Training Tips

[mjenzarli]

I am a new Savannah F4 mommy and have been working hard to train Zee Zee to be an outgoing well behaved kitty. He's taken well to leash training but I'm interested in any tips on additional training including good behavior, traveling in a car, toilet training etc. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated







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[MissyL]

Cute kitty

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[Patti]

I'm not sure there are any specific tricks or tips - some cats are just more outgoing and adaptable than others. I think frequent exposure with consistent reinforcement will help ZeeZee get used to the activities you are interested in.

If you are having issues with litter box training I would recommend Cat Attract litter or additive, I have had close to 100% success with litter box training using this, even with the most stubborn kitty. Also make sure you are using the same litter that ZeeZee's breeder was using.

 

[mjenzarli]

I'm not sure there are any specific tricks or tips - some cats are just more outgoing and adaptable than others. I think frequent exposure with consistent reinforcement will help ZeeZee get used to the activities you are interested in.

If you are having issues with litter box training I would recommend Cat Attract litter or additive, I have had close to 100% success with litter box training using this, even with the most stubborn kitty. Also make sure you are using the same litter that ZeeZee's breeder was using.

Thank you Patti, Zeezee initially had issues with the litter box but is doing good now. I am using the same litter as the breeder. What I'm having issues with now is biting. When he gets excited and plays he starts biting and sometimes really hard. I'm wondering if it's because he is teething. He also strongly dislikes being in a crate or carrier. I'd like to be able to travel with him occasionally. Do you have any suggestions on training him to be calm with in an enclosed space?

Thank you


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[Patti]

Not sure what your feeding habits are with him, but if you feed him meals feed them in the crate (leave the door open for now until he is comfortable going in and staying to finish his meal). If you free feed him then give him snacks in the crate a few times a day.

As for the biting, you can first start by yelping loudly every time he bites you (this is a typical kitten response and part of the socialization he is taught with his siblings while growing up). If this is ineffective you can try giving him a time out (put him in another room or remove yourself to another room, or just completely ignore him for about five minutes for each time out).

 

[mjenzarli]

Not sure what your feeding habits are with him, but if you feed him meals feed them in the crate (leave the door open for now until he is comfortable going in and staying to finish his meal). If you free feed him then give him snacks in the crate a few times a day.

As for the biting, you can first start by yelping loudly every time he bites you (this is a typical kitten response and part of the socialization he is taught with his siblings while growing up). If this is ineffective you can try giving him a time out (put him in another room or remove yourself to another room, or just completely ignore him for about five minutes for each time out).

Thank you so much for the suggestions Patti


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[SavannahLuv]

He also strongly dislikes being in a crate or carrier. I'd like to be able to travel with him occasionally. Do you have any suggestions on training him to be calm with in an enclosed space?

Shango used to HATE being in a small crate/carrier. He would very loudly let me know how unhappy he was the entire trip. I then got a double car-go carrier for him with a hammock on one side of it. He's too heavy for the hammock now, but he hasn't realized it yet and still likes laying in it even though it's pretty much touching the bottom of the carrier It does take up almost my entire back seat, but it's worth losing the space to have a quiet/happy travel companion. I also have a large SturdiBag, but most of the time Shango still hates it. The only time he will happily go in the carrier is after a vet visit... he runs right into the bag and is happy to "hide" in it until we get home. I find it easier now to just put a walking jacket/leash on him and carry him to the car since it's almost impossible to get him in a carrier when he doesn't want to go in it. For vet visits, I then use his stroller as the carrier... much easier than having to carry him.

For longer trips, I highly recommend checking out the double kennels if you have the space: https://sturdiproducts.com/

 

[SavannahLuv]

Also forgot to mention, you could try the feliway spray. I spray some in his car-go carrier before long trips. I'm not sure if it really helps since Shango is a great travel companion whether it's 10 minutes or 10 hours, but might be worth trying.

https://www.chewy.com/comfort-zone-feliway-cat-spray-75-ml/dp/50461

 

[Renee]

Tricky stuff! All kiddos are different. Lox is great in the car, no issues at all. He deals with vets and other humans just fine.

If he feels his litter box is just slightly too dirty, he pees all over everything. Couch, blankets, golf bags, you name it. It's such a treat. I love cleaning up urine.

Cat attract litter has been a godsend. Also keeping it spotless is imperative.

Please note I had him traveling into the office every day for the first 7 months. This is why his car travel and dealing with people is alright.

Take him everywhere and socialize him. He'll remember it later in life. Just make sure it is a positive experience and he is not harassed.

I've noticed he does not like to be touched unless he asked to be petted and also he never wants to be forced to be petted by people he doesn't know. I'm fine with this as I don't know too many peeps.

Just don't allow your friends to force themselves on him. Let it be up to him to approach anyone. Not saying they would do this, just an observation of my cat.

Make sure he trusts you implicitly. This is number one. They will let you know when they do

And +1 to Feliway!!