Not all cats are perfect when you get them from the shelter or store. Here are some tips to train your kitty:

Come when called

Using food or a kind voice are good ways to get a cat to come. They respond best to positive reinforcement. Start training at feeding time; call his or her name and add "come." Do this every mealtime and after a week or so, your cat will come automatically.

Using the litter box

Most cats and kitten should be trained, but if not, all you have to do is take her when you first can once it's home, put her in the box, and run her forepaws in the litter. Ensure the box is in an accessible and quiet location; cats are finicky aboutu cleanliness.

Make sure it uses the box in the first few hours. If it does, praise it! If it won't use the box, it might have a health problem.

Using a scratching post

My Koloa kitty was declawed by her former owners, so I don't have to worry about this one :(

Put your kitty's paws up on the post and move them up and down so they can see what it feels like. If you see them scratching elsewhere, like furniture, clap your hands and say, "No!" then put the kitty back on the post. Praise it when it uses it.

Playing

Cats naturally love to play and pretend to hunt. You might want to wear a glove if you interfere with their play.

"Scooping fish" is a game they like to play in which they take an object on the floor, use their paw to "scoop" it over their shoulder, then turn in the air and try to catch it or pounce on it.

"Prey pounce" is when they stalk their "prey," stop for a few moments, they pouce. My kitty does this a lot.

The "bird swat" is when they swat with one paw until they think the object is "dead." This is the most fun game for a person to play with a cat; use a toy on the end of a string and you can dangle it or drag it along the ground.

They might outgrow really rough play soon.