Deal with Cats

So, you come home after a long day at school, and your whole family is crowding around a shivering kitten. "NOOOOOO!" you shout! You HATE cats! But the whole family is smitten, and you have no chance of getting this cat out of the house. Sound like you? Read on to find out how to deal with the cat!

Steps

 * 1) Identify why you don't like cats. Did a cat scratch you when you were younger? Did your older brother torment you by locking you up in a closet with a claustrophobic cat? Do you hate the smell of their poop? Do you think cats are the ugliest things in the world? Identify why you hate cats, and try to fix it.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 1.jpg|center]]
 * 2) * If you're scared, watch a family member interact with the cat. The cat's not so bad, is it? Once you've seen a family member interact, you try!
 * 3) * Do you hate kitty poo? Keep the litter box in a space where you won't have to smell it, and try baking soda to lessen the smell.
 * 4) Don't completely ignore the cat. You've heard that a cat's favorite person is the one who hates them the most, and that is usually true because you ignore them. Cats find that behavior as a "yay, I like this kitty!" So acknowledge your cat! Occasionally pet them and play with them.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 2.jpg|center]]
 * 5) Make eye contact with the cat. Cats don't like it, so to get the cat to ignore you, stare at him/her in the eye often.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 3.jpg|center]]
 * 6) Close your door when you sleep. Sometimes, cats will come in and sleep on top of you. That can get annoying, so to ensure the cat won't come in, you may have to get used to sleeping with the door closed.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 4.jpg|center]]
 * 7) Keep the litter box in a low-traffic spot. Everyone, whether they adore their cat or despise them, hate the smell of litter. Keep the litter box in a spot where you don't go often, like the storage room.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 5.jpg|center]]
 * 8) Train your cat to use a scratching post. One of the most aggravating things cats do is scratch your furniture to shreds. You can't get your cat not to scratch, since it is somethings they absolutely have to do, but if you buy your cat a nice scratching post, then the cat will be deterred from scratching up your furniture.[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 6.jpg|center]]
 * 9) Grow to like your cat. Face it, it's not the easiest thing to do, living with a creature you hate, so be flexible. Say things to yourself like, "well, Fluffy is pretty cute," or "you know what? Cats aren't so bad after all!"[[Image:Deal with Cats Step 7.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Don't go overboard! At least try to be in the same room as the cat once in a while!
 * If it was a childhood experience that caused your grudge, try to get over it. Have a family member show you that cats aren't bad at all!
 * Remember to keep an open mind! Just because Aunt Susie's cat was the meanest, foulest creature to ever walk the Earth, it doesn't mean all cats are like that!

Warnings

 * DON'T BE MEAN OR ABUSE YOUR CAT! Cats may be animals, but they have feelings too, and they can feel pain. Also, if you bother a cat too much, they will scratch and bite! Not fun.

Related wikiHows

 * Get Your House to Not Smell Like Your Pets
 * Exercise an Open Mind
 * Litter Train a Cat
 * Leash Train a Cat
 * Get a Litter Trained Cat to "Go" Outside
 * Train a Cat to Stop Doing Almost Anything