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You can turn your cute, rambunctious kitten into super kitty by taking a little extra time to shape the behaviors and personality you want her to have as an adult. A little forethought, adequate supervision and early training go a long way toward keeping kittens out of trouble, not to mention saving the relationship and the home.

Too often, pet owners resort to punishment when they believe the pet has stepped out of line. Punishment is a poor tool for shaping behavior in most situations. Physical corrections and harsh scoldings are likely to bruise your relationship and can lead to more serious problems, such as aggression. Never swat, spank, thump, shake or yell at your kitten. If you need to interrupt a behavior, such as scratching furniture, use a water gun or make a sharp noise by tapping a table top. Avoid doing anything that makes your kitten act frightened or reluctant to approach you.

About Dr. Wayne Hunthausen, DVM
The Kitten Training section was contributed by Wayne Hunthausen, DVM. Dr. Hunthausen is a veterinarian and pet behavior consultant who has worked with pet owners and veterinarians throughout North America since 1982 to solve companion animal behavior problems. He has also served as the president and executive board member of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

Dr. Hunthausen has written for numerous pet publications, co-authored pet behavior books and helped develop an award-winning safety video for children and pets. In his spare time, he is an avid photographer and enjoys skiing, cycling, movies, traveling with his wife, Jan, and hiking with their dogs Ralphie, Beau and Peugeot.

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