So, you've got your beautiful little bundle of fur, proudly bought it home, and then watched in horror as it runs up your curtains, pees on the carpet and shreds your sofa! How do you stop this little terror as it tears up your house, makes appalling smells and plays football in the middle of the night waking everyone by sounding as though you have the full team running around your house. After all, cats are free spirits and as such are untrainable, right? WRONG.

Cats, like every animal, have a hierarchy; you just have to make sure that you are the 'top cat'. It isn't that hard to do and, with a little perseverance, you will find that your untameable lion becomes the adorable housecat that you chose.

Most cats will work best with a reward system rather than punishment if they do things wrong. If a cat messes in the house don't rub their nose in it; your cat is more likely to be stressed by this treatment and make a mess elsewhere in the house. By being offered a treat if they use the litter tray, you reinforce that this is the correct behaviour for you cat. However, you must also position your litter tray in an area that is accessible and acceptable to your cat. Don't put it near their food (would you eat in your toilet?!), too near loud noises - don't forget cats have really acute hearing, or other disturbances. Cats are rather dignified about their toilet habits and don't like being watched. And if your cat does make a mess, try to avoid using pine scented disinfectant as this smells like urine to them and they will associate this with their toilet.

The other cat trait that people hate is scratching. Cats do this to mark their territory as well as sharpening their claws. For some the solution is de-clawing (removal of the claws on the front feet). This is a horrific practice (not to mention illegal in the UK), and it means that you can NEVER let you cat outside. You have removed not only it's means of defending itself but also it's way of escaping threats. A de-clawed cat is at risk from everything and as such can only be a house cat and, as most cat lovers feel, a cat needs to be outside. However there are some things that you can do to stop clawing. If your cat has a particular item it likes to scratch, like a chair, attach a sissal scratch post to it and the cat will transfer it's clawing attraction to it. You can also try specific 'cat repellent' sprays that normally use citrus which cats dislike. You can take your cat to the vets to have it's claws trimmed (not removed), but the cat will normally just try to sharpen them when they get back home.

With a bit of thought, and a little hard work on your part, you can change that wild animal into a loving and fun pet. Nothing comes without some work, but the rewards are more than worth it.

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About the Author

A lifetime cat lover and friend (you never own cats) with a passion for life and writing.