Good habits are cultivated gradually. When we see well-trained, obedient cats on TV obeying their owners' commands, and then look at our own naughty, playful cats urinating indiscriminately, the difference feels huge. We also know a well-behaved cat is not born that way but is shaped through continuous training. Surely many owners want to train their cats but don’t know how. Below, some basic methods to train cats will be introduced.

　　Generally speaking, basic training can begin when a cat grows mature at about 2-3 months old. It's best to conduct training sessions before feeding because hungry cats are more willing and easier to get close to people. Also, to obtain food, cats become more obedient. Using food as a lure is a very effective training method.

　　1. Basic Ways to Train Cats

　　1. Coercion

　　Coercion means using mechanical stimulation and threatening commands to make the cat accurately perform specific actions. For example, to train a cat to lie down, the trainer issues the "lie down" command while pressing the cat down with their hand, forcing it into position. After repeating several times, the cat quickly forms a conditioned reflex to lie down. When using this method, control the intensity of the stimulation because cats often think for themselves and prefer soft treatment over harsh.

　　2. Inducement

　　Inducement means using food, objects, or the trainer’s actions to lure the cat into performing certain behaviors. This method is more suitable for training kittens.

　　3. Reward

　　Rewards reinforce correct actions, consolidate formed conditioned reflexes, or adjust the cat’s nervous activity. Rewards include food, praise, and petting. Combining rewards with coercion is effective; after forcing a cat to perform a correct action, reward it immediately. The level of rewards should gradually increase with the difficulty of training. Note that too frequent or too low-level rewards may cause kittens to become indifferent to minor rewards.

　　4. Punishment

　　Includes scolding, intimidation, hitting, etc. Once a bad habit is detected, punishment should be applied promptly to prevent the cat from developing fear or boredom of training.

　　2. Train Cats to Develop the Habit of Sleeping in a Fixed Spot

　　Before bringing the cat home, prepare a pet bed or box with cotton padding or grass. If it’s winter, also place a hot water bag inside and put the bed in a warm place, so the cat sleeps there every day.

　　If the cat refuses to return to its bed and instead sleeps in the owner's bed, the owner should issue the "No" command and put the cat back into its bed, then cover it with a wire mesh to force it to sleep inside. Repeating this several times will gradually develop the good habit of sleeping in a fixed place.

　　3. Correcting Abnormal Eating Behaviors in Cats

　　Pica is an abnormal eating behavior mainly involving ingestion of non-food substances, like licking or chewing wool socks and sweaters, or stealing indoor potted plant food when the owner is away. To correct pica, use aversive conditioning such as fright punishment. For example, placing an inverted mousetrap (to avoid catching the cat) near yarn clothes or plants; when the cat approaches, the trap snaps and makes a clicking sound, scaring the cat away. Alternatively, hide with a water spray and immediately spray water when the cat exhibits abnormal eating; the sudden attack causes the cat to run away. After several sessions, cats will abandon the pica habit. Additionally, applying substances cats dislike (e.g., deodorant, menthol) on clothing or food will repel them.

　　4. Training Cats Not to Scratch Randomly

　　Jumping high, scratching, and nibbling plants are normal cat behaviors, but living with humans can lead these behaviors to be seen as destructive. The best solution is not to simply forbid them but to provide appropriate substitutes to meet cats' needs.

　　For scratching, besides removing old nails, claw marks are a visual signal to other animals marking territory. Therefore, owners should provide a scratching board placed firmly on the floor or leaned against a wall at a 45-degree angle.

　　Scratching boards can be bought in pet stores or homemade by wrapping sisal rope around a wooden board. Place the board near the cat’s sleeping area because cats want to scratch after waking and stretching. For multiple cats, provide several scratching boards. Sprinkle a small amount of catnip weekly on the boards to maintain their interest.

　　In addition, trim the cat’s nails at least every two weeks. If the cat scratches furniture like sofas, boxes, wood, wicker chairs, or leather, prepare a spray bottle with clean water. Whenever the cat tries to scratch these, spray water on it. After a few times, cats learn that scratching furniture will have unpleasant consequences and switch to the scratching board. Similarly, spray training can help discourage other improper behaviors.