Kittens are without a doubt one of the loveliest pets we can have, as they provide us with a lot of entertainment as they frolic and play, get into mischief and some downright silly situations. It is the evil that worries many homeowners, and they feel they must control it in some way.

Animal experts, including veterinarians, are often bombarded with questions from pet owners about how to “discipline” their new kitten. Some of the more disturbing comments include references to spanking the poor little things!

Perhaps because humans are generally raised with a discipline that often translates into a system of reward and punishment, they believe it applies to animals as well as children.

Reward and punishment are rapidly losing their acceptability in a good training environment, yet people are beginning to notice that it is less effective with animals. For that to be useful at all, the subject must have the ability to learn to make judgments about his own behavior. This requires the ability to use logic and spend time thinking about things. Animals do not do this. They live in the moment, in the “now”. Yes, they can remember that certain actions produce certain results and they can learn from that. But if we’re supposed to be smarter than animals, it’s up to us to be the ones to use logic and think things through.

NEVER use physical force, including spanking, on a kitten. It is simply not necessary and can cause injury, sometimes death. In fact, it is never necessary to hit a pet. Try using a reward vs. there is no reward system in place.

The following common mischievous kitten behaviors can be easily handled with care and affection by careful and patient owners:

1. Not using the litter box. Under normal circumstances, this should never be a problem. The kittens are taught by their mothers to use the sand. If a kitten is unfamiliar with litter or kitty litter, it is usually because the little one was separated from its mother too early. Kittens need to be with their mothers for at least 3 months, 12 weeks, but this is not usually the case. People want the pleasure of teaching their own kitten as soon as possible. Some even enjoy bottle feeding very much, but this makes sense only if the kitten has been orphaned and a suitable substitute cannot be found.

If you have an orphaned kitten, you will need to be a surrogate mother and train her to use a litter box. Is not difficult. Simply place the kitten in the box shortly after he has eaten or drank, and gently pat his bottom, speaking quietly to cheer him up. If you have other cats, let the kitten observe the older ones using the box. Cats learn by observation and imitation.

Probably the most important thing any cat or kitten owner can do to ensure their pet continues to use the litter box is to always keep it clean.

2. Scratching furniture. Kittens absolutely must scratch. They can’t help not. It is up to you to provide them with the proper environment to stretch their toes and exercise their front legs and feet. If their claws are removed at this time, it can affect the normal development of the leg and leg muscles. However, removing the claws from an adult cat has even more profound results and some cats never get over them. Provide a scratching post or pad and encourage them to use it by being calm and happy each time. Don’t bother with the catnip yet; kittens are not sensitive until they are much older, if they are. Some cats don’t seem to notice catnip. If you catch your kitty scratching something it shouldn’t, just pick it up and take it to the stall. Do not yell, do not hit and do not get angry. This only teaches him that you can be unpredictable and scary. They rarely associate their action with your reaction.

3. Getting into things. All young people love and need to explore. This is how they learn what is in their world and how to navigate it. If they are not allowed to learn things this way, their social skills or even survival skills will be stunted. However, as their tutors, it is up to us to make sure they are safe while having fun while learning. With kittens, we must provide lots of toys, hiding places, climbing opportunities, and best of all, time together, where they learn to trust and interact with you. Just remember to be kind and considerate. Never play rough with a kitten, or you will be responsible for creating a little biting monster. It’s cute and not too painful to bear its claws and teeth at 6 weeks old, but you don’t want to wonder what happened to your soft fluff ball when it was 2 years old and it was bleeding.

Then once they’re old enough to jump on countertops, it’s time to nip that in the bud, or you may never stop them. The most effective tactics seem to be related to loud noises. Never knock a kitten off a counter. It could seriously injure you. You can continually pick it up and place it back on the floor, but most cats don’t seem to get it. Instead, make a loud noise. Hit the counter with something flat … a paddle, maybe … or use a can of compressed air that blasts a loud horn. Sometimes a blast of air is enough.

If a kitten’s environment is interesting and safe enough, he will be less likely to get involved in things that do not concern him. Homeowners can help by “child proofing” their home and protecting any possessions they wish to keep intact.