- 1). Observe the problematic behavior before taking action. Knowing the behavior helps you get to the root of the problem. Observe the cat for a week and take note of when the behavior occurs. For example, if your cat refuses to use the litter box, take note if it happens every time your cat relieves itself or only on occasion.
- 2). Clean out the litter box. Pour a small amount of vinegar into the box. Scrub it with a sponge. Place the litter box in the shower. Pour a small amount of liquid dish soap in the box and scrub the box with the sponge. Thoroughly rinse out the box with warm water. Let the litter box dry thoroughly. Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the box and fill it with fresh, dry litter. Clean the box regularly.
- 3). Train your cat early by enforcing rules. For example, many cats jump onto counters or dressers. Curtail this behavior by saying "no" when the behavior occurs. During the cat's formative months, place double-stick tape at the edges of counters and dressers. When the cat jumps onto the counter or dresser and gets stuck in the tape, it learns to associate these areas as bad places.
- 4). Change your cat's environment. Whether your cat has a litter box problem or a clawing problem, changing the environment helps curtail bad behavior. Move the litter box into another room. Place it in an area that does not receive a lot of foot traffic. For cats that claw furniture, put a few scratching posts throughout the house. Some cats enjoy standing scratching posts while other cats prefer flat posts. This helps curb furniture clawing.
- 5). Reprimand your cat for behaviors such as spraying. Loudly yell "no" when you catch your cat in the act of spraying a room. Immediately put the cat in the room with the litter box and close the door. Clean the sprayed area with an odor neutralizer. This discourages the cat from spraying in the same place. Let the cat back out after fifteen minutes.
- 6). Teach your cat that biting or aggressive behavior is not allowed. Firmly tell the cat "bad" or "no" when the cat bites hard or lunges at you. Place the cat in timeout in its litter box room. Leave the cat alone for fifteen minutes. This shows the cat that you do not reward bad behavior.
- 7). Remove all poisonous plants from your house. One of the hardest behavior problems to solve is chewing on plants. While training does help curb this behavior, removing the plants ensures that occasional slip-ups are not life-threatening. Get your cat its own foliage such as a catnip plant. Place the plant near its food. Reprimand the cat whenever you catch it chewing on plants and then immediately take it to the food bowl where the catnip is located. Spray remaining plants with a cat repellent such as vinegar.
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