t lose hope. Repeated behavioral training sessions can correct many of your cat’s negative behaviors. Contact your vet for the best action plan to set your furball on the path to good behavior. Also, it is worth noting that cat insurance policies cover behavioral issues resulting from an underlying health issue that can be treated, not otherwise.

So, read the policy disclosure statements of your cheap pet insurance to know what exactly your feline pet is covered for. Meanwhile, read this article to learn how to teach your kitten three basic training commands.

“Sit”

1. Hold a treat close to your kitten’s nose.
2. Slowly and steadily move the treat vertically up from the nose level to your kitten’s head level.
3. Your kitten will most likely follow the treat and go into the sitting position as you raise the treat upwards.
4. When your kitten sits in the correct posture, say “Sit” and reward it immediately with the treat in your hand and some generous praises.
5. Should your kitten jump up to grab the treat, lower the treat in your hand to the ground and hold it in the same position until your kitty’s feet are firmly on the floor.
6. Don’t give the treat just then; raise the treat again and repeat the process several times.

Eventually, your baby cat will learn what is expected of them.

“Stay”

1. Say “Stay” and offer your kitten a tiny treat.
2. After that, move back a few steps and say, “Stay”.
3. If the kitten moves towards you, don’t offer a treat.
4. However, hand out a treat when the kitten remains in the same position while you move back a little and say, “Stay”.

Keep trying and increase the distance between both of you, so your baby cat learns how to respond when you say “Stay”.

“Come”

1. Take a bag of treats, crinkle the packet, and command your kitten to “Come” to you verbally and through hand signals.
2. Your kitten will most likely walk toward you because it is familiar with the sounds and treats.
3. Reward it with a bite-sized treat for following your instruction. Remember not to give your kitten a treat when it comes to you when you haven’t issued the command already.
4. Slowly you can increase the distance, repeat the above steps, and check if your cat will come to you.
5. The key points to pay attention to are the sound of the packet, the command “Come”, hand signal, letting your cat come to you after the command and not the other way round, and juicy rewards for positive reinforcement.

A few repetitions of this daily can help your cat understand what to do when you say “Come”.

While some cats are quick learners, others may require more time to get the hang of new commands. So, be patient through the behavioral training sessions else your kitten might just walk away with little care. Most behavioral problems arise from poor communication; however, you can’t rule out health issues either.

Make wise decisions concerning your baby cat’s health; in the process, you should consider buying cat insurance. Cheap pet insurance helps support your feline pet with basic medical care at affordable costs; at the same time, you can check out other policies offering comprehensive health coverage that costs more. Carefully weigh your options to sign up for a policy that ideally suits your cat.