Bringing home a cuddly ball of purrs, otherwise known as a kitten, can be fun and exciting for any family. I know you didn't forget the cute food dish with little fish on it so that your kitten can be dining in style. I know you certainly didn't forget the litter-box or litter, right? What more can you possibly need?

Well, perhaps not. At first your new kitten cautiously sniffed out every nook and cranny within its reach, ate half the bag of food, and has been faithfully breaking in his new litter-box. But you've started to notice that your new cuddle monster is starting to break in a little more than you intended.

Maybe there are a few more items that you want to take into account when overcoming these inappropriate cat problems. Believe me; many other have already come across the necessity of some basic tips on kitten training to better the behavior of their new kitten.

So just how does someone go about starting kitten training, when every time they turn around, their new kitten is bouncing off of the walls, gnawing on their owners' fingers, jumping on top of the kitchen counters, fighting on the kitchen table, and exercising their claws on your brand new furniture?

Don't worry, you're not the first to have encountered monster kitten syndrome. To begin your kitten training adventures you'll want to invest in a few things. First you'll want to save your furniture by buying a scratching post. It doesn't have to be fancy, any scratching post from your local department store will do.

But what if monster kitten is still destroying furniture? If you catch him red handed (or pawed as the case may be) cautiously rub his paws up and down the scratching post mimicking the motion he naughtily performs on the furniture. Now pet and praise him! He did a good job! Now, you may have to repeat many times, but eventually your new family member will start to comprehend what you want.

Next you'll need an aluminum can. Fill the can with rocks and tape the opening shut. Now, next time you catch your kitten in a place he shouldn't be, maybe ripping up your newspaper in the kitchen, shake that can loudly. This is harmless for your kitten but he'll learn that when he does something "naughty" he'll hear a loud, scary sound.

One last thing of importance during kitten training is the issue of what to do about kitten bites. If your kitten starts biting and scratching at you while playing, give him a toy to gnaw on instead. A kitten toy like a jingle bell ball or a mouse will work just fine.

That's it! you've just learned the basics of kitten training. And don't forget to shower your new kitten with lots of love and praise whenever he does something good. Positive rewards will make for a much happier companion in the long run. Remember, the two of you'll be spending many happy years together in the future.