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Getting Started -
Extinction Burst
Have you been ignoring your kitten's unwanted
behavior for weeks hoping it would stop and there is no change? Be
patient.
Behaviors
that are well established and have been rewarded by your
attention in the past will not phase out quickly or easily.
Beware:
Behaviors that have "worked" to get your kitten what
was wanted may increase before phasing out. This increase before
a decrease is called
an extinction burst.
For example,
if every time your kitten meowed in the kitchen, you put down
food, and one day you stop responding that way, your kitten is
more likely to meow longer or louder before giving up.
Walk out of the kitchen when your cat is meowing. Do not feed
your kitten unless a few minutes of quiet behavior have passed.
Call your kitten to you and teach your kitten to sit.
Then, you can ask your kitten to do something for you before you
do something (feed) for your kitten. This simple step will
encourage good feline manners.
Late Socialization: 12 to 16 weeks old
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May need a larger litterbox - minimum length 1.3 x cat's body
length
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Social conflict over status may emerge - if more than one cat -
increase resources
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Resources = food, water, toys, litterboxes, beds, scratching
posts, playtime, attention.
· Cats
like vertical space. Provide
vertical space with indoor cat trees.
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