Just like any other animal, cats have a wide range of personalities from very shy and demure to the warrior cat who likes to attack and chase everything in sight.  It is very difficult to evaluate a cat or kitten’s true personality before selecting one to take home. This is especially true for cats and kittens that are being adopted from a rescue or shelter because they will not have the opportunity to exhibit their true personality in that environment. 

What can a cat owner do if their cat is the warrior cat who likes to get into and chase everything, even your feet when you walk? The first thing to do if it has not already been done is to spay or neuter your cat which will help calm the cat.

Next, be sure that your cat is on a high quality diet. It is has been my experience that nothing you buy at the super market is a high quality brand of food. I personally recommend Wysong or Annamaet.

What many people fail to understand is that a cat needs quality time with you playing with toys. Do not allow the cat to play with any part of your body or on your body. If your cat does try to do this, gently put them off of your body and say no. If your cat bites or claws you say “ouch” in a high pitched voice and remove the cat. Make sure that you ignore the cat for a few minutes after that. Only interact with your cat if the cat plays gently, which reinforces gently play.

If your cat does something you do not like, distract the cat from doing it by offering a favorite toy. When the cat focuses his attention on the toy instead of the bad behavior, praise the cat in a soothing voice.

Some cats like to have play sessions in the middle of the night and will wake their owners to join in the fun. If you do not want this to become a daily habit, do not get up. It is best to pretend to be asleep and ignore the cat. It may take a few nights but the cat will eventually give up trying to engage you in play.

What can help is to have a tiring (for the cat) play session before you go to bed, but pick a time that is convenient for you because it may become a daily habit and cats do not like changes in their routine.

A very busy cat might enjoy having another cat (or dog) as a companion. I always felt that adopting two kittens or cats at the same time works out the best rather than try to introduce a new adult cat later. Often cats are kept together in the rescue or shelter and have already bonded enough to live successfully together. Having a familiar companion can help the adopted cats’ make the transition to a new home easier. If you do adopt two cats, be sure to have at least two litter boxes for them. However, it is important that the litter boxes not be kept in the same location, or the cat will view the two boxes as one.

With a little planning, you can help your cat be everything you want him to be. Contrary to popular myth, cats can be trained and are happier when they understand the house rules. Consider purchasing one of the books available about clicker training cats. It is a very successful method to train cats.