When an animal is adopted at the Maryland SPCA, the hope is that the forever home will be a huge success. That's why it offers classes designed to help owners create a positive and lasting bond.It's kindergarten -- just not the kind you're used to. The Maryland SPCA offers kitten kindergarten to make sure new owners and kittens start off on the right paw."If you think about a puppy socialization class, it's basically the cat equivalent of it," said animal trainer Erin Welsh.Welsh uses positive association to correct the biggest challenges."We have three different modules, each one focuses on a different common problem kitten owners has; one being litter box success, teaching them appropriate litter box habits," Welsh said.In one particular class, her student, Jason Evancic, needs a little help getting Frisbee to learn to play well with others."Everything was a toy to him when I first got him," Evancic said."A lot of people, when they get new kittens, they play with them in all the wrong ways," Welsh said.It didn't take long for Frisbee to learn that toys, not Evancic's hands, are a better option for playing. Welsh uses food to make it positive."I didn't really know you could train a cat, but I guess that an early age they pick up things, so hopefully that's why I am here, so you can pick up things," Evancic said.It helps to train pets when they're young."During that window, they are more curious or more able to explore different things," Welsh saidAnd that is a great start.

When an animal is adopted at the Maryland SPCA, the hope is that the forever home will be a huge success. That's why it offers classes designed to help owners create a positive and lasting bond.

It's kindergarten -- just not the kind you're used to. The Maryland SPCA offers kitten kindergarten to make sure new owners and kittens start off on the right paw.


"If you think about a puppy socialization class, it's basically the cat equivalent of it," said animal trainer Erin Welsh.

Welsh uses positive association to correct the biggest challenges.

"We have three different modules, each one focuses on a different common problem kitten owners has; one being litter box success, teaching them appropriate litter box habits," Welsh said.

In one particular class, her student, Jason Evancic, needs a little help getting Frisbee to learn to play well with others.

"Everything was a toy to him when I first got him," Evancic said.

"A lot of people, when they get new kittens, they play with them in all the wrong ways," Welsh said.



It didn't take long for Frisbee to learn that toys, not Evancic's hands, are a better option for playing. Welsh uses food to make it positive.

"I didn't really know you could train a cat, but I guess that an early age they pick up things, so hopefully that's why I am here, so you can pick up things," Evancic said.

It helps to train pets when they're young.

"During that window, they are more curious or more able to explore different things," Welsh said

And that is a great start.