Suddenly having a kitten, wouldn’t you be very happy? Don’t be too happy too soon, because this is the time to start training your cat to have a good temperament. Only by forming habits from a young age will it grow into a well-behaved and adorable kitty!

　　1. Training Cats to Get Along with People

　　1. Make Friends with the Cat

　　When first interacting with the cat, don’t rush to force friendliness, let the cat gradually get to know its owner. The best time to approach a cat is when it is eating. You can speak softly to the cat, but don’t touch it first. Approach the cat only when it shows signs of relaxation, and let the cat know you like it very much. Avoid loud noises or sudden movements that might scare the cat. As the cat becomes more familiar, offer some gentle stroking, but don’t overdo it at first. With patience and a gentle attitude, the cat will develop affection and build a bond with you.

　　2. Understand the Cat’s Personality

　　After learning the general habits of cats, it’s important to understand your cat’s personality, which helps build and strengthen the bond. Every cat’s character is different; some like to be active, others are lazy, some enjoy closeness and affection from their owners, while others don’t like excessive petting or hugging. Some cats like ball-shaped toys, while others prefer toys resembling small birds. Understanding your cat’s personality allows you to take targeted measures to enhance your relationship!

　　3. Punish Less

　　Cats are different from other animals; punishment generally won’t work on them. When the cat behaves badly, make it clear you don’t want it to do that without random hitting or scolding. Otherwise, the cat might think you dislike it, feel no warmth at home, and even run away. Usually, after living some time with their owner, cats learn what is allowed and what is not.

　　4. Correct Way to Hold a Cat

　　Holding a cat is an ordinary act, but if done carelessly, it can result in scratches to the person or injuries to the cat, even lifelong disabilities. Before holding a cat, get familiar with it by gently patting its forehead or stroking its back. Depending on the cat’s size and weight, hold it with one or two hands. Never grab the ears, tail, or limbs. Grabbing ears easily causes fractures; grabbing limbs can lead to bites. Cats’ tails are very sensitive; pulling or stepping on the tail can trigger attacks.

　　2. Training Cats to Get Along with Dogs

　　1. Let Cats Learn to Relax

　　Whether cats and dogs become good neighbors depends on the cat’s personality. Cats are relatively sensitive and timid, unlike dogs who like gathering. Cats might get scared (usually scaring themselves), challenge by making threatening sounds, or slap the dog’s head with paws. Kittens are more accepting and may even fall in love with their silly large dog companions. Puppies always like to make playmates. The ideal is to introduce a puppy and a kitten at the same time. Adult cats that have lived with dogs may become good friends with adult dogs. Adult dogs often relax around kittens, but adult cats don’t easily accept puppies. Owners shouldn’t expect grown cats to play with dogs actively; instead, train your dog to relax under these conditions.

　　2. Choose the Right Partner

　　Adult dogs with strong hunting instincts might pose a threat; special care is needed when certain dog breeds live with cats. Large dogs trained for racing or hunting often treat small animals as prey. For instance, a greyhound trained to chase rabbits will likely find it difficult to coexist peacefully with cats. Breeds with flat faces and protruding eyeballs, like Pekingese or Pugs, are not suitable for aggressive cats, as their eyes are easily injured.

　　3. Control the Dog’s Behavior

　　Dogs have strong territorial instincts. When they enter a home with cats, they may show respect, seeing it as invading the cat’s territory. When introducing an unfamiliar cat and dog, keep the dog leashed. If the cat is willing, let it sniff the dog’s scent, but don’t allow the dog’s strength to overwhelm the cat, and don’t force the cat to approach. Immediately tighten the leash whenever the dog gets too close. Reward the dog if it keeps distance. Teach the dog that keeping distance from the cat is a household rule.

　　4. Provide Escape Routes for Cats

　　Usually, when cats stay still, dogs watch quietly; only when the cat flees does the dog excitedly chase. Attentive owners should arrange escape routes for cats—for example, the top of cabinets or small doors only cats can pass through. Place cats’ food and litter boxes in high places or separated from dogs. Smart cats feel safer knowing they can retreat, making them more relaxed and tolerant towards dogs. Never let them chase outdoors to avoid accidents like traffic injuries or getting lost.

　　Dogs are simple and honest; cats are nimble. Both are adorable creatures. Well-trained cats and dogs living under your roof will bring endless joy and warmth to your family life.

　　3. Training Cats Who Like to Scratch People

　　1. Interaction with Humans

　　How to prevent cats from biting and scratching people? First, from a young age, cultivate good contact habits, letting the cat know which behaviors the owner dislikes. When a kitten subconsciously grabs and bites your fingers during play, you can sharply scold or make angry sounds, then lightly tap its head (force must be proper—not too hard or the cat will resent you; not too light or it might think you are playing), then offer your finger again. The cat will usually bite you in revenge. Tap its head again and offer your finger repeatedly four to five times until it no longer bites hard, just gently holds your finger in its mouth.

　　Next times, use this method again when it bites; good results often appear within a month. Also, provide toys like paper balls or special cat toy mice to meet the cat’s need for chewing and play.

　　How to train a kitten not to use claws when contacting people? The concept is similar. When it eagerly and anxiously eats from your hand and accidentally scratches you, make angry sounds or loudly scold so it knows you dislike this. When playing, don’t use your bare hand holding toys to tease the cat, as their swift reactions can easily lead to scratches. You can tie the toy to a long string or a small stick (about two chopsticks long) with a string and toy at the end, so the cat can play without touching your hand.

　　2. Don’t Use Hands to Tease

　　Another point: from kittenhood, cultivate good habits by avoiding teasing the cat with your hands, especially don’t put your fingers near its mouth and suddenly pull them away. This action makes the cat treat your hand as prey and instinctively pounce and bite it.

　　Additional Notes:

　　· If scratched by a cat, clean the wound with iodine.

　　· If bitten, especially by a stray cat, get a rabies vaccine within 24 hours at a local health prevention station.

　　· Don’t forget to regularly trim your cat’s nails. Only trim the white tip, never cut the red part.

　　3. Playmates

　　Additionally, if conditions allow, consider raising two cats simultaneously. They keep each other company, play well, aren’t lonely when the owner is away, and their interest in “attacking” humans significantly decreases.

　　4. Training Aggressive Cats

　　1. Use a Serious Tone

　　When training, use a serious, commanding, low, and strong tone. When praising, exaggerate the pitch, make your tone lively. Our pets are like children; training requires authority, but praise should be gentle and enthusiastic.

　　2. Consistent Attitude

　　If more than one person lives at home, all must have consistent training attitudes. For example, one family member dislikes cats jumping on furniture and always chases them down, while others allow cats on beds or desks. Breaking the habit of jumping on furniture is difficult with contradictory approaches.

　　3. Training Time

　　The best time is before meals when the cat is hungry and learns faster. Training sessions should last about five minutes each, and frequency should be high, ideally daily. If the cat becomes bored, wait to resume. Prepare treats for training; cats are not dogs and won’t be interested in learning by praise alone. Avoid giving too many treats to not affect regular meal nutrition. I recommend using favorite kibble brand treats during training; if you find a brand the cat loves, save it as training rewards with minimal worry about overfeeding.

　　4. Patience

　　Cats are much less obedient than dogs, so training requires more effort. Since each cat has a different personality, they learn differently. Active cats seem to learn commands like "OVER" (jump) faster; calm cats better absorb commands like "STAY" (don’t move). It usually takes one or two days to teach and about one to two weeks to master fully. During this period, cats seem to understand and not understand alternately; patience is key. (Source：PetsZone)