Everything you need to know about training your cat.

Posts Tagged ‘Kitten Connection’

Cat Care: Introducing a New Kitten to Your Other Pets

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

http://www.purina.com http://www.kittenchow.com Bringing a new kitten home can be stressful for your existing pets as well as for your new kitten. With proper introductions, you can get your kitten and existing pets off on the right foot. The Kitten Connection features Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Dr. Karen Sueda. Learn more about pets on The Purina Network www.youtube.com/thepurinanetwork and http://www.petcentric.com/

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The Kitten Connection featuring Dr. Karen Sueda brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow.

(Karen)
Hi! Im veterinarian and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Doctor Karen Sueda. Bringing a kitten home is a fantastic adventure for everyone, but it can be a little stressful on existing pets and your new kitten. With careful, controlled introductions, we can get your kitten and your existing pets off on the right foot. If you already have an existing cat or dog, theyll probably exhibit a combination of curiosity and defensiveness toward the new kitten. Dont worry. This is a normal reaction to the strange new playmate youve just brought home. At first, make your introductions through a closed door. Sounds funny, but theyre getting to know each other through smell and sound. This helps your new kitten to adjust without becoming overwhelmed, and helps the other pets begin to process theres a new addition. Once theyve had a little time to sniff each other out, you can begin to make the introductions carefully and with supervision. Have a few kibbles on hand to reinforce that this relationship is a good thing. It may help to keep your dog on leash and have another person present to assist you with the introduction. Ask your dog to sit, lie down, or stay to keep her attention focused on you rather than the new kitten. This will allow her to explore while getting used to the sight of your canine companion. Provide your kitten with a private area away from your dog so she feels safe. This may be a separate room or cat tree. I discuss introducing kittens to resident cats in another video, but to reiterate: make the introduction slowly, use treats and play to reward calm interaction and provide multiple litterboxes, food, and water dishes to reduce competition. And regardless of whether you are introducing your kitten to a dog or cat, dont leave them together unattended until you are certain they can tolerate each other. Thanks for watching! And remember that giving your kitten lots of love and affection will help build the foundation for your happy, healthy life together.

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The Kitten Connection is brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow. To see more kitten care videos and even ask a mentor a question of your own, visit KittenChow.com.

Duration : 0:2:28

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Cat Care: Socializing & Training Kittens

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

http://www.purina.com http://www.kittenchow.com Socializing and training kittens with humans early on is an important step in developing a confident and social cat. Playing, grooming and food rewards are all part of the process. The Kitten Connection features Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Dr. Karen Sueda. Learn more about pets on The Purina Network www.youtube.com/thepurinanetwork and http://www.petcentric.com/

(v/o)
The Kitten Connection featuring Dr. Karen Sueda brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow.

(Karen)
Hi! Im veterinarian and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Doctor Karen Sueda. Creating a lasting, healthy bond with your kitten and nurturing her self-esteem starts the moment you bring her home. And one of the best things you can do for her long-term well-being is to socialize her early on. Your kitten will grow up to be a more confident and social cat if you start making calm and controlled introductions to people as early as possible. One of the most important benefits of this is that shell be less afraid of visitors and less stressed if someone else cares for her while you are away. Of course, your veterinarian will appreciate it as well! Three great ways to socialize and bond with your kitten are playing, grooming, and offering food rewards. Get a variety of fun, cat friendly toys and take the time to play games with her. Shell soon realize that the fun begins when the toys come out and should react favorably when others try to play with her as well. But remember never to use your hands as playthings as that can encourage inappropriate biting or scratching. If your kitten loves to be brushed, have a short grooming session when visitors arrive and if your friends are willing, hand them the brush so they can get in on the action too! Finally, for some cats, the way to their heart is through their stomach. If your kitten is motivated by food, have strangers offer her a few pieces of kibble. You may even want to feed her meal in the same room as your visitors so she associates their presence with a full stomach. These rewards can also be used to get your kitten used to the other pets, or any other new experience that may be a little stressful. The bottom line is this: dont wait to socialize your kitten. The sooner you begin carefully exposing her to new people and new experiences, the better shell be in the long run. And her long-term well-being is an important thing. Thanks for watching! And remember that giving your kitten lots of love and affection will help build the foundation for your happy, healthy life together.

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The Kitten Connection is brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow. To see more kitten care videos and even ask a mentor a question of your own, visit KittenChow.com.

Duration : 0:2:23

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Cat Care: Establishing Good Behavior in Kittens

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

http://www.purina.com http://www.kittenchow.com Teaching your kitten good behavior starts when they are young. Establishing discipline and managing behavior issues are essential for a growing cat. Behavior is learned and how you react impacts the kitten. The Kitten Connection features Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Dr. Karen Sueda. Learn more about pets on The Purina Network www.youtube.com/thepurinanetwork and http://www.petcentric.com/

(v/o)
The Kitten Connection featuring Dr. Karen Sueda brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow.

(Karen)
Hi! Im veterinarian and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Doctor Karen Sueda. Few things are more fun than watching a new kitten explore, get riled-up, and be rambunctious. But as your kitten grows, you may notice behaviors that cause concern. Its important to remember that cats and kittens dont misbehave just to make trouble or because theyre mad at you. Their behavior is largely based on instinct and learning. Its the way you react to your kitten that will ultimately affect her habits. Your kitten will be sensitive to your tone of voice. If you catch your kitten acting inappropriately, clap your hands and say a stern no. Clapping your hands often interrupts the undesirable behavior. Ideally, try to do this out of your kittens sight so they dont associate your presence with the reprimand. That way, they wont learn they can misbehave when youre not around. Never, ever hit your kitten or use your hands to make physical contact with her when you are upset. This can have a very negative impact on her trust of you and your long-term relationship. Some misbehavior occurs just because your kitten wants to play and might not have her social or exploratory needs met. Its important to set aside special play time where she can get energy out and explore. Providing diversions such as safe toys, window perches, climbing towers, and scratching posts will allow your kitten to engage in normal behaviors in an appropriate way. Another way to strengthen your bond and develop your kittens mind is to teach her tricks. With a little patience, you can teach her to shake hands, wave, sit up, and come when called. If youre experiencing common shenanigans like your kitten jumping on counters, inappropriate scratching, or crazy behavior in the middle of the night, youll find plenty of good suggestions on how to address these by visiting KittenChow.com. I think youll find that establishing good behaviors early and engaging your kitten in fun activities will result in household harmony. Thanks for watching! And remember that giving your kitten lots of love and affection will help build the foundation for your happy, healthy life together.

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The Kitten Connection is brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow. To see more kitten care videos and even ask a mentor a question of your own, visit KittenChow.com.

Duration : 0:2:34

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Cat Care: Kitten Litter Box Training Is a Top Priority for New Cat Owners

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

http://www.purina.com http://www.kittenchow.com Litter box training your kitten is an important step in raising your cat. Learn how to teach kittens good litter box habits that will help ensure a lifetime of good health for your kitten. The Kitten Connection features Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Dr. Karen Sueda. Learn more about pets on The Purina Network www.youtube.com/thepurinanetwork and http://www.petcentric.com/

(v/o)
The Kitten Connection featuring Dr. Karen Sueda brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow.

(Karen)
Hi! Im veterinarian and Purina Cat Chow Mentor Doctor Karen Sueda. Whether youre in the process of selecting a kitten or just welcomed one home, a top priority for nearly everyone is litter box training. But dont worry, litter box training is usually a breeze. Instinct will guide your kitten to develop good litter box habits, but there are some key things you can do to help. Many small kittens find the high walls of full-size litter boxes intimidating. You may want to start with a shorter box and work your way up. Location and privacy are key. Place the litter box in a quiet, out of the way location away from her food and water. Show your kitten where the litter box is, placing her inside and letting her explore. But remember to give her a little space when she digs and takes care of business and then when shes finished, you can calmly praise her. Its very important to develop a cleaning routine. Scoop the litter box daily and change the litter often at least once a week or more often if necessary. Or, if youre using the Tidy Cats Breeze system, replace the pad and change the pellets according to the directions on the package. If you have multiple cats, make sure you have multiple litter boxes. Many cats wont want to share a litter box. Having several gives them options, especially if the litter boxes are located in different areas of your home. With a little preparation, a little privacy, and even a little praise, youll be amazed at how fast your new kitten picks up litter box training. Thanks for watching! And remember that giving your kitten lots of love and affection will help build the foundation for your happy, healthy life together.

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The Kitten Connection is brought to you by Purina Kitten Chow. To see more kitten care videos and even ask a mentor a question of your own, visit KittenChow.com.

Duration : 0:2:3

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