TrainingTime
Training your Siberian cat span a great number of things over the course of his life. To begin with, proper socialization during kittenhood is important as this gives him confidence in dealing with his surroundings and with you as his owner.
Training your Siberian cat span a great number of things over the course of his life. To begin with, proper socialization during kittenhood is important as this gives him confidence in dealing with his surroundings and with you as his owner. Litter training also gives you both a good understanding when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness, and is going to go a long way in keeping your headaches at a minimum. Lastly, you can also teach your Siberian cat a few tricks and commands. Remember that Siberians are intelligent cats, and they will certainly enjoy training sessions with you if done in a positive and nurturing atmosphere.
Socializing your new kitten
The first weeks of a kitten's life can determine his temperament for the rest of his life. You want a confident, well-adjusted cat who isn't afraid of people or other pets, and of the strange sights and sounds you might find inside your home. Otherwise, all you'll be getting is a constantly stressed-out cat.
Socialization takes place early - from the 2nd up until the 12th weeks of age. Many of the things he will learn will come from his mother, but some of it will also come from the breeder. Constant, gentle handling for short periods of time early will help him be accustomed to the presence and handling of humans. And yet, at the same time, it is important not to separate him from his mother too early - many breeders don't do so until the kitten reaches 12 weeks. Any earlier and you will have a kitten who hasn't fully learned what it means to socialize with his mother and his siblings and likely hasn't learned to groom himself, or even how to use a litter. You'll likely end up bringing home a kitten with anti-social behavior, separation anxiety, and even poor litter box habits.
But while it is recommended that you handle kittens gently and regularly in their first few weeks, neither should you do so for too long periods of time. It is quite possible that the mother might end up rejecting the kitten, and while he may not fear the presence of humans, neither will he learn how to properly socialize with other cats, either.
Socialization is an enjoyable process, but it also requires patience. Once you bring your kitten home, the key is doing things gradually. You might begin by confining him to a single room at first, and slowly introducing him to the rest of the house and the household over the next couple of days. Daily, gentle handling is also important. As your kitten gains confidence in exploring the rest of your house, you can begin exposing him to various stimuli such as different kinds of toys and grooming sessions.
Remember that kittens are curious by nature, and they will want to investigate their surroundings. Encourage this, while at the same time making sure that they are kept safe and are not exposed to any undue danger.
Obedience Training
Like most cats, Siberians are an intelligent breed. Done right, they can be trained to perform various tricks. They aren't quite like dogs who will be quite eager to please - cats are more dignified than that. But Siberians have a strong sense of loyalty and affection for their owners, and with the proper motivation, you can challenge their intelligence and stimulate their mind by teaching them some tricks.
Cats can learn all sorts of tricks - although of course you can begin by teaching them some basic commands such as responding to their name, and to the word "Come." Later on, you can expand your pet's repertoire by teaching them to sit, shake hands, roll over, ring a bell, and various other simple tricks.
You can use treats as a motivation, or you can explore the effectivity of the clicker training method - each time your cat follows one of your commands, use a clicker to signal that it is good behavior, and then reward her with a treat. Done consistently and over time, she will gradually learn to associate the sound of the clicker with desirable behavior.
Remember that cats will likely not appreciate being made to keep still for too long, so keep your training sessions short. Just remember to be patient, and if his attention begins to wander, move on and start again the next day.
Try not to teach more than one trick at a time. Over time, you'll probably be surprised at his capacity of learning a great number of tricks!