Five Things Your Kitten Doesn’t Want You to Know

They look like handfuls of cuddly, adorable helplessness. But be warned. Those irresistible, seemingly innocent eyes are hiding some diabolical secrets.

1. Kittens are stubborn.

Their bodies are all cuddly and fragile, but mentally and emotionally, they are made of steel. Nudging a kitten that does not want to move is an exercise in futility. However, contrary to popular belief, kittens should not be lifted by the scruff of their neck. Lifting a kitten in this way can cause serious injury. To move a stubborn kitten away, blow a quick, short puff of air in its face. To move a kitten toward a particular spot, toss some kitten treats or a crumpled piece of paper to the desired spot.

2. Kittens are destructive.

When you are preparing to bring a kitten into your home, make a list of your three most treasured possessions. Then destroy them. It just saves time. A kitten will unerringly determine which objects mean the most to you and immediately set out to eliminate the competition. Clothing and curtains will be shredded. Lamps will be toppled. Don’t even think about keeping plants in the house. Alternatively, you can try some of the following counter-strategies:

• Provide a scratching post or board. Corrugated cardboard sprinkled with catnip works best. A carpeted post just whets a kitten’s appetite for more carpeting.
• Use museum putty to secure items on tabletops and shelves.
• Hang plants in baskets. Do not keep any plants that are poisonous to cats in the home. Ingesting even one dropped leaf can be fatal to a kitten. A list of poisonous plants and additional kitten care tips can be found on the ASPCA website: www.aspca.org.

3. Kittens can be trained.

It takes longer to train a kitten to do a trick than it takes to train a dog, but it can be done. Stock up on treats for kittens, patience and low expectations. Consider it a wild success when you train your kitten to come when called.

4. Kittens do not always instinctively use the litter box.

Fortunately, they figure it out pretty fast. Show your kitten the litter box. Encourage him to scratch. If the kitten has an accident, do not punish. Pick up (or wipe up) the accident with a paper towel and put the wet or soiled towel in the litter box. The scent will draw the kitten to the litter box the next time he needs to eliminate. Clean the location of the accident with an odor eliminating cleaner.