How to Train a Rebellious Cat

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 21 December, 2022

Pets bring joy to the home. They make excellent company and are an endless source of love. This is true, but you have to train them to get them involved in your family’s day to day lifestyle. That way you can assure a more pleasant living environment. So, how do you train a rebellious cat?

Cats are pets that usually require little attention. However, among the few things they need, you must include training. Therefore, anyone who has fallen in love with a badly -behaved cat has some difficult task ahead of them.

Patience

Patience plays an important role in training a rebellious cat. Since cats are domestic animals, they aren’t easy to train. Changing their behavior can be a challenge.

Perhaps the owner should try several techniques, but never be afraid to fail. With love and patience, you can make your cat become your best pet. 

The litter box

One of the main issues with cats is getting them used to using a litter box. There are several recommendations for doing this that are explained below:

The appropriate place

The location of the litter box can help the cat get used to it immediately.

• It’s better for the litter box to be in a quiet place, where there aren’t any sudden loud noises or lots of activity around.
• The place where it’s located should be easily accessible for the cat. If the cat is older or is disabled, then the owner should make sure he can reach it.
• The litter box should be away from the area where the cat eats. Having it nearby can be unpleasant.

When it’s time to go to the bathrooom

Taking the cat to his litter box at specific times during the day helps him get into the habit of using it.

• You can take him to the litter box when he wakes up. He’ll probably need to go at that time.
• Another appropriate time is after eating.

Cleanliness

This is important, because if the box isn’t clean, the cat won’t want to use it. 

• Remove debris every day.
• Clean it thoroughly once a week. This involves removing all the litter, washing the box with a mildly-scented detergent, and removing any debris. Dry it well and then put the litter back inside.

Choosing wisely

There are several varieties of kitty litter on the market. The idea is to choose one that the cat feels comfortable with.

Change your cat’s litter gradually. You should mix it up to eventually eliminate the previous litter completely. Doing it all at once can make the cat reject it.

A biting habit

Cats bite when they get scared or feel threatened. Also, they bite and scratch to express themselves. If the cat doesn’t like it when someone pets him, it has no other way of expressing it. To correct this behavior, take a look at some tips on how to train a rebellious biting cat:

Playing

Games can work as training. When a cat starts biting, you must stop the activity. Since cats love to play, he will be disappointed and will probably stop biting.

Every time he bites or scratches, you should ignore it completely. That’s a good way to train it.

Turn a toy into his “prey”

Cats hunt instinctively, that means it’s natural for them. You should give your cat some toys to catch so he can develop this natural behavior. Once he gets used to doing it with his toys, he’ll stop doing it to human beings.

Scratching the furniture

Keeping house furniture in good condition can be a challenge for cat owners. Felines tend to instinctively scratch things to mark their territory. To prevent this behavior, you can try several techniques to train a rebellious cat.

Scratching posts

Scratching posts for nervous cats are structures that allow cats to scratch as much as they please. They can be made from cardboard, rope, or wood. They are perfect for giving a cat something to scratch, which is great to have him stop scratching up the furniture.

Wash the furniture

Cats dislike certain smells, for example, citrus. To train a rebellious cat and make him leave the furniture alone, you can sprinkle some lemon juice on it. Another formula is to mix water, hydrogen peroxide, lavender, and soap. Finally, rinse this mixture with alcohol.