Training kittens

Hi everyone--

I'm looking for some advice on training kittens to stay away from things like electrical cords (they love them of course) and to train them to use their scratching board and post rather than the furniture. I just brought my 8 week old babies home yesterday (there's a pic in the newbie section) and so far they are doing great...they like the scratching board and post, but like everything else as well of course. I am worried they will start chewing through the electrical cords. I have read about spraying with water and something called bitter apple or something like that? I didn't see it at the pet store--where can I get it? Any other recommendations?

They seem to be using the litter box just fine so hopefully that won't be a problem.

First of all, do not spray your kittens with water- that is not a wise thing to do. It can instill fear in them and if you accidentally get water in their ears, they could get a nasty infection. Kittens are going to chew wires- it's a given. Maybe they think they are mouse tails or something, they will also chew drapery cords when they can reach them, and go around your floors like minature hoover vacuums and eat anything they find. That is why you kitten proof your home, room by room. You do this by going into the room and in the center of the room lay down on your stomach. keep your chin on the floor and look around- if you see wires you can go to radio shack and buy some flex tube and wrap the cords with that- or you can measure off pieces of wood, and tape the cords to the wood and turn the wood so the cords face the wall and are not visible. Plug any holes you see- and you will be surprised how small a hole a kitten can get into-

Good luck! Also pick up a book Kittens for Dummies by Dusty Rainbolt- excellent resource book, an easy read and full of valuable information-

I use the tubing that hissy mentions, you can get it at a lot of electronics stores since it is also supposed to help neaten your wires.

I've heard Bitter Lime or Bitter Apple work, you should be able to find it at a pet store though. It may be in the bunny section though, since I believe it is also for discouraging them from chewing.

I guess everyone is entitled to their individual opinions about emplying the use of a spray bottle, but I must say that there are other, more effective ways to deter inappropriate behavior. If you are willing to be committed, the redirection method is much more effective and won't allow your kittens to fear you every time you pick up a spray bottle, whether you were planning to point it at them or not. If you are interested in how it works, I am happy to expand - just let me know.

Originally Posted by gayef

I guess everyone is entitled to their individual opinions about emplying the use of a spray bottle, but I must say that there are other, more effective ways to deter inappropriate behavior. If you are willing to be committed, the redirection method is much more effective and won't allow your kittens to fear you every time you pick up a spray bottle, whether you were planning to point it at them or not. If you are interested in how it works, I am happy to expand - just let me know.

Click to expand...

yes, please expand...I'm guessing this involves interesting them in some other activity whenever I see them doing something inappropriate.

So far they seem most interested in chewing on each other. They're sitting in my lap and apparently they have finally worn each other out a bit.