There are several cat behaviors that are not acceptable for pets. However, much will depend on your own style of living and whether you live in the country or the city. One of the worst cat behaviors is scratching; that is, scratching humans. Cats’ claws can inflict rather nasty scratches, so this is one behavior that should be discouraged as much as possible. It won’t be possible to eliminate it entirely as it is a cat’s nature to scratch and it does so to protect itself. Making sure your cat is not frightened and never feels threatened will go a long way to preventing scratching you or others in the family.

Spraying is another behavior that is unwelcome in the home. Cats spray to mark their territory, so it is simply a natural thing for them to do. One way to discourage this behavior is to buy a bottle pheromone. It is a synthetic cat spray and is odorless to humans, but cats can smell it. If your cat thinks another cat has marked out its territory, then it won’t be so likely to do the same thing.

Jumping onto high places is also normal cat behavior, but it may not fit in with your lifestyle if you have antique vases sitting on shelves. Neither is it healthy to have kitty on the counter while you are preparing food for the children. Cats can be a danger to themselves as well as to others when they jump unexpectedly onto places that may not support them.

It goes without saying that you will want your cat to use the litter tray. If he does not, he may have to become an outside cat. Another behavior that is natural for cats is to go hunting. We like them to catch mice and rats, but when kitty comes in licking feathers from his jowls, we wonder if that little bird was amongst those facing extinction. A bell on his collar will help to prevent kitty from killing too many birds.

It’s not a very nice thing to be cuddled up to kitty only to have him unexpectedly sink his teeth into your arm. Yet biting is also a natural cat behavior. If your cat is a biter, discourage him by placing him on the floor immediately when he bites. It may be that he had finished with cuddling anyway and this was his way of letting you know. If his biting seems excessive, you may need to keep that rolled up newspaper handy. He will soon understand not to bite.

Cats are animals. Humans are animals as well but supposedly of a higher order. In order to live together in a companionable and happy relationship there are some things that your cat needs to learn. Owning an animal of any sort should be more pleasure than pain, but there will be considerable pain if the animal is in control of the household.

So what is the basic training your cat needs, to establish a happy relationship in the family?

First, there is toilet training. There would be nothing worse than to come home from a hard day at the office to find an unmentionable lump on your best bedspread. So where to go to the toilet is one of the most important things to train your cat or kitten. Cats are naturally clean animals so it is quite easy to train to use a litter tray. Simply place him on it after his meal.

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It is not the most usual thing to see a cat being walked on a leash. Traditionally, it is dogs that have leads and cats that roam free. However, these days, with so many small birds and animals on the verge of extinction, you may want to consider training your cat or kitten to walk on a leash. This will prevent him from hunting down and killing butterflies or small birds. It will keep him from climbing trees to take baby birds from their nests. It will also keep him out of danger, as you will be monitoring his whereabouts in a responsible manner.

Rather than just using a collar and leash to walk your cat, think about using a harness. A cat’s head is quite small compared to the rest of it and a collar may be inclined to pull over his head and off. The harness straps should encircle the neck and the body just behind the front legs, with two more straps to join the circles together; one through the front legs and one down the back of the neck. There will need to be a clip for the leash as well. Light leather or synthetic material is good for a cat’s harness. Don’t use anything too heavy or the cat will reject it.

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Many cat-lovers like to take their cat to shows in the hopes of winning that red or blue ribbon that says their kitty is the best. So what training do cats need to be successfully shown? One of the most important things your cat needs to know is how to relate to strangers. If your cat bites or scratches when being inspected, the behavior will not impress the judge. So one of the main things to teach him is to be at ease with strangers handling him.

The way to do this is to encourage all your friends to pick him up and pet him. If he gets used to this, he will begin to realize that strangers will not harm him and will accept being handled by the judge. He also needs to be able to handle being in a cage for certain periods of time without going crazy. You can confine your cat at home for short periods of time in a cage similar to the one used at the cat show. To make it a pleasant experience for him, leave food and water in there and some of his bedding. If he is comfortable, he will be happy. The first time you place him in the cage, choose a time when you know he is sleepy and he will settle down more quickly. But even before then, place the cage on the floor with the door open and a treat inside to encourage him to go in by himself.

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Once you have that new kitty, you’ll need to teach him to be happy and comfortable in a carrier because there will be times he will need to go to the veterinarian. You may even need to take him to a friend’s place or a cat motel while you go on holidays. So the sooner he gets used to being in a carrier the better.

You don’t want kitty to be stressed out every time he goes into the carrier, so purchase one well before you need to use it. Once you have it, leave it near his food bowl so he can get used to the sight of it. Of course, he won’t know what it’s for, but his naturally inquisitive nature will make him want to inspect it or even play in it. Leave the door of it open and place a piece of his bedding and a food treat inside, so he will begin to associate being in it with food and other happy things. You could even place his favorite toy in there.

Once he has been in and out of the carrier several times, then you can shut him in it for a few minutes each day. If he has food, water and bedding, he should be quite happy. Leave him in it for a little longer each day. If he seems to be quite settled when inside of it, then you could pick it up and gently swing it around or walk along with it. Talk reassuringly to kitty all the while, because he might not like the sensation of movement over which he has no control. Do this often enough so that he doesn’t forget what it’s like in between times.

Once kitty feels comfortable in the carrier, place it in different rooms with him in it and carry it around outside. Place it out in the car for a while, but remain with him until he is used to that too. He will soon get to know that being in the carrier is a normal part of his life and be happy and settled whenever you have to take him anywhere in it.

Never place your kitty in a carrier as a punishment. If you do, he will begin to associate it with unhappiness and will never want to go in it. Being in a carrier should be a happy and positive experience for your kitty and one that he will look forward to without fear.

The best way to teach a cat tricks is by making use of his natural behavior. In the zoo you will often see a lion or tiger that will jump for his food. In the wild, these animals do such things naturally. They are a part of the cat’s normal behavior, so this makes it much easier to train them. So what other natural behaviors do cats have?

They love to climb and jump, so any trick that includes this will be one that kitty should take to with no trouble. For instance, you could teach him to jump from one stool to another to get his food. Of course, if he then wants to jump from the stool onto the counter where you don’t want him, you might have a problem.

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Cats love to be stroked, so it is easy to teach your cat to accept brushing. Brushing will help to remove loose hair and prevent kitty getting a fur ball stuck in his throat. It also helps to remove irritating prickles he may have picked up on his walks outside. You will be able to keep tabs on his general health if you brush him regularly, too.

Choose a time when kitty is feeling a bit sleepy and wants to curl up on your warm lap. Have the brush handy so you don’t have to disturb him to get it. If he hasn’t seen the brush before, hold it near his face so he can sniff it all over if he wants. In this way he will understand that it won’t hurt him and so he won’t be frightened of it. In fact, it’s a good idea to rub your own hands along the handle of the brush so he can detect your scent on it. If he’s used to you, he will be reassured that this strange tool is to be trusted.

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Some people would have us believe that it is impossible to teach a cat anything, but if he can be taught to come for his dinner then he can be taught other things as well. It may require patience and constancy, but the end result will be worth it. Not many cats have been taught to sit on command, yet it is not impossible to teach your cat this trick. Make sure your cat is wide-awake and a little hungry before you start to teach him this one

Get him used to accepting edible treats from your hand, so that he knows when he smells it, that you have something in your hand for him. Choose a time that the cat is standing. Approach him with the treat and let him smell that it is in your closed fist. Once he has sniffed your hand, move it over the top of his head. Not high above him or he might jump to reach it. Just slide your hand over the top of his head, about one centimeter above it. You will see that to keep his nose near the treat, he will sit. If he does not sit, gently push on his back –just in front of the tail - until he does.

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Cats can cause a great deal of damage with their sharp claws, not only to furniture, also to the humans in their household. If you have this trouble, you might want to consider having your cat’s claws clipped. This is especially important if you have small children in your home.

Cat clippers are available at most pet shops. Don’t use the same clippers on your cat that you may use for yourself. These are not right for an animal and will pinch his claws painfully. It’s a good idea to get your kitty used to having his claws handled right from when he is tiny. Wait until he is feeling sleepy – on your lap is a good place to have him. Handle his paws and claws frequently by gently holding them squeezing them, picking them up and generally playing gently with them. In this way, he will see that you mean him no harm when touching his feet. Remember that cats’ feet are very sensitive and tender.

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If you live in an urban area or anywhere near a major traffic route, you may need to stop your cat from heading out the door every time you open it. Cats can be easily frightened in traffic and you don’t want your pet to meet with a nasty accident. Not only will an accident be unpleasant for your pet, veterinarian fees tend to make a large hole in your budget. Stopping kitty from running out the door will not be easy, but can be managed with patience. It is certainly easier to train a small kitten than a grown cat whose habits may be ingrained.

Whether you have a cat or a kitten, it will need to be trained to stay indoors unless you allow it to go out. To do this, use the cat’s natural traits, working with his nature rather than against it. We know that cats dislike loud, startling noises, so every time the door is open and kitty heads that way, try and be ready with a loud noise – but between him and the door. Don’t come up behind him with it or you’ll just frighten him right out the door.

One good way to train your kitty is to enlist the aid of another person to stand just outside the door. Then you can open it and as soon as your kitten pokes his nose out, have the other person squirt him with a spray bottle or water gun. Two people will be even better. One can have a spray bottle; the other can have the noisemaker. This will frighten your cat back into the room where you can be waiting to soothe him and tell him what a good cat he is for coming back.

To add even more to the lesson, you can be sure to call him back just before the noise and water spray happen. If you make your voice sound alarmed, kitty will soon get the message and it will teach him that an alarmed voice means something unpleasant is going to happen to him. This can be useful at other times, too. He may be outside in the yard and you suddenly notice he’s about to jump over the fence. To call him back in a voice of alarm will save him from getting lost or chased by a dog or even another cat.

Of course, always remember to use positive reinforcement such as petting or treats when he does the right thing.