Hi everyone :)

I am just wondering if anyone can suggest the best methods to use for training/disciplining a kitten?

For example, my 5 month old kitten likes to claw at the carpet sometimes and do other naughty things which I don't want him to do.

Some people have told me that they firmly say "NO!" multiple times until the cat gets the idea, others have used a water spray, etc.

So... does anyone have any experience with methods that have worked for them? :)

Thank you, all!

I wouldn't use a water spray. Your kitten being a Bengal might actually think it is a game or alternatively she could become scared and distrustful of you and you need to bond and build trust right now.

There isn't a great deal you can do other than offer her options you are happy for her to scratch at. I have multiple scratch posts dotted around the house. Keep removing her from whatever she is scratching at that you don't want her scratching and place her on a scratch post and praise her when she uses that. She will soon understand what is good behaviour and what isn't and she will understand the word 'no' but whether she adheres is another matter. If a Bengal wants to do something, it can be very determined!

What are the other things she's getting up to? I think with any young kitten you have to accept you will incur some damage to furnishings but at the same time, try to teach them what is acceptable and what isn't. My two used to have a real go at the carpet but they don't do it anymore so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

I learnt very quickly to sit like a statue so my feet and hands didn't get pounced on lol I think he will grow out of it, but make sure you stop any biting or scratching of hands and feet as soon as he starts, tell him 'no' and redirect him to something else he can bite and scratch. Do you have a kickaroo or anything you can replace your feet/hands with??

It is quite a testing time when they are kittens - everything is a toy or game and they are just very over enthusiastic about everything - add in Bengal energy and you are very much kept on your toes!

I don't think there is much you can do about him playing with your other cat's tail - he will get the message eventually, but as you said, it is just too enticing lol

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

Carpet is a great scratching feature for a cat. You seem to have ample scratching posts for him to use! A spray bottle will instill fear of you in him, so Jackson Galaxy advises against it! I think you need to be playing with him. Cat's tails move and that becomes a play thing. Bengals love interaction with their owners, so get out the wand toys and give him a run for his energy! Raiden has several kickaroo type toys and his favorite is the TNR buddy that Jackson Galaxy sells. He will actually play with it on his own, which he doesn't do with any other toy.

Everything is still new for everyone in the household. As time goes by, things will settle down!

I think with cats, "training" needs to be mostly from the standpoint of misdirection, positive reinforcement, and choosing your battles wisely. The fact is that you aren't going to be able to go around, telling your cat "do this, not that, this other thing, but not that" and have any degree of success. You need to disabuse yourself of that notion right up front. Silly things like saying "NO!" is only to make you feel better it doesn't change a cat's behavior one bit. In fact, I swear that sometimes my cats are thinking "hmm, he doesn't like that, so it must be REALLY good". Or perhaps more philsophically: "when he says "NO" it *is* always something REALLY rewarding, so maybe I need to give this a second look next time he has his head turned" (unintended positive reinforcement).

By misdirection I mean that you have to recognize that your cat has needs, like climbing, playing, scratching, drinking, eating, sleeping and so forth. And if the places the cat deems to be the best places to scratch for example are places that you don't want him to. I think you have to:

1. Pick your battles carefully, is the place he picked *so* bad that you can't live with it?
2. What sort of effort have you made to offer what you might reasonably consider to be superior "good" places to scratch? I.e. larger, sturdier, better location, nicer smelling, better texture etc. If you haven't done that, then you need to put more effort into that.
3. Is there a way that you can simply make it impossible for your cat to scratch that item? Move it to a location that is no accessible, or cover it so that it can't be scratched, etc?
4. You can also try to make his favorite place to scratch, less appealing, by moving it to a less desirable (less central) location, or to apply smells that cat's find repellant on it. But if you do this, you have to realize that the need to scratch did not go away, all you are doing is making him select the "next best place" to scratch, which may be an even worse place from your perspective. And of course this may have undesirable side-effects, like if you apply some cat-off to a couch, it may well "cure" his desire to scratch there, but he may also no longer want to curl up in your lap there, or hang out while you watch tv etc.

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The little monsters 3

I have taught Raiden the word "No." That means "whatever you're going to do is not going to happen." Especially when we are on our walks and he wants to head up to a neighbor's front door. A quick "NO" will turn him around. Usually he will give me a stern talking to, but I have the leash and the upper hand. LOL In the house, when I say "NO!" he will turn around and flee the opposite direction.

I just ignore undesirable behavior and hope they loose interest from lack of reaction. I don't think discipline works with a cat. I do think you can train them if it is something they want to do.

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The little monsters 3

I don't think you can stop a kitten from playing. They can't control that. My cats are 14 month old sisters and they chase each other's tails still today. they are built in toys. Usually grace sits on top of something and whips her tail about and Blondie is underneath trying to catch her tail. I think Brian is right, you should have a place the older cat can get to so the kitten leaves her alone. The kitten will calm down eventually.

You've got two cats with completely different energy levels! A kitten comes with one speed -- ZOOM! Your other cat isn't interested in playing with him -- just yet! It's still new! If you see Zuki wanting to play, then engage him in play and take the distraction off your other kitty! Zuki wants to play .... simple as that. He has the energy that he needs to get out. Not that a bengal ever loses all of their energy! Mine still goes crazy at age 8.