Cat Training 101: Can You Teach a Cat to Stop Behaving Badly?

We ask four leading Feline Training and Behavior Specialists if it is possible to retrain those bad habits that make owning a cat challenging. What are the biggest hurdles to overcome when caring for those cute and cuddly felines? If you are struggling with scratching your furniture, spraying or peeing on the floor, scratching or biting, getting into your plants, jumping on kitchen counters, or using your garden or flower bends as a cat box, then this article is for you, so stick around for all the answers to breaking those bad cat habits. As a bonus, we will show you how to leash train a cat.

We all know cats do what they want, and because they are so cute we tend to let them get away with that bad behavior instead of standing firm with consistent training until the problem is fixed. You need to look past your cat's adorable appearance to discover what makes them tick if you want cat training to be successful and satisfying for both of you. The goal here is to restore harmony to your home and create an environment that keeps you and your cat happy.

Cats Can be Trained

The experts all agree that training a cat is easier than most people think and not far off from training a dog. Cats are motivated by positive attention, playtime, and food. The secret to successful cat training is having that favorite treat always handy to reward good behavior and reinforce with verbal praise like “good girl” or “good job”). This will encourage them to behave in ways that might not be their instinct or impulse. A clicker (noisemaker) can also be used to say, “Yes” to positive behavior. It’s okay to tell your cat “No” but no yelling or physical scolding. Just establish that “No” means no treats or no positive attention. Scolding can lead to more negative behaviors than you want to imagine. Your child may need a swat on the butt occasionally but that does not work with animals. Stick to focusing on positive reinforcement when training any animal and you will be successful. Cats need to be in control, or they feel stressed, so always give them an alternative to the bad behavior that they are going to love more. Stick around as we get into the specifics.

Lesson One

Let's dive in, shall we? Let's say you are teaching your cat not to scratch the furniture. When you see your cat use the scratching post instead, immediately reward them with verbal praise (“good job”), petting, and a treat. It’s really that simple. Clear, timely, and consistent communication is crucial, especially early on, so always use those same praise words. While it’s tempting to carry on a full-blown conversation, you must resist and stick to those same one or two-word commands during training. They will see the positive love come through your eyes and your body language. Meaningful conversations with your cat are important too for that positive attention bonding that will motivate them to keep you happy. We have a cat that loves to talk and when we talk to her, she begins to purr without any other stimuli.

It's also important to learn to read their body language to see when they are enjoying something and when they are not. There will be days when your cat isn't the least bit interested in cat training or playing, and on those days, you don't want to push it. Just be patient and remember it’s a relationship, and both of you should be having fun. Remember that bad behavior can be a result of boredom. Their instinct is to explore and look for the next thing to chase or swipe at, so make sure you get in some playtime every day. Specific training times should be short (5 minutes max) but consistent. Training when your cat is hungry, before their regular mealtime, is an excellent idea to keep them focused.

Think about how your cat is feeling. When your cat is sick or sleeping, don't try to train it. The training lesson may also be frustrating and not work because of noise, pets, or other people.

Equipment Needed

While training your cat, you don't need to purchase a lot of equipment, but an irresistible treat is a must-have item in addition to a clicker. Try a few different treats until you find one that makes your cat purr, then save that one for training. A scratching post to replace your couch as the target for scratching is a must.

Clicker Training

A clicker is a handheld device that marks your cat's desired behavior. This will work with dogs as well.

The click notifies them of the exact moment they accomplished something you want to see repeated, allowing you time to offer the treat.

How to Correct Those Specific Bad Behaviors

Now that we have the basics, let’s get into the details. Cats are adorable, fluffy, and loving, yet inside them is a mountain lion with ferocious tendencies that can lead to biting, scratching, peeing, attacking your plants, or other mischief. Your cat may test you as you teach new behaviors. When it does, make it clear that the cat will only get treats, praise, and petting for the behavior you want.

How to stop a cat from tearing up your furniture

The first thing you should know is that scratching is a perfectly natural part of a cat's daily life. Scratching removes the dead part of their nails, helps them get a good stretch in their legs, and marks their scent on the area from the glands in their paws.

The fix for this is to find a scratching surface your cat likes the best. In the wild, cats scratch on trees and bark, so rope, softwood, and cardboard mimic the feel of bark and natural wood. To encourage use, pick scratching posts that are sturdy enough for them to put all their weight behind during a big stretch. Place the scratching post near the piece of furniture that is being victimized and reward when the post is used. If the furniture is still the target, as we mentioned earlier, it’s okay to tell your cat “No” but no yelling or physical scolding. Just establish that “No” means no treats or no positive attention. Show them the scratching post by moving it closer and go through the motions of scratching the post with your hands and saying, “good job”. Have another person say it and reward you with a similar-looking treat and pretend to savor it. This may take several occurrences to get this behavior corrected but stick to it.

How to curb your cat from biting

Have you ever wondered why your loving cat will brush up against you just before biting you two seconds later? All cats have the innate tendency to bite and scratch. This behavior is instinctive. Instead of trying to stop them from acting instinctively, give them a toy that they can bite and give them praise when they do.

Ignore your cat's bite and move on the next time it occurs. Bring back a toy long enough to keep your hands safe from the biting jaws of your cat. After that, give them goodies and say "good job" when they bite the toy.

Your cat will quickly conclude that biting people is not enjoyable or rewarding, and they will only bite their toys. Having a playmate who is also a cat may relieve you of the responsibility of playing all the time.

How to stop your cats from jumping on Kitchen counters

Most reasons for cats jumping on kitchen counters stem from their natural curiosity to know what is always going on everywhere. They might also be looking for any tidbits of food left behind or where their treats might be hidden in the cupboard above the counter.

Keep the treats in a lower cabinet that doesn’t require countertop access to show you it's time for a treat. Keep your kitchen counters free of temping morsels left behind and sanitize to remove tempting odors. Cats will shy away from well-sanitized countertops that have a foreign, clean smell. To satisfy their curiosity, consider a tall bar stool with a nice cushion where they can observe from a safe distance. Something that works for us is a tall (5 foot or taller) cat tree placed within sight of the kitchen where they can observe all kitchen and dining room activities.

The bottom line here is to observe and determine what is the reason for the jumping on the kitchen counters and give them an alternative solution. When they jump onto the kitchen counter, tell them “No” then pick them up and move them to the bar stool or cat tree and set them there with your praise word “good job” followed by clicker, petting and a treat. Whenever they use the new bar stool or cat tree to observe you while you're in the kitchen, reward them with your praise word, a treat, and petting.

Addressing Cat Spraying

Cat spraying is a way for felines to communicate when they feel stressed usually by competition with other cats. This territorial behavior is typically triggered by conflicts with other cats in the home. The best solution is to ensure all cats are spayed or neutered, as this can significantly reduce spraying. Even fixed cats may still spray if they're feeling threatened, so providing them with plenty of their own private spaces, like elevated perches, or boxes. Feline pheromone products like Feliway can also calm cats and minimize spraying and fighting between housemates. Spray the pheromones on the top of their cat tree or favorite spot to sleep, along with the areas they are attempting to mark.

Preventing Indoor Accidents

Cats naturally know how to use their litter box, so when they start urinating on the floor, it could signal a medical issue, like a urinary tract infection, that requires a vet visit. If the vet gives a clean bill of health, the problem may be with the litter box setup. Make sure it's the right size (1.5 the cat's length), use unscented litter, and place it in a private, accessible area. Having multiple boxes around the home can also help prevent accidents, especially if you have multiple cats. We have had good luck with animal bedding wood pellets from our local Farm and Ranch Supply. These have a natural smell and are much cheaper than regular litter. Cats have super-sensitive noses, and some fragrances are overpowering to them.

Protecting Your Indoor Plants from Cat Damage

Cats are drawn to plants, both for the foliage and their natural cravings. Some plants can be intoxicating, and poisonous to cats. Don’t worry, your plants and cats can co-exist, just take the necessary precautions. To keep your houseplants safe, put them in hanging baskets or on high shelves. Provide your cat with their own "cat-safe" plants like cat grass and catnip to satisfy their natural urges.

How to keep cats out of your flower beds and garden

While cats can be beneficial in the garden by hunting pests, their digging and litter box habits can damage plants and leave you with unwanted land mines. Deter the cats with scents by sprinkling citrus peels or coffee grounds around your outdoor plants or try using special mats with soft spikes called Scat Mats (Amazon or your local garden supply), which can help discourage cats from entering your flower beds or the garden.

Bonus: How to leash train a cat

Leash training cats can be challenging, as they often just lie down when put on a leash. However, it can be useful for activities like road trips, flying, or walks around the neighborhood. The process requires patience and taking it slowly.

The training should be broken down into small baby steps, with each one repeated and rewarded multiple times before moving on. Remember to always mark success with a clicker or their verbal cue and treats immediately.

Start by getting the cat used to the feel of something on their back (like a piece of fabric), then gradually introduce and acclimate them to the harness. Keep the harness in their toy box or near their cat stuff so it's not a foreign object. Drape the harness across them to get them comfortable with it. Do the same with the leash itself.

Once the cat is comfortable with the harness, begin clipping it on, first on one side then the other. In the final indoor sessions, attach the leash and let the cat drag it around, then walk them while they wear the harness.

The final test is taking the cat outdoors on the leash. Even well-trained cats may resist this, especially more timid felines. Proceed with care and continue rewarding their progress.

Leash training takes patience but can open new experiences for you and your cat. By taking it step-by-step and using positive reinforcement, you can turn your feline into an adventure-ready companion.

Positive reinforcement Training is the Cat’s Meow

Training using positive reinforcement is as easy as it gets. When your cat performs an action you're looking for, you reward them. This reinforces the behavior, encouraging them to repeat it to receive another reward. You may be excited, pet your cat, and offer the treat when they behave, but if you postpone rewarding (clicker, praise, and treat), your cat may not grasp what they did to deserve it.

To see our video with a slightly different spin, check out our YouTube video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuZlH2RPN3Q&t=28s/

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