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Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten

Your kitten is one of a kind, not to mention adorable. But training your li’l baby comes with some basic guidelines. Scroll on for a handful of our favorite kitten training tips.

Set up your kitten for litter box training success.

Introduce your new kitten to their litter box as soon as they get home. Then always set your cat in their box right after meals and as soon as they wake up from naps.

And don’t forget to reward your kitten with a treat, toy or some extra love after they use it.

Kitty, meet litter.

Litter, meet kitty.

Nip kitten biting in the bud.

When Kitty forgets their manners and bites you or shows their aggressive side, say “ow” or “no” clearly and sternly.

Then slowly remove your hand — or other body part — from their razor-sharp clutches. Pick up your kitten, place them away from you, walk away and ignore them.

You can also redirect them to a feather wand or another toy or activity if you want. But that’s your call.

Ouch!

That’s my hand,

not a treat, tiny cat.

Squash kitten scratching (and save your furniture).

By giving your little feline lots of sturdy scratching posts throughout your house, especially where they like to hang out, you can save your favorite furniture from unwanted claw marks and damage.

Oh, and be sure to trim your kitten’s nails regularly.

Say it with me:

Sofas are NOT

scratching posts.

Cue the cat carrier training.

Teach your kitten that their cat carrier is a safe, comfortable place to chillax and feel protected.

Trust us, by making a carrier part of your fuzzball’s daily life, road trips and vet visits will be easier and safer for years to come.

Cozy up,

Buttercup.

It's midnight. Bring on the zoomies, furry one.
(Actually, please don’t.)

Curb the crazies when you’re asleep.

Want to stop your kitten from bouncing off the walls while you’re supposed to be deep in slumber land? Try these tips.

Have a long play session later in the evening.
Feed your feline a big meal of delicious, nutritious IAMS™ Healthy Kitten or PERFECT PORTIONS™
Spend 15 minutes of purr-worthy snuggle time before you hit the hay.

Did you know there are five distinct cat personalities?

Yep, it’s true! One of our favorite studies from the University of South Australia proved it.

To help train your kitten, pick the word that best describes them:

Skittish

These anxious felines tend to run away when the doorbell rings and are fearful of new situations.

The key to training a skittish kitty? Practice lots of patience and never force them to face their fears, like meeting your house guests after they’ve already runaway and hidden.

Outgoing

Some call them nosy, but we call them fearless. Outgoing kitties are curious and adventurous. They love to explore and get into everything — and they sometimes act naughty because they’re bored.

One of the tricks to training an outgoing kitten is to give them lots of toys and actively play with them. It stimulates their mind and helps burn off energy.

Dominant

“Bossy” best describes these kitties. They bully other cats (and even other pets) and hog things like food bowls, toys and litter boxes.

If your kitten fits this category, be consistently firm and make sure you play with them regularly so they have less energy to be aggressive.

You might also want to make sure your little CEO (Cat Executive Officer) has their own food bowl, water bowl and litter box.

Spontaneous

Two words describe these felines: impulsive and erratic. Their behavior and moods are unpredictable, even if they’ve encountered the same situation before.

When training, never raise your voice — it’ll just ramp up your kitty’s nerves and make them more erratic.

Also, be sure to stick to a consistent daily schedule for feeding and playtime so your little fuzzball knows what to expect and doesn’t get stressed out.

Friendly

This personality is every cat lover’s dream.

These sweeties can usually be found curling up against your shins, meowing loudly and purring away.

The key to training these kittens is to never yell and to socialize them early and often. That way, they’ll continue to be everyone’s best friend for life.

You had me at
meow, li’l feline.

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Why Your Cat Needs Fiber in Their Diet

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Senior Cat Nutrition Facts and Fixes

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Why Your Cat Needs Fiber in Their Diet

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Fiber isn’t just for humans — it’s an important part of balanced nutrition for cats, too!

But how much fiber do cats need, what kinds should they be eating and how can you make sure they’re getting the right amount for their bodies?

What's Good for You May Not Be Good for Your Cat

Cats and humans both need fiber in their diets, but that doesn’t mean cats should be eating the same amount as humans. People are growing more aware of the importance of fiber in our own diets today — and while it’s good to think about your cat’s fiber intake too, it’s important to remember that cats have different dietary needs than humans.

Cats have a much shorter digestive tract than humans, and unlike humans, cats are carnivorous, so their nutritional needs are better satisfied with mostly animal-based ingredients rather than plant matter.

What Is Nondigestible Fiber, and Why Do Cats Need It?

Nondigestible fiber supports cat health by providing bulk that helps move food through the digestive system. This fiber is largely made up of carbohydrates that cats can’t break down in the same way they digest protein or fat. This undigested matter helps usher food through your cat’s system at a healthy pace that lets them absorb the nutrients in their food and eliminate waste comfortably. Higher levels of nondigestible fiber can even help address specific conditions like frequent hairballs.

How Does Fiber Ferment?

Fiber can’t be broken down and digested like proteins and fats, but some kinds can be fermented (broken down by bacteria) in your cat’s digestive system. This breakdown produces short-chain fatty acids, which provide energy to your cat’s intestines as it is fermented.

Fiber sources used in pet foods include cellulose, which is poorly fermentable; beet pulp, which is moderately fermentable; and gums and pectin, which can be highly fermentable. Appropriate levels of moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, provide the benefits of energy for the intestinal lining and bulk without the negative effects of excessive stool or gas. That makes them ideal for the health and comfort of most cats!

High Fiber and Weight Loss

While a high-fiber diet can be part of a weight-loss solution for humans, our research has found that it’s not as helpful as a weight-reduction option for cats.

High levels of poorly fermentable fiber in cat food dilute the calories and nutrients in a serving and may make your cat feel fuller. Unfortunately, high fiber content can also increase the rate at which food passes through your cat’s digestive tract, making it harder for them to digest other nutrients in their food. They may be going to the litter box more often, but that doesn’t mean their digestive system is working more efficiently.

Fiber and Our Cat Foods

When choosing a pet food, remember that cats and humans need different things from their food. All IAMS™ cat food products are made with the right amount of moderately fermentable fiber needed to promote intestinal health. Use the IAMS™ Cat Food Selector to find a recipe tailored to your cat’s unique needs.

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